The Austrian vibration protection expert Getzner Werkstoffe received the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for two of its key products at this year's BAU trade fair in January in Munich. The EPD documents the environmental properties of building materials and was presented by the leading certification body for construction products in Europe, the Institute for Building and the Environment (IBU). Getzner provides all quantified environmental performance indicators for the trademarked materials Sylodyn and Sylomer, offering the foundation for sustainability certificates such as DGNB, LEED, and BREEAM, which are highly significant in construction. These indicators are also crucial for the railway industry as they provide a reliable basis for selecting sustainable materials, thus contributing to the environmental compatibility of railway projects.
Vibration Damping and Noise Reduction
Sylodyn and Sylomer are used for vibration isolation, especially in the construction industry and rail transport. "Our solutions reduce the burden on people and nature by minimizing vibrations and noise, and since our materials are highly effective and durable, they are ideal for sustainable construction projects," emphasizes Jürgen Rainalter, CEO of Getzner Werkstoffe. With the environmental declarations, Getzner provides architects, planners, builders, and railway operators with an essential data foundation for evaluating the ecological quality of buildings or railway tracks. The EPD data offer comparable information based on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). They play a crucial role in obtaining sustainable building standards or evaluating the environmental performance of railway infrastructure in the context of sustainable mobility standards.
Comparability Simplifies Selection
The standardized, scientifically-based data on environmental performance help compare products of similar functions in terms of sustainability. The EPD documents environmental compatibility across the entire lifecycle—from production to disposal. Aspects such as raw material extraction, production, transport, use, and disposal are taken into account. "We pursue a holistic approach to sustainability: our products are not only produced in a climate-friendly manner, but they also last for decades without losing effectiveness and can be fully recycled. By considering the entire lifecycle, we demonstrate our commitment to a livable future," explains Jürgen Rainalter.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
EPDs are created by independent organizations such as the Institute for Building and the Environment (IBU) in Germany, which is particularly recognized for conducting life cycle assessments and preparing environmental product declarations. The environmental declarations are based on international standards like ISO 14025 and EN 15804, which provide a clear framework for documenting and assessing environmental impacts. "EPDs stand for transparency and traceability. They provide reliable facts that build credibility and effectively counteract greenwashing," says Florian Pronold, Managing Director of IBU.
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