Hedrad upcycles Kraft paper into honeycomb panels called Readycomb. These panels are sandwiched into various finishes like cement boards, glass, mild steel and fabrics to create replacements for walling materials. Hedrad partnered with Monk Spaces for a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify the environmental impacts of their products. This assessment adhered to ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and EN 15804+A2 standards, providing detailed evaluations of environmental impacts.

The assessment followed the requirements of PCR 2019:14 – Construction products defined by the International EPD System. As per these requirements, the LCA covered mandated stages of the life cycle – manufacturing (A1-A3), end-of-life (C1-C4), and benefits (D). The PCR also defined requirements for impact indicators that include global warming potential, abiotic depletion potential, water deprivation potential and others. Once the requirements were defined, a custom input sheet was prepared based on Hedrad’s product variants and manufacturing processes. This sheet included quantities for raw material procurement, transportation, production, wastage and energy consumption.

After data collection from Hedrad, the life cycle impacts were estimated using One Click LCA and secondary data from Ecoinvent. The estimated results were documented as a LCA report. The LCA report provides detailed explanations of this impact quantification. Key performance indicators (KPIs) were identified across product life cycle stages. The assessment also identified which phases or materials contributed most to the environmental impact.

Comparative analyses were conducted, including product-based and project-based comparisons. The product-based comparisons evaluated the environmental impact of the Hedrad panels against conventional materials using specific Indian data. These conventional materials included various bricks, ready-mix concrete, aluminium partitions, insulation panels, etc. The project-based comparisons evaluated business-as-usual scenarios of wall assemblies compared with Honeycomb panels’ assemblies. These were done for 1sqm of internal and external walls.

The assessment concluded with recommendations for decarbonization and checks on completeness, sensitivity and consistency. The assessment results also help Hedrad make stronger pitches, optimize supply chains, and develop new product variants.