Kingspan’s QuadCore LEC product range, launched earlier this year, is the next generation in Quadcore sustainable technology.

QuadCore LEC has been developed specifically to help reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Utilising comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) data to the EN15804-A2 standard, Kingspan’s new QuadCore LEC (lower embodied carbon) breakthrough insulated panel technology demonstrates a 21% reduction in embodied carbon in modules A1-A3 (product stage) for QuadCore AWP in 100mm thickness.

Quadcore technology

The original QuadCore product is one of the highest-performing insulation technologies in terms of thermal efficiency, which can enable higher energy and carbon savings through the operational life of a building.

Quadcore LEC takes the product to a new sustainability level and, according to Kingspan Insulated Panels Divisional Head of Sustainability Lizzie Young, is the next stage in Kingspan’s journey to lowering the embodied carbon of its products.

Young explains, “Quadcore LEC is a lower embodied carbon variation of our Quadcore product. The range currently includes the Quadcore KS1000RW LEC Wall Panel, Quadcore AWP LEC Wall Panel, QuadCore KS1000RW LEC Roof Panel and the Quadcore Coldstore LEC Panel.

“According to recent research, 15% of the upfront carbon of a building is in its facade or its envelope. The Quadcore AWP LEC Wall Panel, for instance, shows a 21% reduction in LCA modules A1 – A3 (product stage) when compared to our original Quadcore AWP LCA to the EN15804-A2 standard for a 100mm thickness. So, this one-fifth reduction in envelope carbon emissions, across these modules by using LEC wall panels can offer substantial overall carbon reduction at a total building level.”

Planet Passionate

The development of the Quadcore and Quadcore LEC range has come about as a result of Kingspan’s Planet Passionate programme. Through Planet Passionate, Kingspan works with its supply chain, clients and other construction industry stakeholders to integrate whole life thinking into all aspects of construction that its operations touch.

In 2019, it opened its IKON Innovation Centre in Kingscourt, Co Cavan. The goal of IKON is to research and develop advanced materials and digital technologies that will achieve a net-zero-emissions future, with any products developed in the centre being designed to ensure higher lifetime energy and carbon savings.

In 2022, Kingspan Limited was certified ‘Gold’ under Ecovadis, a sustainability management platform that helps it monitor and track its suppliers’ ESG performance, promote transparency, reduce risk and identify areas for improvement.

Lizzie Young explains that the next steps, through quarterly supplier briefings at IKON, is to onboard suppliers across the Kingspan group onto Ecovadis, a project that began in 2021.

“This ensures that suppliers can align their targets with our targets and more broadly, EU targets for decarbonisation,” Young explains. “Our suppliers are also developing net-zero strategies and are working to provide biobased, higher-recycled content, lower-carbon materials that we can then use in our products.”

Reducing embodied carbon

Before Planet Passionate, Kingspan had a net-zero policy in place since 2011. Its objective was to save more energy and generate more energy from renewable sources, with the rest purchased renewables from the grid.

“Under Planet Passionate, we moved to another level, setting targets for the percentage of energy we generate from renewables onsite and targets for the percentage of renewables directly procured from the grid. We also have zero waste to landfill and packaging reduction programmes, whereby we have targets for the percentage of recycled content in our packaging as well as taking back waste through take-back schemes on sites where it’s practical and can be facilitated.”

Environmental Product Declarations

Lizzie Young explains that environmental product declarations (EPDs) are a core part of Kingspan’s product offering, as these detail the exact embodied carbon reductions it has been achieving.

“At this point in time, we still do not have a good understanding of what buildings consume with non-regulated energy and how occupants truly use them.” says Young. “EPDs show how a product performs a function on a building and exactly what upfront carbon is going into a building. We can present scenarios for digital twins  of buildings and provide an indicative impact of post-occupancy contributions, refurbishment and disposal of building materials at end of life. This data, presented holistically in the EPD, helps customers make informed product choices.”

She advises, “It should be noted that it is essential not to look at a product in isolation. Taking a holistic approach is essential when considering embodied carbon. Specifiers should be considering installation, technical performance, refurbishment and end-of-life criteria when considering their options.”

Working with customers

One of the biggest sustainability challenges facing specifiers and designers looking to reduce embodied carbon in developments is getting reliable data.

Lizzie Young explains, “You can’t carry out a reliable whole-life carbon analysis of a building if you don’t have good data. It is the responsibility of manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that the data that is being provided is comprehensive and accurate in order to support customers.

“We are working to ensure that all Kingspan products have good, accessible environmental product data available, and are utilising ESG criteria such as BES 6001 responsible sourcing”.

In conclusion

Further reductions in the embodied carbon of the QuadCore LEC range are expected between now and 2030, and these are underpinned by the business commitment to net zero carbon manufacturing by 2030, the introduction of an internal carbon charge, and an investment in H2 Green Steel – a company pioneering the manufacture of steel using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels.

In closing, Lizzie Young comments, “The important thing is to reduce emissions materially through science-based targets. All of this relies on having good data and a better understanding of how buildings operate in terms of how people use them.

“The Kingspan team is really proud of the Quadcore LEC product range, the decrease in embodied carbon and the increase in recycled content, Quadcore LEC comprises nearly 50% recycled content. We think that coupled with the certification and its technical performance, this makes Quadcore LEC an exciting addition to the Kingspan portfolio of products,” she concludes.

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