End-of-Life Scenarios
When determining the environmental performance of construction products, the entire life cycle of materials and products is taken into account. This also includes what happens to a material or product after the use phase. End-of-life processing scenarios are applied for this purpose.
What is an end-of-life processing scenario?
An end-of-life processing scenario describes the distribution of a material or product over the various processing options. A distinction is made between:
- leaving in place;
- landfilling;
- incineration;
- recycling;
- reuse.
The material and its application determine which processing scenario applies, and therefore how the material or product is distributed over the processing options.
Default processing scenarios
The Environmental Performance Assessment Method for Construction Works prescribes how the environmental effects at the end of the service life of construction products must be determined.
How materials and products will be processed in the future is not known. The default processing scenarios have therefore been drawn up on the basis of current processing systems. This ensures that environmental performance is calculated in a uniform and comparable way.
When preparing an LCA for registering in the Dutch Environmental Database, the applicable processing scenarios must be used. Deviating from the default scenarios is only possible if this is sufficiently substantiated and meets the requirements of the Assessment Method.
Effective dates of the new processing scenarios
The new processing scenarios will be introduced in phases:
- 1 January 2027: the new processing scenarios may be applied when preparing LCAs.
- 1 July 2027: application of the new processing scenarios becomes mandatory when preparing LCAs for registering in the NMD.
From 1 January to 1 July 2027, a transition period applies in which both the existing and the new processing scenarios may be applied.
Downloads
Stichting NMD makes various documents available to support the application of the processing scenarios.
Overview of end-of-life processing scenarios (Excel)
This file contains the complete overview of the applicable processing scenarios, including the associated default percentages.
This overview file is leading in the application of the processing scenarios.
Explanation per processing scenario (Excel)
In addition to the general overview, separate Excel files are available for each EOL scenario. These provide additional information on the principles and substantiation of the scenario in question.
These documents give LCA practitioners and reviewers more insight into how the scenarios were developed and how they are applied.
Relationship with the Assessment Method
The application of the end-of-life processing scenarios takes place in accordance with the Environmental Performance Assessment Method for Construction Works.
The Assessment Method describes how the environmental effects of the various processing options must be included in the life cycle assessment. The default processing scenarios form the basis for this.
For the definitions and methodological requirements, please refer to the Environmental Performance Assessment Method for Construction Works.
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