The certification, which is valid until 2029, has been awarded under the International EPD® System, a global programme for environmental declarations.

The rigorous EPD process involves data collection, LCA analysis, impact assessment and verification in order to develop a comprehensive document that provides transparent information about a product's environmental impact. Companies going through the process are required to provide verifiable information about a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle. This includes factors such as resource extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use and end-of-life disposal.

The Hygenius furniture assessed during the EPD certification process was an exemplar installation of infection control furniture using a standard clean utility room design. Furniture items in the assessed design included, among others, worktops, cupboards, panels, wall units and shelving. 

The EPD process for Hygenius clearly demonstrated the impact of material choice on the carbon emissions associated with its infection control furniture. In one scenario, carbon emissions were reduced by 16% when using 12mm thermoformed acrylic solid surfaces rather than 40mm MDF laminate worksurfaces. In another scenario, carbon emissions were reduced by 6% when using medium-density fibreboard (MFC) rather than MDF substrate.

Gerard Baxter, Sustainability Champion at Hygenius, said: 'Sustainability is embedded in our culture. While FF&E may seem like a minor component of a hospital, going through the EPD process has demonstrated that even the small details such as ironmongery and material choice can have a significant impact on compliance both for infection control and sustainability.'

In addition to securing EPD certification, Hygenius has also developed a new organisational carbon reduction plan which sets out several initiatives to further reduce the company’s carbon emissions. Key areas for action identified in the plan are upstream transportation and distribution, employee commuting and electricity purchasing, with clearly defined actions against each of these. The company is also working with a sustainability consultant to develop a user-friendly LCA calculator which will be made available to existing and prospective customers in order to help them make informed purchasing decisions that minimise environmental impact.

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