"EPDs are there to transparently present the environmental impacts of a product from cradle to grave, across the entire value chain. We're quantifying everything that goes in –energy, water, materials – and everything that comes out: emissions to land, air and water," explained Anna Lasso, product manager UL Environment's EPDs, in an interview with Interiors and Sources magazine.

EPDs do not rank products, and UL notes that the existence of an EPD for a product does not indicate that environmental performance criteria have been met. EPDs are a disclosure tool that helps purchasers better understand a product's sustainable qualities and environmental repercussions so they can make more informed product selections.

"With the maturing of the sustainability programs for buildings, we now see a more holistic approach and less focus on single attributes like recycled content or regional material sourcing and more emphasis on the impact a product has on the occupant. We need to be able to connect the dots for our customers on how our products are impacting the end user," says Chris Marshall, vice president – marketing and business development for Rockfon North America.

Stone wool is produced using a patented technology where volcanic stone and recycled materials are melted and spun into wool. Marshall describes, "For Rockfon, the wool is shaped and cut into acoustic panels of various sizes. Finally, finishing treatments are applied that result in an elegant, durable and attractive surface. Supported by a 30-year warranty, our complete ceiling systems provide high-quality solutions with excellent longevity and lifecycle value that contributes to safe, healthy, sustainable, comfortable and beautiful buildings."

"Eventually, EPDs may be able to provide comparisons between similar products delivering the same function, but right now, this can be confusing at best and misleading at worst," cautions Christian Kofod, sustainability manager for Rockfon North America. "First and foremost, the scope, data and calculation tools can be very different rendering very different results. Secondly, you need to be careful what you are comparing: A high NRC product of 0.90 should not be compared to a lower NRC product, as they are not delivering the same output. It's like comparing apples to pears."

Kofod continues, "At Rockfon, we're happy to share as much information as we can to help designers and specifiers make informed decisions to reach their sustainability goals."

To learn more about Rockfon acoustic stone wool panels, metal ceilings and suspension systems, visit www.rockfon.com.