ECI: Environmental Cost Indicator
ECI - a transparent determination method for sustainability
This is an indicator of the costs that would have to be incurred to avoid negative environmental effects of one unit of product, expressed in euros.
Environmental performance determination
The Dutch government has established construction regulations in the ‘Bouwbesluit' (Building Decree). This also prescribes the environmental performance determination of buildings. The Construction Quality Foundation ‘SBK’ has drawn up an assessment protocol for this. In addition to the Building Decree, important players in the Dutch construction sector, as well as the Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Interior, Economic Affairs and Climate and Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, have signed the 'Betonakkoord' (Concrete Agreement).
Why MBI uses the ECI as a benchmark
MBI chooses to demonstrate the sustainability of products through the ECI value, because this is the only objective methodology. Both the Building Decree and the Concrete Agreement use the ECI as an unambiguous benchmark for the environmental performance of building materials. This means one determination method instead of the fragmentation of sustainability methods that were previously used.
From cradle to grave
ECI is part of a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). In an LCA, the environmental impact of a product is monitored from cradle to grave. This can be done by recording all environmental effects resulting from raw material consumption, energy consumption, water consumption, waste emissions, etc. For example, energy consumption causes climate change (CO2 emissions) and the depletion of fossil fuels. ECI of a product is calculated based on these environmental effects, usually up to transport to the construction site for practical reasons. Every product therefore has an environmental profile. This basic profile states the environmental impact per kg of emission of that product.
Calculating ECI
In order to bundle all environmental effects into 1 environmental indicator, the various environmental effects are 'weighted' by means of conversion factors. This weighting method is called the shadow price method. The shadow costs are the prevention costs necessary to prevent a certain environmental effect. For each environmental effect, predetermined shadow costs (weighting factors) are used to calculate the product-specific shadow costs. All product-specific shadow costs together determine the final ECI value of a product. The amount of shadow costs can differ per country due to differences in infrastructure, available resources for prevention, etc. In the Netherlands, TNO-MEP, on behalf of the ‘Rijkswaterstaat’, has determined an equivalent for each environmental effect that is taken into account.
Calculation tools
There are various certified calculation tools available on the market for calculating the MKI values, such as EcoChain and DucoCalc. The calculation tools are based on the calculation methodology specified in the SBK Determination Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings and Structures. Both calculation tools draw from the National Environmental Database (NMD), which contains all environmental-related data from the concrete industry.
Certificering voor het genereren van milieuprofielen
A producer can apply for system certification for generating environmental profiles. MBI is in possession of this system certificate. Producers can only guarantee that their products have a certain environmental performance if they are certified. This is done according to a guideline: BRL K11002.
To be eligible for certification, verification from an independent, recognized expert is required. The expert who carries out the verification draws up a report in which the specified data and calculation of the values are checked. This makes it possible to determine whether the manufacturer has used the calculation method or tool correctly. Only verified reports are eligible for certification.
The certification is carried out by KIWA, an independent certification institute that tests products and processes against the BRL K11002. Kiwa checks whether the raw materials and energy used correspond with the values used by the producer to calculate the ECI. After approval, the manufacturer receives a system certificate. Kiwa then carries out annual checks at the producer.
View the System Certificate
How MBI keeps ECI values low
MBI can offer products with low ECI values through the use of alternative, high-quality materials and adjustments in its production processes. Amongst which:
- MBI is able to produce paving stones, through smart innovations such as CemSaver®, that have the lowest ECI value in the market.
- MBI's concrete products have a long lifespan because they are dimensionally and wear resistant.
- MBI has an active policy on reusing rubble waste and generates electricity with its own wind turbines and solar panels.
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