Easy-EPD: SME-innovative – Joint Research Project Resource Efficiency Easy-EPD – Software Supported Generation of Product Declarations in the Wood Industry

Research Part 2: Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Products

The generation of verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) is complex and cost intensive. Therefore, the aim of the joint research project is to develop an easy applicable software solution for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the sawmill and wood industry which suffer mostly from these barriers. The software solution enables to generate verified EPDs with low expenditure. The solution will offer synergies between information which is already requested by management systems and other labels. Additionally, it will provide the analysis of environmental impacts on sector level. The developed software will be open sourced and freeware. The software is therefore very attractive for implementing and applying by the SME. 
The software will be developed by GreenDelta (research part 1). The Chair of Wood Science proceeds the life cycle assessment studies, contributes to the generation of Product Category Rules (PCR) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and identifies the potentials for resource efficiencies in the wood industry (research part 2). The Hilbra GmbH formulates the software requirements, proceeds practice tests and supports the software development for marketability (research part 3). 
The project is supported by additional private enterprises and associations from the wood and construction sector, e.g. by the Deutsche Säge- und Holzindustrie Bundesverband e.V. (DeSH) and by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU).

Duration: 2019 - 2021

Researchers: Research Group Resource Flow Management at the Chair of Wood Science: Helm, Sabine, Weber-Blaschke, G.

Project Coordinator:
GreenDelta GmbH

Project Partners:
Hilbra GmbH