Aycliffe-based rainscreen manufacturer, BTS Facades and Fabrications, has gained an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for four of its Vantage® Rainscreen Systems, to support the firm’s ongoing sustainability strategy.
EPDs are internationally accepted, third-party verified documents which provide detailed and transparent information about a product’s environmental impact during its life cycle, from raw material extraction, to use and disposal.
The declarations have been achieved thanks to the help of Blue Marble, a planet impact management company, who have been working closely with the BTS team over the past 12 months to help prepare the EPDs.
To secure the declarations, Blue Marble performed a life-cycle assessment on each product, to determine the environmental impact of the rainscreen systems during their life cycle.
The assessments were then independently verified and published by third-party organiseation, EPD Hub.
Now complete, the EPDs highlight the Vantage System’s environmental performance in accordance with EN 15804+A2, ISO 14025, and ISO 21930 standards.
David Crisan, BTS’ sustainability officer, said he is overjoyed the EPDs have been finalised.
“This is a significant milestone for BTS; it’s been an incredibly tough few months and we’ve worked long and hard to get to this point, but I can safely say it’s totally worth it.
“Once BTS went carbon neutral, we knew securing these EPDs was the next logical step for us. Having these EPDs in place should give our company a significant edge in a difficult market.
“Essentially, this is what architects want; when we meet with our customers they consistently ask for our environmental accreditations, and now we can offer what we think is an industry first for the aluminum rainscreen market.
“Obviously we have embarked on a journey, and we still have a long way to go in terms of reaching our sustainability goals, but this is a huge step in the right direction.”
BTS started its sustainability journey in 2015, when it achieved its first ISO 14001 certification, and since then, the firm has achieved carbon neutral status and is continuing to work with its supply chain to reduce its scope three emissions, which are produced indirectly from the business.
Additionally, BTS are hoping to achieve NetZero by 2030, with the introduction of renewable energy supplied from solar panels and a wind turbine.
Philip Atkinson, BTS’ managing director, said: “Gaining the EPD is a landmark achievement for BTS, and I’m incredibly proud of the whole team for their commitment to this project.
“When we put our environment strategy in place, I knew it was never going to be easy because of the kind industry were in, but slowly and surely, we’re getting there.
“I want BTS to be the most sustainable business in the industry, and we’re well on the way to achieving this.
“Not only does it give us a huge advantage when it comes to architects, ultimately, it is the right thing to do to protect our planet, and if we can do it, so can so many other businesses.”
The BTS team are now striving towards achieving a BCorp certification, to demonstrate the firm’s commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
Find out more about BTS’ sustainability journey: https://btsfabrications.co.uk/sustainability/
