Reflection: Jan-Willem Groot as speaker at the LCA Symposium 'Decoding the Code of Sustainable Concrete'
On 3 March 2026, the LCA Symposium ‘Decoding the Code of Sustainable Concrete’ took place, organised by the Cement&BetonCentrum at Villa Jongerius in Utrecht. During this symposium, professionals gathered to gain more clarity on the increasing number of rules, standards, and calculation methods surrounding sustainable construction with cement and concrete.
Jan-Willem Groot represented the Dutch Environmental Database Foundation as one of the speakers. In his presentation, he discussed the role of the Dutch Environmental Database (NMD) within the environmental performance calculation system and the developments aimed at improving the comparability and currency of environmental data.
Foundation and European standards
Jan-Willem Groot (Dutch Environmental Database Foundation) outlined how EN 15804 and EN 15978 form the foundation of the Assessment Method and the data in the Dutch Environmental Database (NMD). Europe is working towards 19 impact categories as a common standard for construction materials by 2032. These 19 impact categories align with set A2 from the Assessment Method.
The NMD now includes over 5,300 active environmental declarations and continues to grow. Compared to other databases, the NMD stands out strongly. Europe is promoting harmonisation with international databases to further enhance comparability.
Key developments surrounding the database include:
- Improvements in WLC-GWP;
- Updating energy carriers (category 3a), including links to EPG;
- Addressing renovation and maintenance challenges in existing buildings.
Additionally, efforts are being made to better align system changes, as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are valid for five years and interim changes must be carefully processed.
Growth and International Harmonisation of the NMD
The presentation also highlighted the growth of the database, which now includes approximately 5,300 active environmental declarations, and the steps being taken towards further harmonisation with international databases. Key developments mentioned include:
- The continued development of WLC-GWP;
- Updating energy carriers (category 3a) and links to the EPG;
- The increasing focus on renovation and maintenance challenges in existing buildings.
The symposium also provided broader insights into topics such as NL-PCRs, the EU-PCR for Concrete, the Impact NL-PCR for Cement, European regulations, and ceiling values within the Concrete Agreement. The other speakers were Bob Roijen, Ruben van Gaalen, and Taco van den Broek.
Further Developments and Panel Discussion
The symposium concluded with a panel discussion featuring the four previously mentioned speakers, allowing questions on topics such as incorporating the entire life cycle, enforcing realisation, and fostering innovation. The common thread: the sector is moving towards greater harmonisation, transparency, and comparability of environmental data.
During the symposium, the publication Decoding the Code of Sustainable Concrete was also shared, providing a clear overview of key terms and developments.
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