Preconditions for category 3 environmental declarations

Preconditions for category 3 data

• Category 3 declarations are owned by Stichting NMD.
• Expired category 1 and category 2 environmental profiles are removed from the Dutch Environmental Database. If no brand-specific replacement data is available, they are replaced by category 3 data managed by Stichting NMD.
  • Where possible, input from expired environmental declarations is used in consultation with the data owner.
• An markup factor of 1.3 applies to category 3 data.
  • This factor accounts for less comprehensive inventory data and encourages the submission of category 1 and 2 data to the database. The markup factor may be adjusted by Stichting NMD, the manager of the Dutch Environmental Database. It applies at the product component level for each environmental indicator. If an environmental indicator for a product component in module D has a negative value (benefits), the markup factor is not applied to that indicator in module D.
  • The markup factor does not apply to category 3a data.
• Category 3 declarations (including the markup factor) have a poorer environmental performance compared to similar unreviewed declarations.
• Category 3 data is always based on generic environmental profiles, meaning only the NMD Process Database may be used..
  • As a result, category 3 data is updated when changes occur in Ecoinvent or the Assessment Method.If a process is missing, this must be reported in the background report, along with justification for why the chosen process is the most representative. Het protocol “Aanleveren processen NMD basisprocessendatabase” must be followed.
• Category 3 declarations must be prepared and peer-reviewed according to the protocol "Protocol for Preparing and Peer Reviewing Category 3 Environmental Declarations (Dutch only)". There are two versions: one for Buildings & Infrastructure (B&U) and one for Civil Works (GWW).
• The preparation of category 3 data is always commissioned by Stichting NMD. Feedback and proposals can be submitted by anyone via the feedback page, where you can navigate to the form for feedback on existing environmental declarations or inform the foundation about missing declarations. Stichting NMD is ultimately responsible for deciding whether to adopt proposals or feedback.

Preconditions for category 3a data

• The energy carrier originates from an external supplier outside the construction sector, where the purchaser has no influence on the production process of the energy carrier, as the construction sector is too small a consumer*.
• Category 3a environmental declarations do not hinder the incentive for innovation and the inclusion of category 1 and 2 environmental declarations.
• When preparing category 3 data and reports, the representativeness and quality requirements described in the "Protocol for Preparing and Peer Reviewing Category 3 Environmental Declarations" must be met.
• Basic processes are available in the NMD Process Database.
• Environmental declarations/basic processes are valid for 5 years.
• Stichting NMD manages category 3 environmental declarations in collaboration with relevant parties in construction practice. Market parties can submit proposals for data updates, and Stichting NMD is responsible for evaluating and deciding whether to implement them. Updates are possible a maximum of twice per year upon the release of the NMD Process Database.
• Underlying data (reports, including the structure of the environmental declaration and base profiles) are publicly available on the Stichting NMD website.

* For example, HVO as fuel for construction equipment. If a 30% surcharge were applied to category 3a environmental declarations for diesel Stage III, IV, and V fuel-machine combinations, the market would be driven to create category 1 environmental declarations for all variants, even though nothing would differ in terms of fuel, emissions, and capital goods compared to the category 3a environmental declaration.