FOG & VENØ goes beyond products; we empower sustainable documentation through life cycle assessment (LCA). By applying LCA, we support builders in achieving certifications such as DGNB, LEED, and BREEAM, and can thereby document how our products impact the environment throughout their entire lifespan.
LCA
LCA stands for "Life Cycle Assessment," a method used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction, production, and distribution to usage, recycling, and disposal. The purpose of an LCA is to quantify and assess environmental aspects such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and other resource consumptions to determine how to minimize negative impacts and enhance sustainability. LCA is often used to make informed decisions about environmental impact, product development, and process optimization.
In addition, FOG & VENØ internally supports further sustainable development, which assists builders and architects in selecting the right materials for constructions so they can be approved under certifications such as DGNB, LEED, and BREEAM, which are the most well-known certifications in Europe. However, today it's not just professional players in the market who are concerned with this.
There is an increasing demand from more and more customers and consumers who are interested in what the product consists of and where it originates from. Many are concerned about our environment, recycling, and responsible production. An LCA can be advantageously used as a tool in this decision-making process. FOG & VENØ has conducted LCAs on three of our best-selling product categories.
Wood Panels
Linoleum Panels
EPD
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) provides a detailed description of a product's environmental performance based on an objective assessment, making it easy for project managers and decision-makers to compare and select materials with low environmental impact.
FR Panel Fiberboard
FAQ
As the focus on sustainability has increased, so has the need for certifications, as they establish a common framework for sustainability. The appropriate certification for a construction project can vary, and there are several certification schemes within Danish construction. These certifications are not something that we as manufacturers have or can obtain, since it is the building itself that is certified!
BREEAM, launched in 1990, is a British sustainability certification for buildings. BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method and is used as a certification scheme in 89 countries.
The BREEAM certification primarily focuses on environmental and indoor climate aspects, whereas the DGNB certification evaluates based on a wider range of parameters of the building, assessing the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the construction on equal terms. In Northern Europe, it is primarily the DGNB and BREEAM models that are used as standards.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an American sustainability certification established in 1998. LEED is used as a certification scheme in 135 countries. Like BREEAM, LEED certification primarily focuses on the environment and indoor climate. It is up to the developer who wants to construct a sustainable building to decide whether it should be a bronze, gold, or platinum building according to the standards set under LEED. It is then the architect's responsibility to design and plan the project so that the construction achieves the necessary points to be certified as bronze, gold, or platinum.
As a manufacturer, FOG & VENØ cannot become LEED certified. The company has decided to perform an LCA on our products. It is this LCA that architects use as documentation in their LEED accounting, which gives the construction the points contributed by the products.
DGNB is a sustainable certification for buildings. The scheme equally weighs environmental, economic, and social factors. DGNB was introduced in Germany in 2008 and has been adapted to upcoming European standards for sustainable construction, which came into effect in 2013. DGNB equally emphasizes environmental, economic, and social aspects. It evaluates 49 criteria, and the points are summed up to an assessment from bronze to platinum.
Can FOG & VENØ be DGNB certified? - As a manufacturer, one cannot be DGNB certified. Fog & Venø has chosen to perform an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) of our products, and it is this LCA that architects use as documentation in their DGNB accounting, whereby the construction earns the points contributed by the products.
Wood from Responsible Forestry
Our commitment to sustainability is certified through various channels. The use of FSC™ certified wood in our panels ensures responsible and environmentally conscious production.
ALLIANCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Our partnership with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and dedication to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals form a strong alliance. Our Swan-labelled products are more than just panels; they represent our vision of a more responsible and sustainable world.