Construction

Through long-term collaboration with academic institutions, for example, we help define the ISO-standards and CEN-standards that ensure that sustainability assessments used by the construction sector are robust and verified

Our unique position between academia and industry allows us to assist municipalities and governments by formulating legally sound procurement requirements and sustainability strategies, among other things. By basing policy on verified Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) , we help create frameworks where sustainable choices are practically achievable.

One such example is the ongoing SecondPass projectHere, we help developing scalable Digital Product Passports (DPP) that balance condensed metrics with expanded lifecycle data, transforming complex circular economy regulations into a functional compliance tool for industry.

The shift towards stricter documentation for the construction sector is an important development towards a greener industry. Since the 1990s, we have worked together with private and public companies to integrate Life Cycle Thinking into product development and project management.

For example, a common challenge is to document relevant environmental footprints through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)NORSUS recently helped Høiax become Norway’s first water heater manufacturer to publish verified EPDs , creating competitive advantage by setting a new industry benchmark.

Whether optimising building design or verifying material origins, we can help with the processes and data necessary to navigate a changing market. This type of work include the large BetongHUBconsortium (including AF Gruppen and Betong Øst), where we currently develop decision-support tools for recycled concrete utilisation. Among many benefits, the result from this research prepares the construction sector for stricter TEK environmental requirements that are on the way.

Finally, beyond large-scale private R&D we also develop and use LCA methodology to answer strategic questions, including:

• Green Construction – Is it technically feasible to construct and operate a sports facility with 50% lower greenhouse gas emissions than a standard reference building? – Yes.
• Product Optimization – How can we optimise the logistics and value chain of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) to create the lowest-carbon structural wood product on the market? – Focus on the transport logisticssince generic environmental data is insufficient.
• Policy Analysis – Does a motorhome holiday generate higher or lower emissions than the realistic alternatives? – Often lower, which means that penalising motorhome ownership via taxes may be counterproductive.

For more information, please contact Anne Rønning.