As a standard approach, Sika evaluates all impact categories and resource indicators deemed as important according to the relevant standards. For flooring, categories considered to be most relevant include: Cumulative Energy Demand (CED), the Global Warming Potential (GWP), and the Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP). Others, such as Use of Net Fresh Water are less significant for Flooring and hence not included in this publication.
From a Cradle to Gate perspective, the majority of the potential impacts are connected to the raw materials A , which are used to produce the products B , that are used to build up the flooring systems; including primers, wearing coats and sealers. From a Cradle to Grave perspective, beside the raw materials, the ‘Use’ phase D and the End-of-Life phase E have the most significant influence on the overall sustainability performance of flooring systems. This is due to the different future maintenance and refurbishment requirements of different flooring systems, which are highly dependent on the intended use, exposure and durability of the floor.
The LCA data in this brochure refers to 1 m² of the flooring system and is either based on a Cradle to Gate or a Cradle to Grave approach.1
1 In the LCA’s, neither the subfloor construction (concrete deck) nor capital goods (e.g. machinery) were considered, as these are additional variables and apart from the actual flooring system.
The Sika flooring LCA's have been performed internally by the Sika Corporate Product Sustainability Group, using the ‘state-of-the-art’ GaBi software from PE International. These have then been reviewed by the leading Swiss research institute, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA).
How can Sika flooring systems contribute to sustainable construction?
Energy and resource efficiency: Sika provides flooring systems that use less energy and resources by comparison with other technologies and systems.
Climate protection: Sika provides flooring systems with a low Global Warming Potential, which means a reduced Carbon Footprint.
Air quality: Sika provides low emission flooring solutions, which fulfill all of the demanding requirements for indoor Air quality in both public and private Buildings. Specific Sika flooring solutions are also produced for Clean Room facilities that have the lowest level of emissions.
Maintenance: Sika seamless flooring systems allow better and easier cleaning over time when compared to other flooring materials with grouted joints or with welds.
Refurbishment: Sika flooring systems can easily be refurbished to extend their service life, thereby reducing costs, energy and resources compared with other flooring technologies.
Air quality flooring solutions: Sika provides low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and VOC-free flooring solutions, which help to avoid summer smog and improve health and safety conditions during the floor installation process.
High performance Sika flooring solutions provide comparatively thin flooring systems, which means that there is less material to be disposed of at the end of life.