ECO Platform has taken a decision on #MassBalanceApproach (#MBA) Please read the one-pager about the decision.
This decision by ECO may be comprehensible from a formalistic point of view, but the outcome in the real world will most probably have a negative impact on our climate. The mass balance approach is actually the largest lever in the context of chemical industry to reduce the use of fossil carbon and to replace it by renewable sources of carbon. The principle is the same as for green electricity which is widely accepted. If we do not push forward such industrial approaches, but reduce the toolbox to small niche products where the input of biomass or recyclate is physically separated from fossil carbon, we will significantly slow down the urgently needed reduction of carbon footprint e.g. for construction works. Yes, the details of the mass balance approach are not finally agreed and need to be regulated. Let us work together on reliable and transparent rules for this purpose. But until these rules are finalized it is better to use a method that may have some flaws but actually saves thousands of tons of CO2 instead of wating for a finalized 100% solution. The climate change does not stop and wait for our slow decision processes...
Totally wrong signal. There are no parallel universes in the chemical industry. We need to feed biomass-raw materials into the same production equipment in order to receive low carbon end-products. However EPDs are not everything and I am convinced that customers will continue to decide for our eco-products to become fossil resource saving or fossil free.
It has already been challenging to show potential advantages of (at least a gradual) change from fossile to renewable feedstock. However, this decision might slow down the entire process in the chemical industry, as companies may need to implement new processes and equipment first, before a 100 % defossilation of the feedstock may be realised. Hope, we find solutions to facilitate the transition...
Our joint target is to reduce CO2 footprint. We will not have a "parallel world" with no carbonfootprint mass chemicals any time soon, so it is not a question whether we use mass balance, or not, the only question is how can it be done in a controlled and agreed way. At least Eco Platform made a decision, but I agree with the panel, it is more likely to slow down existing (and costly) industry initiatives rather than speed up the real decision by the TC350 WG3 and others named in open letter.
The MBA approach (mainly Credit MBA approach) violates at least two key principles in TC350 standards: - The elementary flows related to material inherent properties, and its associated embodied impact, cannot be re-allocated or moved across products’ stock in a manner that doesn’t reflect reality (e.g. I cannot claim in EPD that the fuel I’m using for a certain product is 100% HVO while in reality I’m using only 10% or 20% HVO but re-allocating biofuel credit from the other non-construction products I make to that specific product). - the technological coverage (e.g. the technologies and methods from which a product or its constituent materials were developed) should reflect physical reality. e.g. I cannot use credits to claim in EPD that 100% of my raw materials (or feedstock) for a certain product were made using a certain sustainable technology (e.g. recycled or biomass or certified-forest origin) while in reality I’m still largely processing the same mineral /fossil /virgin /non-certified raw material source or feedstock using the same conventional technology for that product. This ban also extends to ECO EPDs where the raw materials/ constituents' embodied impacts use MBA! Is this right ECO Platform AISBL?!!!
sustainability & EPD's in common language according the state-of-the-art. yes/no => let's create a "sustained" Europe together with all sectors in a common agreed way. EC to take the lead, member states to follow and let architects, manufacturer's, specifiers, investors inspire our future constructions and urban development.😉
Geschäftsführer Regulatory Affairs bei Deutsche Bauchemie e.V.
1yI have my doubts whether this decision is the right signal. The mass Balance approach is the right approach to create incentives for the use of biomass and recyclate. In the context of EPDs, the ECO Platform's decision is unfortunately a step backwards. The application of MBA in the supply chain of construction products is an important tool to reduce the carbon footprint (GWP) of construction products. And this is not a mathematical trick, but actually leads to a reduction of net CO2 emissions and contributes to the achievement of climate targets. I hope that the reservations will be dispelled as soon as possible and that the MBA can be used again for EPDs. Of course, Deutsche Bauchemie is available for a constructive discussion on this topic and possible solutions.