Our Organization

Our Mission – Mission Statements of ECO Platform

 

A main objective of the Association is to promote and to contribute to the sustainable development, including a low-carbon economy and resource efficiency in the construction sector, by coordinating the development and provision of credible and scientifically correct data from products.

ECO Platform aims for mainstreaming life-cycle assessments (LCA) for buildings and infrastructure projects by provision of reliable product data in an affordable and effective way.

Specific product data in form of verified environmental information of construction products, in particular type III declarations called EPD (Environmental Product Declarations) is preferred as data input for building and construction LCA. To close gaps of missing data, for early design stages or product-neutral assessments, generic data is required. ECO Platform aims for consistency of both data categories. Goal is to establish an open international digital data network for building and construction LCA data.

To achieve the overall goals, ECO Platform has defined four main fields of activity and related Mission Statements:

  1. Advocate of the building & construction LCA Stakeholders
  2. Quality Manager of verified product data
  3. Data provider
  4. Enabler of success

 

1. Advocate for all Stakeholders around Building and Construction LCA

“What do we do?”

As umbrella organization for EPD POs we engage into governmental as well as non-governmental initiatives to anchor product sustainability requirements and building and construction LCA into legislation and norms, while eliminating barriers to trade.

 

“How do we do it?”

Participation of ECO Platform in initiatives of EC, standardization bodies and NGOs.
Networking with relevant initiatives worldwide. Communicate on the use of EPD in Green Public Procurement and Green Building / Infrastructure Certificates.
Provide position papers.

 

“Whom do we do it for?”

All users of product-related information throughout the whole life-cycle of buildings / infrastructure projects.
Manufacturers of construction products.

 

“What value are we bringing?”

Ensure that concerns and favorable solutions are considered for relevant initiatives of legislation, standardization or other networks. Communicate relevant developments to all stakeholders of building and construction LCA as well as to members of ECO Platform.

 

2. QM of verified product data

“What do we do?”

Support Green Building initiatives and regulation in decarbonization, circularity and other aspects by further development of communication formats for LCA-based product data.
Establish a common quality management for EPD Programmes and support technical collaboration.
Support the provision of a digital data format and exchange rules for global harmonization.

 

“How do we do it?”

Continue to develop and maintain common verification guidelines and audits for each ECO EPD Programme.
Support technical collaboration with harmonization, mutual recognition and resolving disputes.
Pro-active development of EPD content and (digital) format as incubator for future solutions and activator of normative developments.

 

“Whom do we do it for?”

Application tool providers (e.g. LCA-tools, BIM etc.)
LCA Practitioners, designers & architects etc.
EPD Programme Operators
EPD owners (manufacturers)

 

“What value are we bringing?”

Common rules for verification.
Internationally recognized and harmonized EPD with quality brand.
Digital data format, which can be used globally.
Expertise and level-playing field for technical exchange.

 

3. Data provider

“What do we do?”

Provide access to an open digital data network, which offers access to verified generic data as well as to average or specific, third party verified EPD data from a single data source.

 

“How do we do it?”

Operate an open access point to all relevant digital data for building and construction LCA (ECO Portal).

 

“Whom do we do it for?”

Application tool providers (e.g. LCA-tools, BIM etc.)
LCA Practitioners, designers & architects etc.
EPD Programme Operators
EPD owners (manufacturers)

 

“What value are we bringing?”

Consistent and reliable data source that is available free of charge.
Singular data source for all building and construction LCA applications. Direct machine-readable access.
Basis for innovative future developments of tools and functions.
Enable manufacturers to provide data to all relevant applications via one data source (affordability).

 

4. Enabler of success

“What do we do?”

Think from the demand-side in providing data for building and construction LCA to support innovation of digital tools that help establishing and mainstreaming the LCA methodology.

 

“How do we do it?”

Improve collaboration with players down the value chain (data users) as well as up the value chain (data providers / manufacturers). Ensure speed and flexibility in the development and execution of projects.

 

“Whom do we do it for?”

Application tool providers (e.g. LCA-tools, BIM etc.)
LCA Practitioners, designers & architects etc.
EPD Programme Operators
EPD owners (manufacturers)

 

“What value are we bringing?”

Drive innovation by ensuring that EPD data gets used in building and construction LCA and by helping tool-providers to have easy access to reliable digital data.
Help product manufacturers to stay competitive in a growing green building market.