BRE BR475 PDF

Purpose and Scope

This guide has been created to enable the composites sector to understand the environmental and social impacts associated with composite production and assist with the decisions made about material and process choice. The materials and processes modelled are rated from A (good) through to E (poor). Twelve different environmental impacts are individually scored and totalled to give an overall environmental impact summary rating. Two social impact ratings are also given.

When measuring environmental impact it is important to consider all the influences through the life of the product. This process is known as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and it has been used in this guide for environmental investigation. Because this guide concentrates on materials and manufacturing, as opposed to in-service performance, the impacts associated with products beyond the factory gate (the use, maintenance and disposal stages of the life cycle) have not been assessed.