KÉSZ Group: Investors can make eco-friendly decisions easier
KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft. has published an environmental product declaration.
The production of building materials and construction activities account for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is increasingly important for designers and investors, especially in LEED and BREEAM certified green buildings, to use materials and products with minimal environmental impact during construction. KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft., a member of the KÉSZ Group, published a certified environmental product declaration (EPD) of its steel structures manufactured in Kecskemét, examining the products' entire lifecycle from raw material extraction to disposal.
The built environment is responsible for 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 27% from building operations and 13% from the production of building materials and construction itself. The environmental impacts of materials used in construction and their production processes are significant, with precise calculation based on lifecycle analysis (LCA). In recent years, environmental protection has become increasingly important in the construction industry, leading to a growing interest among investors in materials and products with minimal environmental impact.
“As a construction-focused company responsible for environmental protection and sustainability, the KÉSZ Group places high importance on continuously seeking greener alternatives in the field of raw materials. We are especially proud that the steel structures manufactured by KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft. in Kecskemét have received the certified environmental product declaration (EPD). This examines the products' entire lifecycle from raw material extraction to disposal,” said Ferenc Honti, Managing Director of KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft.
More eco-conscious decisions for contractors
The EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a globally recognized, yet still rare independent certification for domestically produced construction products, quantifying their environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle—from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and use, to disposal.
“The certification aims to provide more accurate and reliable information on the environmental impacts of steel structures incorporated into buildings, ensuring transparency and comparability. This enables designers and contractors to make eco-conscious decisions, fostering a more sustainable construction industry. The data collection, process exploration, and dominance analysis required for the EPD documentation, which takes several months, also help identify areas for improvement in our company, allowing us to set further environmental goals and reduce waste and energy consumption,” added Ferenc Honti.
The KÉSZ Group worked with the EY Sustainability Services team, EY denkstatt, for the EPD compilation. The KÉSZ Group treats sustainability as a strategic priority and has developed a sustainability strategy for the 2022-2030 period, setting smart goals that go well beyond mandatory requirements. Last year, it published its first sustainability report for 2022, prepared in accordance with the GRI 2021 Standards.