Lignacite - A Structured Approach to Recycled Content Verification

The Process: A Structured Approach to Recycled Content Verification  

Blue Marble proposed a process in line with its internal procedures for verifying recycled content in products and materials. A five stage process was employed; this process is detailed below.

1. Development of Calculation Methodology

First, a calculation methodology was developed which complies with ISO 14021. The methodology takes into account real-world factors such as the yield of the construction product, this ensures that any potential losses (e.g. moisture, waste) are account for. For this reason, the Rules of Thumb for calculating recycled content in construction products guide from WRAP was referenced to calculate the recycled content.

Sam McGarrick, Blue Marble’s Head of Advisory, explains more:

“ISO 14021 is an extremely useful standard for manufacturers wishing to make verifiable environmental claims about their products. It is a self-assessment standard, giving simple tools and methodologies for making a variety of environmental statements: recycled content, recyclability, reuse potential etc. I highly recommend it for manufacturers wishing to get serious about environmental claims, adhere to the UK Green Claims Code, and avoid spurious environmental statements about a product’s credentials which could lead to accusations of misrepresentation and loss of customer confidence”.

2. Verification of Recycled Material Status

Next, it was necessary to determine whether the materials claimed to be recycled, were in fact meeting the criteria to be a recycled material and the definition of recycled content as provided by ISO 14021. Within the blocks studied, there are two materials which can be considered recycled, these are: 1) graded wood particles, and 2) recycled sand. Blue Marble developed a questionnaire for Ligancite’s suppliers, to provide documentary evidence that the products meet the criteria for being considered a recycled material.

3. On-site Production Audit at Nazeing Plant

An on-site audit was conducted by Blue Marble at the Lignacite Nazeing plant. For the production of their blocks, Lignacite physically segregate the input materials, and operate a controlled blending model to control the individual design mixes of the different batches. The on-site audit followed this production process from end-to-end, carefully observing and checking the flows of recycled materials at each stage from arrival on-site to dispatch to customer sites to meet demand.

4. Data Reconciliation and Evidence Collection

Records, including procurement records, materials received logs and recipe material usage reports were collected and analysed to verify the actual recycled content incorporated into finished products. A material reconciliation was performed – matching the quantities of recycled inputs delivered to the site with the output quantity of blocks produced.

This step ensured that the mass of recycled material supplied met or exceeded the amount required to meet the claimed recycled content percentages in all audited products.

5. Reporting

Finally, the results were analysed and presented in a summary audit report which explains the calculations made as well as the methodology followed and the audit findings.