The LCA verification certificate is a measure of a product’s environmental impact during its life cycle. The verification process includes a thorough assessment of the evaluation methods employed to create the product’s ISO 14040/14044 life cycle study report.
According to SGS, experts consider a wide variety of potential influencing factors, including abiotic resource consumption (ADP), abiotic resource consumption (fossil fuels) (ADP-fossil fuels), global warming (GWP 100), ozone layer depletion (ODP), human toxicity (TEP), freshwater aquatic ecological toxins (FAETP), marine aquatic ecological toxicity (MAETP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity (TETP).
The SGS LCA verification certification was granted to two front-loading washing machine models manufactured by Midea Laundry Appliances. The company is at the forefront of sustainability improvements for washing machines, particularly in regard to eco-packages, use of recycled materials, microfiber catchers and energy efficiency.
Keith Hutchinson, deputy director of global certification for SGS Connectivity and Products, presented the SGS LCA verification certificate to Shen Wenjie, Midea European regional director, recently at the Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances Exhibition (IFA) in Berlin, Germany.
Hutchinson said: “Awarding the world’s first SGS LCA verification certificate for a washing machine to Midea Laundry is a clear demonstration of their commitment to sustainability.”
SGS LCA verification certification can be applied to all consumer electronic products, with certification acting “as proof of sustainability, enabling competitive advantage in increasingly regulated markets,” SGS said.