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TYPE 1 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT | ISO 14024:2018

I. OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURE

The development of the Type I environmental labeling program, including the selection of product categories, environmental criteria and functional characteristics of the products, makes it possible to assess and demonstrate the compliance of a product for more sustainable construction, according to the procedures adopted based on ISO 14024:2018 for certification and awarding of the label.

This type I environmental labeling program is voluntary, based on multiple criteria, which authorizes the use of environmental labels on products indicating their overall environmental preference, within a category of products, which also consider their life cycle.

The aim of this label is to encourage the demand for and supply of products that cause less disruption to the environment by communicating verifiable, accurate and non-misleading information about the environmental aspects of products, thus stimulating the potential for continuous environmental improvement geared towards the best options available on the market. A formal process of open stakeholder participation was established to select and review product categories, environmental criteria and their functional characteristics, through surveys that safeguarded all data under the GDPR.

Type I environmental labeling programs aim to help reduce the environmental impacts associated with products by identifying products that meet the criteria established for environmental preference. Companies belonging to a certain category are sent a form that ensures the transparency and credibility of environmental labelling, through technical documents provided by the manufacturer/representative of the product; ISO and IEC standards; other internationally recognized standards; regional and national standards; allowing harmonization with the principles and procedures applicable to the programme. The information provided is kept in the company folder and will serve as a basis for justifying the ISO 14024 framework, if requested by the International Organization for Standardization.

Product categories have been defined as a group of products with equivalent functions. Products are defined as any good or service and in order to request an evaluation, they may or may not belong to the Sustainable Construction Portal database. The request must be made in writing, expressly stating the evaluation request. Applications for and participation in environmental labeling programs are open to all potential applicants. All applicants who meet the product’s environmental criteria for a given category and the other requirements of the program will be eligible to be licensed and authorized to use the label. The environmental labeling body, in this case the Sustainable Construction Portal, will implement a formal consultation mechanism that facilitates the full participation of interested parties.

II. DEFINED PRODUCT CATEGORIES

As mentioned above, the product categories were defined as a group of products with equivalent functions after a detailed consultation with stakeholders, which made it possible to ascertain the degrees of importance of criteria oriented towards each of the categories and to establish the final grouping for each of the defined categories, which are presented below:

• CATEGORY A | Water-reducing products

This includes all products and/or equipment that promote the saving of water resources in the use phase of a building.

• CATEGORY B | Energy-saving products

It includes all products and/or equipment that promote the saving of energy resources from fossil fuels, optimizing, for example, any energy production process through heat recovery, solar panels, wind turbines (…) in the use phase of a building.

• CATEGORY C | Insulation and cladding materials

It includes all products for insulating a building, including composite products, and cladding products with the exception of ceramic materials, paints and mortars.

• CATEGORY D | Paints, glues, varnishes, mortars and waterproofing agents

It includes all materials that serve as coatings in liquid form, as well as binders and waterproofing agents.

• CATEGORY E | Ceramics and glass

It includes all ceramic materials, including sanitary ware, tiles, floor and wall coverings and glass.

• CATEGORY F | Building components (doors, skirting boards, handles, electrical equipment, window frames, screws, etc.)

It includes all building components, such as subflooring, infill, timber structures, window frames, screws and decorative materials, among others.

• CATEGORY G | Appliances and Lighting

Includes all household appliances and lighting.

For each category, 10 specific criteria have been defined, i.e. which environmental requirements the product must meet in order to be awarded an environmental label.

III. CRITERIA DEFINED BY CATEGORY

The criteria defined by category have been developed on the basis of scientific principles and derived from data on the environmental preferences of product manufacturers/representatives. In all questions, life cycle assessment is intrinsic, as issues during the manufacturing process, use and end of life are addressed.

The information provided by manufacturers/representatives must be substantiated by technical documentation (confidential or not) from the manufacturer/representative and/or ISO and IEC Standards; other internationally recognized standards; regional and national standards; and a declaration of honour and responsibility for the information provided, if there is no proof. The aim is to reduce bias and uncertainty as much as possible by demanding the best quality data available.

Each criterion is assigned if the answers are within the threshold defined by the calculation matrix developed for this system.

The criteria that have been defined are:

The detail of information required for each of the criteria is defined according to the product category being assessed.

IV. EVALUATION

The assessment is made using a matrix, developed by PCS, based on all the scientific research carried out by the project team, the portal’s own experience of more than ten years in materials for more sustainable construction, and the results of the stakeholder surveys, weighted in degrees.

The environmental criteria for the products have been set at achievable levels, taking into account the relative environmental impacts, measurability and accuracy. They are then given the Sustainable Value label for use and a document containing the report on the assessment process for the license granted under the rules of the certification system.

These criteria were based on life cycle considerations and product performance characteristics, with fitness for use implying that a product meets consumer needs in terms of health, safety and performance.

The evaluation procedures will be carried out in 5 steps, following the formal request for evaluation:

1. You will be asked to register your company and the products to be certified;
2. Once point 1. has been paid for, the company will be available online and the products will be reviewed;
3. After 8 to 15 working days, the company receives the results of the assessment;
4. Once the assessment has been paid for (only those who have obtained the score that gives them access to certification), the products will receive the certification compliance form and the label awarded;
5. Once the data has been paid for on the platform, the products will be visible online. Only at this stage will certification be completed.

The company will later receive a certificate for each of the products via email and post.

V. EXPIRY DATE

The environmental criteria and functional requirements for each product category will be established for a period of three years, after which the product will be reassessed.

The environmental criteria and functional requirements defined will be reviewed every two years, or sooner if justified, taking into account factors such as new technologies, new products, recent environmental information and market changes.

The review of environmental criteria and functional product requirements does not necessarily lead to changes in environmental criteria and functional product requirements.

VI. COSTS AND FEES

In order for a company to apply for Sustainable Value, it must become a PCS partner, after the portal has assessed the products to be promoted. It can then apply to register as a company and request an assessment to obtain Sustainable Value. A company can also apply for SV | ISO 14024 if it is not a PCS partner.

Fees will be applied equally to all applicants and graduates.

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VII. CONFIDENTIALITY

The confidentiality of all information identified as confidential (whether company or PCS) will be maintained.

VIII. CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING

The PCS is responsible for granting the license to applicants. It must grant a license to use the label only when it has verified compliance. However, the granting of a license does not oblige the licensee to use the label. The public list of certified products that have been awarded a label is available on the Sustainable Construction Portal platform.

PCS (through BONGREEN, LDA) has also ensured that its label, i.e. certification mark/logo, is legally protected in order to prevent unauthorized use and maintain public confidence in the program.

A clear and explicit policy regarding the correct use of the label has also been drawn up. Any deviation from this policy should result in appropriate corrective action and possible withdrawal of the license.

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