1026 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Monitoring of environmental impact from quarries and
aggregates does not automatically reduce environmental
impact. It is up to the producers to actively use the informa-
tion in their improvement work. What the tool can provide
is well-defined work procedures to create the information
and even demonstrate how well it is performing compared
to similar product groups with up-to-date EPDs since the
process of creating a database for visualization is relatively
simple with machine-readable EPDs. More detailed in-
house work for the creation of EPDs makes it also a more
useful base for proactively working with identifying poten-
tial improvements and reduction of the different emissions
associated with the production of aggregates. At least com-
pared to outsourcing the EPD work to an external consul-
tant or using generic EPDs.
Creating and publishing an EPD for aggregate produc-
ers is still a voluntary task. However, maybe not for much
longer. With the increasing demand for environmental
information, new standards, directives, and societal change
it appears to be an unavoidable course of action in the
coming years. Companies have the option to be proactive
and prepared for the change or risk not being able to be
competitive if it suddenly becomes a requirement. Starting
from nothing usually entails investing in resources within
the company in personnel with the necessary expertise to
perform LCA needed for the EPD or relying on external
expertise through consultants. One potential concern is the
number of consultants available if this suddenly becomes
a requirement on a large scale. EPD tools and certified
processes have already proven useful in simplifying and
speeding up the EPD process, allowing companies to take
ownership of the creation of EPDs, generate them fre-
quently for multiple sites and enable them to use the envi-
ronmental information to make qualitative decisions based
on environmental KPIs.
CONCLUSIONS
The creation of EPDs is beneficial for the aggregates indus-
try as it provides fact-based information where producers
can achieve improvements. The demand for improvements
will only increase as we approach the Agenda 2030 mile-
stone for a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Also,
with the continuously increasing demand and companies
producing EPDs, the demand for consultants and verifiers
also increases. If the EPDs become a part of any certifica-
tion process for the whole industry, the need for supporting
tools becomes necessary, both from the company’s perspec-
tive and from the verification perspective.
REFERENCES
Abadías Llamas, A., Valero Delgado, A., Valero Capilla, A.,
Torres Cuadra, C., Hultgren, M., Peltomäki, M., Roine,
A., Stelter, M., Reuter, M.A., (2019). Simulation-based
exergy, thermo-economic and environmental footprint
analysis of primary copper production. Miner. Eng. 131.
Asbjornsson, G., Tavares, L.M., Mainza, A., Yahyaei, M.,
(2022). Different perspectives of dynamics in comminu-
tion processes. Miner. Eng. 176.
Asbjörnsson, G., Sköld, A., Zougari, S., Yar, A., Kamel, N.,
Turlur-Chabanon, S., Bhadani, K., Gowda, V., Lee, C.,
Hulthén, E., and Evertsson. M. (2024). Development of
production and environmental platforms for the European
aggregates and minerals industries. Miner. Eng. 206.
EPD Norge. (2022). NPCR 018 version 1.0: PCR-Part B for
natural stone products, aggregates and fillers.
Lee, C., Sanchez Llancan, F., Asbjörnsson, G., and
Evertsson, M. (2024). Application Of Production
Simulation Combined With Site Specific Data To
Quantify Environmental Performance Of Aggregate
Products At Five Pilot Sites. Proceedings for Conference
in Minerals Engineering 2024. Luleå, Sweden.
SBMI (2019). Färdplan för Fossil Konkurrenskraft
—Bergmaterialindustrin.
Segura-Salazar, J., Lima, F.M., &Tavares, L.M. (2019). Life
Cycle Assessment in the minerals industry: Current prac-
tice, harmonization efforts, and potential improvement
through the integration with process simulation. Journal
of Cleaner Production, 232.
Takano, A., Winter, S., Hughes, M., &Linkosalmi, L.
(2014). Comparison of life cycle assessment databases:
A case study on building assessment. Building and
Environment, 79.
UEPG (2023). Neutral Aggregates 2050—Roadmap for
Climate Neutrality in the Aggregates Industry.
