In addition to the building materials themselves, these environmental impacts depend on the type of building, its use, transportation and maintenance technologies, recycling rates, etc. Accordingly, value factors for building materials need to be put in perspective to the use and end-of-life stages of the building. For example, a better insulated building may have higher environmental impacts from material use, but lower impacts during the use phase.
At present, due to data limitations it is not possible to recommend average, yet comprehensive value factors for building materials. We can, however, provide illustrative examples for certain life cycle stages and classes of impacts.
Environmental impacts of concrete 45/55 related to greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication amount to 114€ per metric ton.