Screening study PEFCR – Comparability, harmonization and communication of the environmental performance of carbon-reinforced concrete

The objective of project E01 is the holistic sustainability assessment of carbon-reinforced concrete. In order to raise awareness of different target groups, the adequate explanation of the sustainability performance of carbon-reinforced concrete plays a central role. At this point, the Product Environmental Footprint Method (PEF method) represents a promising solution. PEF is a multi-criteria method developed by the European Commission, based on Life Cycle Assessment, which quantifies the environmental performance of a product along its life cycle. LCA, unlike PEF, leaves room for assumptions and personal weighting by the user, which makes comparability between results difficult. To ensure comparability and harmonization, PEF is based on the so-called Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR). PEFCR defines rules and fixed parameters for product categories that must be applied in a PEF study, thus making different products comparable. As part of the seed fund grant, project E01 will prepare for the second period of TRR 280 a screening study that will provide relevant information regarding data collection, data use and data quality as well as environmental hotspots (fixed parameters of PEFCR). This study will provide the basis for Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for carbon-reinforced concrete