Monitoring of environmental impact from quarries and
aggregates does not automatically reduce environmental
impact. It is up to the producers to actively use the informa-
tion in their improvement work. What the tool can provide
is well-defined work procedures to create the information
and even demonstrate how well it is performing compared
to similar product groups with up-to-date EPDs since the
process of creating a database for visualization is relatively
simple with machine-readable EPDs. More detailed in-
house work for the creation of EPDs makes it also a more
useful base for proactively working with identifying poten-
tial improvements and reduction of the different emissions
associated with the production of aggregates. At least com-
pared to outsourcing the EPD work to an external consul-
tant or using generic EPDs.
Creating and publishing an EPD for aggregate produc-
ers is still a voluntary task. However, maybe not for much
longer. With the increasing demand for environmental
information, new standards, directives, and societal change
it appears to be an unavoidable course of action in the
coming years. Companies have the option to be proactive
and prepared for the change or risk not being able to be
competitive if it suddenly becomes a requirement. Starting
from nothing usually entails investing in resources within
the company in personnel with the necessary expertise to
perform LCA needed for the EPD or relying on external
expertise through consultants. One potential concern is the
number of consultants available if this suddenly becomes
a requirement on a large scale. EPD tools and certified
processes have already proven useful in simplifying and
speeding up the EPD process, allowing companies to take
ownership of the creation of EPDs, generate them fre-
quently for multiple sites and enable them to use the envi-
ronmental information to make qualitative decisions based
on environmental KPIs.
CONCLUSIONS
The creation of EPDs is beneficial for the aggregates indus-
try as it provides fact-based information where producers
can achieve improvements. The demand for improvements
will only increase as we approach the Agenda 2030 mile-
stone for a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Also,
with the continuously increasing demand and companies
producing EPDs, the demand for consultants and verifiers
also increases. If the EPDs become a part of any certifica-
tion process for the whole industry, the need for supporting
tools becomes necessary, both from the company’s perspec-
tive and from the verification perspective.
REFERENCES
Abadías Llamas, A., Valero Delgado, A., Valero Capilla, A.,
Torres Cuadra, C., Hultgren, M., Peltomäki, M., Roine,
A., Stelter, M., Reuter, M.A., (2019). Simulation-based
exergy, thermo-economic and environmental footprint
analysis of primary copper production. Miner. Eng. 131.
Asbjornsson, G., Tavares, L.M., Mainza, A., Yahyaei, M.,
(2022). Different perspectives of dynamics in comminu-
tion processes. Miner. Eng. 176.
Asbjörnsson, G., Sköld, A., Zougari, S., Yar, A., Kamel, N.,
Turlur-Chabanon, S., Bhadani, K., Gowda, V., Lee, C.,
Hulthén, E., and Evertsson. M. (2024). Development of
production and environmental platforms for the European
aggregates and minerals industries. Miner. Eng. 206.
EPD Norge. (2022). NPCR 018 version 1.0: PCR-Part B for
natural stone products, aggregates and fillers.
Lee, C., Sanchez Llancan, F., Asbjörnsson, G., and
Evertsson, M. (2024). Application Of Production
Simulation Combined With Site Specific Data To
Quantify Environmental Performance Of Aggregate
Products At Five Pilot Sites. Proceedings for Conference
in Minerals Engineering 2024. Luleå, Sweden.
SBMI (2019). Färdplan för Fossil Konkurrenskraft
—Bergmaterialindustrin.
Segura-Salazar, J., Lima, F.M., &Tavares, L.M. (2019). Life
Cycle Assessment in the minerals industry: Current prac-
tice, harmonization efforts, and potential improvement
through the integration with process simulation. Journal
of Cleaner Production, 232.
Takano, A., Winter, S., Hughes, M., &Linkosalmi, L.
(2014). Comparison of life cycle assessment databases:
A case study on building assessment. Building and
Environment, 79.
UEPG (2023). Neutral Aggregates 2050—Roadmap for
Climate Neutrality in the Aggregates Industry.