Maximise your “green” credentials with Mtech’s Environmental Profiling

Monday, 19 July 2010

Responding to the need for increasingly detailed environmental data, Mtech Consult’s Environmental Profiling Service – delivering full life cycle assessment for Offsite construction systems and products -  is helping Offsite manufacturers comply with regulations, meet client requirements and keep ahead of the competition.

The company’s in-house environmental specialists recently helped Spand Interior Products to assess how its "Stretch” PVC ceiling product compared in environmental terms to the competition (traditional plasterboard suspended ceilings) and demonstrated where improvements could be made to give it more of a competitive advantage.

Mtech has invested significantly over the past 5 years to research and develop an environmental profiling model specifically aimed at offsite manufactured construction products.  Using Life Cycle Assessment techniques (as originated by BRE and Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR ) this environmental profiling modelling technique provides a sophisticated cradle to grave assessment of the total environmental impact of the building product.   This has proved to be the only way to accurately compare the overall impact of alternative construction methodologies. 

By adopting this life cycle assessment model, Mtech established the environmental impact accrued in Spand’s PVC manufacturing process, from the raw materials and components, through production, storage, distribution and installation on site, and then through its service life and ultimately to future disposal and re-cycling.  The results were then compared to competitor products and Mtech identified specific areas for improvement, advising on appropriate options to achieve better environmental and ‘eco points’ ratings.

As a result, Spand has introduced new systems and Mtech has gone on to assist the company in the implementation of ISO 9000 and 14000 procedures and the CE-marking process for the product.

“Using our Environmental Profiling Service enabled Spand to demonstrate compliance and awareness; they’ve even found that it’s a good news story to promote – helping develop and maintain their competitive advantage”, explains Martin Goss, MD of Mtech Consult.  “Offsite manufacturers are becoming increasingly concerned about new regulations, such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and the need to demonstrate their products environmental performance; this service helps them ensure compliance and meet demands from their clients for ever more detailed environmental data”.

Neither Martin Goss nor Mtech Consult Ltd receives any remuneration or gain whatsoever for referencing manufacturers in editorial content; other suppliers may provide similar products and inclusion in no way implies Mtech recommendation of a product for any specific project.