Dutch Environmental Database
The Dutch Environmental Database contains environmental data on construction products and materials used in environmental performance calculations. Together with the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings, the database forms the basis of the Dutch system for calculating the environmental performance of construction works.
The Dutch Environmental Database is the central database containing environmental declarations of construction products and materials. The database is managed by the independent Dutch Environmental Database Foundation. The environmental data is applied in validated calculation tools for environmental performance calculations. Within the database, a fixed category classification is used to distinguish between different types of data.
What is the Dutch Environmental Database?
The Dutch Environmental Database contains environmental declarations of construction products and materials. Each environmental declaration describes a product with basic information such as name, service life and functional unit, supplemented with environmental data derived from a life cycle assessment.
The Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Buildings specifies which environmental data are mandatory for inclusion in the Dutch Environmental Database and how this data must be applied in environmental performance calculations.
Environmental declarations in the Dutch Environmental Database are accessible via the viewer and are used in recognised calculation tools.
What does the NMD contain?
An environmental declaration with the corresponding environmental data is included in the NMD for all products that may occur in the reference buildings under the energy performance regulation (BENG). When there is also demand from the (consumer) market for a declaration for a new product, the NMD can actively approach the market to have a specific environmental declaration drawn up. The NMD can also decide, following an internal procedure, to include a non-brand-specific (category 3) declaration for a new product itself.
Category classification within the database
Within the Dutch Environmental Database, environmental declarations are classified into categories. This classification distinguishes between brand-specific, industry-specific and generic data.
The category indicates something about the origin of the data and the way in which it has been assessed and registered within the database. The full explanation of the category classification can be found on the page:
How is data included and managed?
Data is included in the Dutch Environmental Database according to established procedures. This includes:
- submitting environmental data based on a life cycle assessment
- verification according to the applicable requirements
- registration and publication in the database
- periodic updating
Validity of environmental declarations
The database uses a periodic expiry date of 5 years for environmental declarations. After this period, environmental declarations must be updated. In the interim, environmental declarations can also be amended by the data supplier's LCA practitioner, for example following changes in the production process that affect environmental performance. Data owners can enter and amend environmental declarations themselves via an online input application.
More information about Registering environmental data can be found here.
Application in environmental performance calculations
The environmental data from the Dutch Environmental Database is used in recognised calculation tools for carrying out environmental performance calculations of construction works.
The database thus provides the underlying data for:
- environmental performance calculations of buildings
- application in tenders
- comparison of design variants
- policy application of environmental performance requirements
Frequently asked questions about the Database
Stichting NMD manages both the National Environmental Database (NMD) as well as the NMD Process Database. The NMD is a database filled with environmental declarations. This is the database that is used by the calculation tools to produce ECI and EPD calculations. The NMD Process Database is used as source (to draw up LCAs) for the data included in the environmental declarations in the NMD.
The environmental declarations and basic profiles should be reviewed for timeliness from time to time and then updated as necessary. The same shelf life applies to both with a periodic expiration date of 5 years. After this period, environmental declarations and basic profiles must be updated. This can also be done in the interim, for example after changes in the production process that affect environmental performance. Data owners can have their data changed by submitting a new template.
A background process is a process that affects a producer's or supplier's product, but over which the producer or supplier has no direct influence and which occurs elsewhere in the chain; for example, production of electricity or a raw material.
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