Case Study: Electrolux’s EPD for Refrigerators
The environmental product declarations for electrolux refrigerators include the following information for consumers:
Materials
The percentage and types of materials used in the product as well as a description of how they have improved material choices. For example, plastics do not contain cadmium, lead, mercury or their compounds or chlorinated or brominated flame retardants; metals are not coated with cadmium, chromium, or nickel; and metal paints do not contain pigments and additives based on heavy metals.
Energy and Product Performance
The daily and yearly energy consumption and noise levels — where the product was made and the processes used. For example, painting of flat doors requires solvents that are chlorine free. In production processes there are no uses of heavy metals.
Packaging and Redistributing
Weight of polyethylene and polystyrene plastics used in packaging are marked and recyclable; 75% of the product shipped within Europe uses the railway system.
Recycling and Disposal
The product is designed for easy disassembly, shredding, and separation; composites as well as potentially harmful materials are avoided as far as possible; 80% of the steel is made from recycled metals; plastic parts over 20 grams are marked for recycling; the refrigerant can be easily recovered; 80% by weight of the product is recyclable.
For more information visit Electrolux's website.