ready-mix

concrete

environmental
declaration

R
O
D

N M
E N T A L
O

C T

A
D E C L

INDEX

Description of the organisation

and the product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
the organisation
the product
- product specifications

impacts assessment
use of resources without energy content
use of resources with energy content
potential environmental impacts
waste generation

Other information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
- resources with energy content
- resources without energy content
- potential environmental impacts I
- potential environmental impacts II

RCK 10
....................

RCK 15
....................

RCK 20
....................

RCK 25
....................

RCK 30
....................

Average
Ready-mix
concrete

Buzzi Unicem
Unicalcestruzzi
Santena [TO] plant

T
DU
A
CT DECLAR

system boundaries

parts of the Life Cicle included

ready-mix concrete environmental declaration

Ready-mix concrete type

Environmental performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

IO

ready-mix concrete production

IR

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1_ DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANISATION AND OF THE PRODUCT

R E A D Y-M I X C O N C R E T E E N V I R O N M E N T A L D E C L A R A T I O N

product specifications
Ready-mix concrete is a material formed by mixing cement, coarse and fine aggregate and water, with or without the
incorporation of additives and recycled materials like fly ashes.
Production and use of ready-mix concrete are in accordance with the international standard (EN 206/00).

D E S C R I P T I O N O F T H E O R G A N I S AT I O N A N D O F T H E P R O D U C T

All the impacts and environmental performance in this EPD are referred to 'average ready-mix concrete resulting from
the weighted average of the different concrete typologies produced at the plant.

The organisation

For every environmental performance, in chapt. 3, the difference between the average ready-mix concrete and each single
Buzzi Unicem S.p.A. is an industrial group with approximately 11 ,000 employees and plants located in Italy,

type of ready-mix concrete are specifiedand shown in the graphs.

Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Mexico and Netherlands.
Its main activity is cement production and related activities including production of ready-mix concrete and

In accordance with EN 206-01, ready-mix concrete is classified by:

building products.

Compressive strength class;

Slump class;

In 2001, the Company started a project to implement an Environmental Management System for its activities

Environmental exposure class.

in the concrete sector.

Afterwards Orbassano (TO), Settimello (FI), Castelfiorentino (FI) and Monsummano (PT) plants have obtained
the certification for the same international standard

THE COMPRESSIVE
STRENGHT
C L A S S F O R E V E RY

................................................................................................

READY-MIX
CONCRETE TYPE

PRODUCTION

[m3]

COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH CLASS [MPa]

SLUMP
CLASS

ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPOSURE CLASS

R E A DY- M I X
CONCRETE TYPE

The product

RCK 10
........................

2,739
10
S3 / S4 / S5
........................ ........................ ................... ......................

RCK 15
........................

7,296
15
S3 / S4 / S5
........................ ........................ ................... ......................

Functional unit:

production of 1 m3 of ready-mix concrete

RCK 20
........................

14,203
20
S3 / S4 / S5
X0
........................ ........................ ................... ......................

Estimated life cycle

of the product:

not important
(depends on the use to which the product is put)

RCK 25
........................

53,388
25
S3 / S4 / S5
X0
........................ ........................ ................... ......................

Year of study:

2006

Specificic data:

Production
data for year 2006
Energy
data for year 2006
Raw materials data for year 2006

Production site:

Santena [ TO ]

RCK 30

RE

AD

23,519

30

S3 / S4 / S5

X0 / XC1 / XC2 / XC3

Ready-mix concrete production

Y-

IX

CO

The main phases of the ready-mix concrete cycle are as follows:

N

C
RE

Cement production

TE
PR

Extraction and production of inerts and production of additives

OD

UC

Transport of ready-mix concrete constituents

TIO

00
N 2

Constituents storage
Dosage into ready-mix concrete mixer

RCK 30 | 23.25%

RCK 25 | 52.78%

Distribution of ready-mix concrete

RCK 10 | 2.71%
RCK 15 | 7.21%

In the plant moreover a system of recovery of the ready-mix concrete, obtained from the washing of the
ready-mix concrete mixers is installed, to separate water and aggregates for the successive one re-use.

RCK 20 | 14.04%

R E A D Y- M I X C O N C R E T E E N V I R O N M E N T A L D E C L A R A T I O N

2_ ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

Impacts assessment
Resources without energy content
Resources with energy content
Potential environmental impacts

E N V I R O N M E N TA L P E R F O R M A N C E

Waste generation

Parts of the Life Cycle included

To make sure a better data comparison, the values, relative to 1 m3 of "average ready-mix concrete"
production, are divided into:
Production/extraction of resources | Transport of resources | Ready-mix concrete process

From extraction of the raw materials to distribution of ready-mix concrete from the cradle to the gate.

