The analysis of the impact of aluminum profiles, considering all stages of its life cycle (LCA), materials, production, and also the phase of use and disposal, now allows a faster company research in the field of Circular Economy. The research fits into the future developments of ecodesign, invoked by the extended producer responsibility directives of the European Community. The project clearly positions NEXTEXTRUSION for sustainability and for the company's growth and development policies in the direction of the global Green Deal, an example for Made in Italy companies.
With the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, "Final technical report_STUDY LCA FOR EXTRUDED ALUMINUM PROFILES BY NEXT EXTRUSION", the impacts of different environmental aspects and the global impact of the extrusion process for every kg of aluminum profile produced in the Nardò (Lecce) plant are identified. The impact measurement, elaborated in compliance with ISO 14040 standards and the EN 15804 category rules (Construction product sustainability), is functional for the inclusion in the international Environdec registry of the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) NEXTEXTRUSION, the latter requested by qualified construction sites and the rules of sustainable public procurement (Minimum Environmental Criteria - CAM).
The implemented analytical methodology also guarantees the provision of a parametric model useful for subsequent research and innovation activities to achieve a substantial improvement in the ecological impact of products and processes, guided by scientific data. At the same time, the environmental screening of materials and the report of metrics related to critical environmental aspects have allowed new sustainable procurement procedures for all actors in the supply chain.
The NEXTEXTRUSION Sustainable Procurement Manual is based on the following 6 principles:
