Sphera Case Studies An Environmental Product Declaration for the Italian Ceramics Industry

Edit This Case Study Record

	An Environmental Product Declaration for the Italian Ceramics Industry Sphera

An Environmental Product Declaration for the Italian Ceramics Industry

Sphera

Technology Category	Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Services	Data Science Services System Integration
Challenge	The Italian Ceramics Industry, represented by Confindustria Ceramica, was faced with the challenge of tackling an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) project that represented 82.6% of Italian ceramic tile production. The industry needed to communicate the environmental performance of Italian ceramic tiles in an objective and transparent manner, while emphasizing sustainability activities and investments. They also needed tools to qualify for green building rating schemes (LEED, DGNB, BREEAM) and Italian green public procurement bidding procedures (CAM). The industry was also looking to identify potential improvement areas and projects for better environmental performance of products and support individual companies in product-related environmental reporting. Read More
About Customer	Confindustria Ceramica represents Italian ceramic tile manufacturers, supporting their competitiveness in global markets through a large network, strategic agreements with national and international organizations and various shareholders. Confindustria Ceramica offers support and consultancy to its members (approximately 166 companies) with a wide range of activities and services in the different sub-sectors of the industry. These include information, industrial relationships, fiscal legislation, European funds, support in legal issues and management of relations with trade unions. The association publishes statistical surveys, reports on market trends and research on relevant topics, such as the environment, transportation, energy, etc. Read More
Solution	Sphera provided a solution through the development of a sector EPD with support from thinkstep’s consultancy services, GaBi and GaBi Envision Software and GaBi Databases. They developed an automated, verified and user-friendly tool compliant with the requirements of multiple program operators and able to generate further sector EPDs. They also developed an Eco-Design Tool to generate specific EPDs for member companies. This diversified offer for the Association and the member companies provided different options for different needs, from the single specific EPD to a complete autonomy in developing EPDs for the entire product portfolio. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Services

Data Science Services

System Integration

Challenge

The Italian Ceramics Industry, represented by Confindustria Ceramica, was faced with the challenge of tackling an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) project that represented 82.6% of Italian ceramic tile production. The industry needed to communicate the environmental performance of Italian ceramic tiles in an objective and transparent manner, while emphasizing sustainability activities and investments. They also needed tools to qualify for green building rating schemes (LEED, DGNB, BREEAM) and Italian green public procurement bidding procedures (CAM). The industry was also looking to identify potential improvement areas and projects for better environmental performance of products and support individual companies in product-related environmental reporting.

About Customer

Confindustria Ceramica represents Italian ceramic tile manufacturers, supporting their competitiveness in global markets through a large network, strategic agreements with national and international organizations and various shareholders. Confindustria Ceramica offers support and consultancy to its members (approximately 166 companies) with a wide range of activities and services in the different sub-sectors of the industry. These include information, industrial relationships, fiscal legislation, European funds, support in legal issues and management of relations with trade unions. The association publishes statistical surveys, reports on market trends and research on relevant topics, such as the environment, transportation, energy, etc.

Solution

Sphera provided a solution through the development of a sector EPD with support from thinkstep’s consultancy services, GaBi and GaBi Envision Software and GaBi Databases. They developed an automated, verified and user-friendly tool compliant with the requirements of multiple program operators and able to generate further sector EPDs. They also developed an Eco-Design Tool to generate specific EPDs for member companies. This diversified offer for the Association and the member companies provided different options for different needs, from the single specific EPD to a complete autonomy in developing EPDs for the entire product portfolio.

Impact #1	Automated development of an average sector EPD
Impact #2	Monitoring of environmental performance in the Italian ceramic industry and for specific companies
Impact #3	Advantages through improvement of the environmental profile of the sector and the member companies

Impact #1

Automated development of an average sector EPD

Impact #2

Monitoring of environmental performance in the Italian ceramic industry and for specific companies

Impact #3

Advantages through improvement of the environmental profile of the sector and the member companies

Benefit #1	Significant cost / time savings in generating EPDs

Benefit #1

Significant cost / time savings in generating EPDs

Download PDF Version

Overview

An Environmental Product Declaration for the Italian Ceramics Industry

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit