The EPD forms a part of the management’s strategic objective to strengthen its commitment to sustainability. It’s also a way to officially inform the public about our impact on the environment in a rigorous way, says Tomas Lopez, Director of Integrated Management Systems at Vicinay Cadenas.
Having carefully studied available alternatives, Vicinay Cadenas chose to register their EPD with Environdec as its process connected to the company’s strategy.
The EPD system offers a clear and understandable methodology for environmental impact assessment. The knowledge gained through a study of data provided by the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) has allowed us to be more efficient in reducing our impact compared to the existing company methodology, says Tomas Lopez.
The company’s own system is primarily based on sustainable consumption, minimisation of waste generation, respect for the environment and the systematisation of a responsible behaviour throughout the whole organisation.
In preparing for the EPD the company monitored the entire life cycle of the mooring chain. Special emphasis was put on the in-house production phase, over which Vicinay Cadenas can exercise greater control than the production of its suppliers. The idea behind registering an EPD was to work out a systematic process of continuous improvement in the production phase.
Our long-term goal is to encourage the development of the EPD through being more transparent. We’re using relevant information to make our customers more aware as it is the customer, who, through the use of these products, also has an impact on the environment, says Tomas Lopez.
Vicinay Cadenas focuses on platforms, buoys and vessels comprising steel chains. The EPD monitoring process centered around the quantity and toxicity of the materials and processes used in its production and sensibility analysis.
Most of the environmental impact stems from the chemical composition, tests for quality control, delivery method (dimensional requirements and packaging) and mechanical characteristics.
There are no relevant environmental implications in the design of the product as only one material, steel alloy, is used. All of the steel used in the manufacturing process is obtained from recycled material.
The Basque region, the base for Vicinay Cadenas, is a growing centre for sustainability issues. This stems from a high level of knowledge in the field, which allows the region to dig into the serious consequences of a strong industrial activity, in the recent past, for which compensation has not yet been completed.
- Alongside climate change, the history of the region gives us a moral obligation to assess and communicate the consequences of the different behavioural patterns that our society requires, says Tomas Lopez.