Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization, the universal standards group responsible for introducing ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 covering
Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization, the universal standards group responsible for introducing ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 covering quality assurance and environmental management systems, has added ISO 21930 for sustainability in building construction. According to Jacques Lair, who headed the team behind the document, the organization hopes the environmental declaration for building products will be a helpful tool for building designers, manufacturers of building products, and users and owners of buildings who are increasingly demanding information that enables them address the environmental impact of buildings and other construction works.
While the building construction industry is recognized as a major employer, ISO officials contend, it also generates a large amount of waste and pollution. It is estimated that the building industry is responsible for about 40 percent of the waste in European countries. ISO 21930 describes the principles and framework for environmental declarations of building products, taking into consideration the complete life cycle of a building.
According to ISO, the overall goal of environmental declarations in construction is to encourage the demand for, and supply of, products that cause less stress on the environment. Backing that up is communication of verifiable and accurate information on products’ environmental aspects, in turn stimulating the potential for market-driven, continual environmental improvement.