MJ: HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN TO DEVELOP THE AHEP AND IS IT NOW ‘LIVE’?
Ro: The system has been running since the start of 2015. The development process was relatively rapid as it builds on the existing Thinkstep "Gabi-Envision" software tool for delivery of environmental data. But it is the culmination of decades of work, founded on government forest inventory data. It also brings in the 2008 Seneca Creek U.S. hardwoods risk assessment and ongoing life cycle assessment (LCA) of US hardwoods commissioned by AHEC from consultancy Thinkstep (formerly PE International).
MJ: WHAT KEY ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS AND SPECIES DO AHEPS COVER?
Ro: The AHEP provides environmental data specific to individual export consignments according to species, timber size and transport modes. Data is provided for 19 most commonly traded hardwood species. Each AHEP combines data from the AHEC/Thinkstep LCA and other sources to demonstrate legality and sustainability. The AHEP’s structure and content also aligns with EU timber Regulation (EUTR) requirements. It includes supplier’s name, product description, quantity, species name, place of harvest, and proof of negligible risk of illegality. It also provides quantitative data on Global Warming Potential (or "carbon footprint"), Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential and inputs of nonrenewable and renewable energy.
MJ: WHAT IS THE US HARDWOOD SECTOR’S RESPONSE TO AHEPS?
Ro: They report finding the system easy and intuitive, with profiles generated in five minutes. AHEC members download each AHEP as a pdf file for issue with standard sales and shipping documents and some are already issuing them regularly.
MJ: WHERE WILL OVERSEAS BUYERS SEE AHEPS’ MAIN VALUE?
Ro: The most immediate benefit for overseas buyers is likely to be the role the AHEP can play facilitating conformance to EUTR and similar legislation elsewhere. But others may soon be increasingly seen. For instance, it is clear that European regulators are moving toward requiring LCA and other environmental information. The EU’s Construction Product Regulation (CPR) establishes minimum environmental standards for products and requires data for several impact categories in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). As a result, most European countries are developing EPD programs. In some EU countries provision of environmental impact is already mandatory for construction.
MJ: WHAT WILL BE AHEPS’ VALUE IN DEVELOPMENT OF EPDS?
Ro: The AHEP demonstrates that the data required for any manufacturer in any export market wishing to prepare an EPD for a finished product containing US hardwoods is readily available.
MJ: HOW WILL AHEPS DEVELOP?
Ro: The next stage is probably an on-line eco-calculator, an app that for customers to prepare an "LCA-lite" of any product manufactured in U.S. hardwood
