Sustainability Assessments

Sustainable development of companies

Soil with recycle symbol.

ISO 14040/14044 LCA

Normec OWS performs Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in compliance with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. These provide a clear framework and guidelines, while still allowing plenty of freedom for the LCA practitioner to focus on very specific research questions. As such, they are perfect for research projects in which the assessed processes are still at conceptual, lab, or pilot scale; for study subjects that are more complicated than single products or organizations; or in order to answer very specific questions.

Why Normec OWS?

  • No leadtime
  • Independent laboratory
  • Recognized worldwide
  • Tailored approach

Reduce environmental impact

LCA goes beyond single-aspect labels and looks at different impact categories, thereby safeguarding against greenwashing. The LCA outcome gives insight into how to reduce environmental impact by improving processes, switching to other materials, or using different tools.

The ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards ensure a transparent methodology and reporting. The results can be expressed for a range of impact categories. We have access to several impact assessment methods, so the impact assessment can be tailored to your needs.

 

The scope can include the entire life cycle or be limited to part thereof, such as:

  • Cradle to cradle – full life cycle with recycling;
  • Cradle to grave – full life cycle with waste disposal;
  • Cradle to gate – from raw resource extraction up to a certain point in the life cycle;
  • Gate to gate – including only a limited part of the life cycle;
  • Well to wheel – specific LCA for transport fuels.

Curious what Normec OWS can do for your company?

Request a quote
FAQ

All frequently asked questions
in a row

Is Normec OWS ISO 17025 accredited?

Yes, we are recognized by DIN CERTCO in line with ISO 17025. This accreditation covers all test procedures and standards with regard to compostability and biodegradation. Additionally, we are ISO 17025 accredited by BELAC for our compost analyses and also recognized by TÜV Austria. Normec OWS is also ISO 17020 accredited for inspection services and ISO 14001 approved for environmental management. View our recognitions & certificates.

Where is Normec OWS located?

Our main offices are located in Ghent, Belgium. We also have a subsidiary located in Kettering, Ohio to serve the needs of our American customers.

How long does testing take?

Testing duration depends on the specific type of test and the product itself. This can range from a couple of weeks for material characteristics testing, to months or even years for biodegradation testing. As these are microbial processes, we cannot predict the exact duration beforehand.