System boundaries
The system boundaries analysed, in compilance with ready-mix concrete PCR, extend from the extraction of the raw materials

Use of resources without energy content

to the distribution of 1 m3 of ready-mix concrete.

The table shows the main natural resources consumed, excluding energy, for the activities of the extraction of raw materials to
the production of 1 m3 of ready-mix concrete.

PRODUCTION PHASE
1 m3 OF READY-MIX
CONCRETE

...

CEMENT
PRODUCTION

...

FLY
ASHES

...

END OF LIFE PHASE

...

CONSTITUENTS
STORAGE

DISTRIBUTION

USE

....

END
OF LIFE

DOSAGE

Non renowable resources

without energy content
............................

RESOURCES
PRODUCTION

RESOURCES
TRANSPORT

kg

2,315.66

0.47

..............

Renowable resources
without energy content
............................

..............

Water consumption

............... ..............

kg

0.00

0.00

2,316.13

..............

..............

0.00

0.00

..............

..............

180.78

589.47

0.00

............... ..............
397.04

READY-MIX
AVERAGE READY-MIX
CONCRETE PROCESS
CONCRETE

11.65

....

ADDITIVE
PRODUCTION

...

TRANSPORT

EXTRACTION AND
PRODUCTION OF INERT

MEASUREMENT
UNITS

WATER

USE PHASE

COMPOSITION OF 1m3
D I AV E R AG E R E A DY- M I X
CONCRETE

The use phase cannot be analysed in the LCA study, because ready-mix concrete is used as a raw material in many different
activities; it is therefore not possible to provide information on the environmental impacts caused during use.
The information on the use phase is contained in the Ready-mix oncrete safety data sheets (ref. Dir.1999/45/CE) which also
indicates the preventive measures to avoid negative environmental risks and impacts.

COMPONENTS

MEASUREMENT
UNITS

AVERAGE READY-MIX
CONCRETE

kg/m3
Cement 42.5 II ALL
............................. ..........................

263.6
..........................

kg/m3
Fly ashes
............................. ..........................

45.6
..........................

l/m3
Additives
............................. ..........................

1.5
..........................

l/m3
Water
............................. ..........................

175.0
..........................

Aggregates

kg/m3

1,871.7

1 m3 OF READY-MIX
CONCRETE

MEASUREMENT
UNITS

AVERAGE READY-MIX
CONCRETE

Cement
..................................

kg/m3
.......................

263.6
.......................

Fly ashes
..................................

kg/m3
45.6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
%
14.7

S UB S T I T U T I O N O F C E M E N T
WITH FLY ASHES

Secondary raw material used

Impacts assessment

Use of resources with energy content

The table shows the main resources with energy content, from the raw materials quarring to the production of 1 m3 of
ready-mix concrete.

1 m3 OF READY-MIX
CONCRETE

Renowable resources
with energy content [termic]
.............................
Non renowable resources
with energy content [termic]
.............................
Total resources
. . . . . . with
. . . . energy
. . . . . . .content
............
Electric energy [direct]

MEASUREMENT
UNITS

RESOURCES
PRODUCTION

RESOURCES
TRANSPORT

READY-MIX
AVERAGE READY-MIX
CONCRETE PROCESS
CONCRETE

MJ
..............

76.55
..............

0.11
..............

1.61
..............

78.27
..............

MJ
..............

1,547.01
..............

238.20
..............

15.50
..............

1,800.71
..............

MJ
..............

1,623.57
..............

238.31
..............

17.11
..............

1,878.98
..............

MWh

0.000

0.000

0.0013

0.0013

O T H E R I N F O R M AT I O N

R E A D Y- M I X C O N C RE TE E N V I R O N M E N T A L D E C L A R A T I O N

2_ ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

The most important air emissions, due to the production of 1 m3 of "average ready-mix concrete",
are in the following table:
AIR EMISSION
g/m3 of average
ready-mix concrete

Potential environmental impacts

1 m3 OF READY-MIX
CONCRETE

MEASUREMENT
UNITS

Global warming - GWP

.............................

kg CO2 eq.
..............

212.45
..............

17.53
..............

1.06
..............

231.04
..............

Ozone depletion - ODP

.............................

kg CFC-11 eq.
..............

0.000003
..............

0.00000001
..............

0.0000000005
..............

0.000003
..............

Acidification - AP
.............................

kg SO2 eq.
..............

0.62
..............

