Case Study: James Hardie Netherlands Confirms Low Environmental Impact with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

SGS performs LCA to EN 15804+A2 to demonstrate the sustainability of Fermacell fiber gypsum boards.

James Hardie Industries company is a global manufacturer of building materials. James Hardie Netherlands produces gypsum fiber boards, and fiber gypsum floor elements, mainly for the European market. James Hardie can fully recycle any gypsum fiber boards that are returned to them. Their fiber gypsum boards are a sustainable product, using recycled paper fibers, gypsum from coal-fired powerplant waste products extracted from flue gas desulphurization, and recycled gypsum which comes from used plasterboards. They further use sanding dust and saw remains from their own production as well from industrial customers.

To prove and market the low-environmental impact of their product, James Hardie needed a life cycle assessment (LCA) according to EN 15804 and the Dutch NMD assessment method. 

Why did the client choose SGS?

James Hardie was working with a competitor consultancy firm, but after unexpected personnel changes, the competitor could no longer finish the LCA. Due to their global presence, stability and world-leading reputation for assessments, James Hardie approached SGS to help them complete the LCA.

A comprehensive approach to an LCA for quality results

SGS chose to start the LCA anew to ensure the quality of the results. The LCA process consisted of the following steps:

• Data collection: SGS gathered data from James Hardie’s Dutch production location in Wijchen
• Creation of a calculation model in LCA-software SimaPro: the gathered data was linked to relevant processes in the background database, ecoinvent v3.6
• Adaptation of ecoinvent processes: to fit James Hardie’s needs and situation
• Impact assessment: the calculation model was run according to EN 15804 and the Dutch assessment method
• Interpretation of results: contribution analysis provided insights into the materials and processes that cause the largest impact to help reduce the environmental impact of the product even further. Sensitivity analysis then tested major assumptions for validity

A critical review is required before an LCA can be communicated or published as an EPD. So once completed, a draft LCA report was delivered for critical review by an independent third party to verify whether the LCA fulfilled all requirements. A few remarks by the verifier were answered before the LCA cleared the critical review, after which the data was uploaded to the NMD and published.

Increasing market visibility

After publishing the new LCA data, James Hardie increased the visibility of their fiber gypsum board on the Dutch market. As a result, the LCA data makes the product more attractive for potential customers that may want to use the Fermacell boards in new projects. In addition, the LCA could serve as a basis for further LCAs for other Fermacell branded products.

For further information, please contact:

Branco Schipper
SGS Industries & Environment LCA Consultant
t: +31 622 777 279