Global formwork and scaffolding manufacturer Doka has played a key role in the development of minimum standards for calculating product carbon footprints (PCFs) – a milestone for the formwork and scaffolding industry and a further step down the road to decarbonising the construction sector.
The PCF measures the total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) generated by a product across all its relevant material life cycle phases. It is an important tool for assessing the overall climate impact of a product and identifying levers to reduce emissions in the value chain.
“Competitiveness, sustainability and transparency are becoming increasingly intertwined, and valid data is key to sustainable decision-makings. Two years ago, we set new standards in the formwork and scaffolding industry by fully calculating the product carbon footprint of more than 7,000 Doka products. We are proud that we have now also been able to make a significant contribution to establishing minimum standards in the industry for the first time,” said Robert Hauser, CEO of Doka.
The Güteschutzverband Betonschalungen Europa e.V. (GSV), a European association of manufacturers, suppliers and users of formwork and scaffolding systems, set up a working group with the aim of developing a standard for the transparent quantification of a GSV product carbon footprint (GSV-PCF-Standard) for the formwork and scaffolding sector. The agreement on minimum standards, which has now been published after less than a year, is the result of intensive cooperation. With this step, Doka and its market partners are not only setting a new standard in the industry, but are also helping to establish the transparency on GHG emissions as a standard in the value chain.
“We are delighted to have been able to contribute our many years of experience and our calculation methodology to the GSV joint working group. This industry-wide agreement between leading manufacturers brings us a big step closer to being able to better compare product carbon footprints, and thus to create a level playing field within the formwork and scaffolding industry,” added Julia Weber, head of sustainability at Doka. All PCF data for Doka formwork already complies with the GSV-PCF standard.
For more than two years, Doka has been providing its customers with transparent data on the GHG emissions of its products. “When it comes to sustainability, facts count, not gut feelings,” emphasised Ms Weber. This is precisely the focus of Doka’s PCF initiative, which aims to support customers in their sustainability efforts – from more sustainable purchasing decisions and public tenders with CO2 budgets to calculating their own corporate carbon footprint (scope 3 emissions).
At the same time, the PCF is an important pillar of Doka’s sustainability strategy. “We are consistently pursuing our goal of net-zero emissions by 2040, and in the long term we are striving for ever lower-emission product strategies. The data obtained from the product carbon footprint is already an integral part of the innovation process at Doka," said Ms Weber. “After all, transparent data is the key to sustainable construction.”
All images: Doka