0.15
..............

0.01
..............

0.78
..............

Eutrophication - NP
.............................
Photochemical oxidant
formation - POCP

kg PO43- eq.
..............

0.07
..............

0.02
..............

0.00
..............

0.09
..............

kg C2H4 eq.

0.04

0.01

0.00

0.06

RESOURCES
PRODUCTION

RESOURCES
TRANSPORT

READY-MIX
CONCRETE PROCESS

AVERAGE READY-MIX
CONCRETE

Dust

CO
TOC
3,592
623
7.1
.............................................................................................................

NOX

Methane
NH3
645
373
1.53
.............................................................................................................

CO2

HCI
Other Methals
222,414
1.73
0.001
.............................................................................................................

378

SOX

HF

0.04

N2O

0.00001

The following graph shows the variation of the impacts, for every ready-mix concrete type, from the
average ready-mix concrete:

Resources with energy content

Waste generation
Almost all generated waste can be ascribed to the raw materials extraction/production phase, while a small amount can be
attributed to the production process. Ready-mix concrete production does not generate waste which is instead produced during
maintenance.
Moreover the recycling plant allows recuperating aggregates and water and avoids waste generation from ready-mix concrete
mixers wash.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
IS SUCH DEFINED
BY UE DIRECTIVE

1 m3 OF READY-MIX
CONCRETE

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .10
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .15
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .20
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .25
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .30
. . . . .. .... .

20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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0.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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-10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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-30.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

MEASUREMENT
UNITS

RESOURCES
PRODUCTION

RESOURCES
TRANSPORT

Waste production
.............................

kg
..............

35.05
..............

0.67
..............

2.72
..............

38.44
..............

-40.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

Hazardous waste production

.............................

kg
..............

0.410
..............

0.069
..............

0.002
..............

0.482
..............

-50.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

kg

34.64

0.60

2.72

37.95

Non hazardous waste production

READY-MIX
AVERAGE READY-MIX
CONCRETE PROCESS
CONCRETE

Total energy

Electric energy

3_ OTHER INFORMATION

Resources without energy content

%

RCK 10

RCK 15

RCK 20

RCK 25

RCK 30

20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

0,00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-30.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-40.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

Total resources

Concrete PCR was approved by Swedish Environmental Management

Council, on 09-13-2005, "PCR 2005:7 - Concrete".
PCR and EPD document are published on the Swedish Environmental
Management Council web site (www.environdec.com).

Contact for Buzzi Unicem

................................................................
Roberto Bogliolo
Buzzi Unicem S.p.A.
via Luigi Buzzi, 6
15033 Casale Monferrato [AL]
tel: +39 0142 416497
e-mail: rbogliolo@buzziunicem.it

Idric resources

Potential Environmental Impacts - I

%

RCK 10

RCK 15

RCK 20

RCK 25

RCK 30

20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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0.00

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

Requirements for an international Environmental Product Declaration scheme.

-10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

ISO 14025

-20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-30.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-40.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

-50.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

Information from the certification body

................................................................
This EPD and relative LCA study have been approved by ICMQ S.p.A.
(www.icmq.org) in accordance with:

PCR 2005:7 - Concrete

Certification number: 05002EPD
First Emission:
22.06.2005
Current Emission:
19.11.2007
Expiry date:
19.11.2010
................................................................
Registration number: S-P-00108
................................................................

Acidification

........

EPD realised inside the "INTEND project" (www.intendproject.com)

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .20
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .25
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .30
. . . . .. .... .

20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

0.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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-10.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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-20.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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-30.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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-40.00

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

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. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

. . . .. ....... .. .. . . . . . .. .... .

Eutrophication
8

Photochemical oxidant formation

Validity time: The EPD shall be renewed when the PCR is modified (usually every
three years). Whilst, when there is a variation higher than 5% in one or more
data reported in the EPD document, the EPD will be verified and the
verification will focus especially on parameters and data generating
the variation.

T
DU
A
CT DECLAR

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .15
. . . . .. .... .

. . . .. .....RCK
.. .. .. .10
. . . . .. .... .

Potential Environmental Impacts - II

IO

Global warming

IR

O NM NTAL
E

Buzzi Unicem S.p.A

via Luigi Buzzi, 6
15033 Casale Monferrato [AL]
Italia
tel +39 0142 416111
fax +39 0142 416464
info@buzziunicem.it
www.buzziunicem.it
Impianto di Santena
ss TorinoAsti, 50
10026 Santena [TO]
Italia
tel +39 011 9494285 / 9492597
fax +39 011 9498376