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Valpak supports STG Aerospace with LCA and EPD development for saf-Tglo® eco E1TM
STG Aerospace, a Heads Up Technologies Company, is a global leader in innovative aircraft lighting technologies, trusted by major airlines and OEMs worldwide. With 30 years of expertise, they’re known for their cutting-edge emergency lighting systems that blend safety, performance, and design flair.
Recently, STG has been on a mission to reduce the environmental footprint of their products, without compromising on product integrity or passenger safety.
Emergency exit marking
Sustainability is now front and centre for the aviation industry, and STG wanted to take a significant step in their journey toward greater environmental transparency and responsibility. The company has launched saf-Tglo® eco E1TM, a new emergency exit marking designed to deliver the same quality, reliability and functionality as their other photoluminescent products, but with a lighter environmental footprint. To back up their environmental efforts with robust, data-driven evidence, STG needed:
- a way of assessing the extent of the potential environmental impact improvements achieved through the design of saf-Tglo® eco E1TM and
- a way of communicating to stakeholders their innovation and their commitment to impact reduction
Rigid Plastics
Valpak conducted a comprehensive Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) in line with ISO 14040/44 and EN 15804 standards with the goal of:
- comparing the environmental impacts associated with the lifecycles of the
saf-Tglo® eco E1TM and Encapsulated products - developing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for saf-Tglo® eco E1TM in line with ISO 14025.
After the goal was defined, the scope was set, including the declared unit and system boundary. This stage was all about setting the framework for reliable, comparable results whilst complying with the relevant standards to ensure saf-Tglo® eco E1TM’s LCA results can be used in an EPD.
Our team considered all relevant inputs and outputs across the product lifecycle and calculated impacts from raw material extraction and transport, to manufacturing, distribution and installation, and end-of-life. Once the study was finalised, the results for saf-Tglo® eco E1™ were incorporated into an EPD, which was subsequently verified and published, providing STG with a transparent, and credible communication tool.
Emergency exit marking
The LCA demonstrated that the saf-Tglo® eco E1TM product delivers a significant reduction in potential environmental impacts compared to the Encapsulated version across most impact indicators, including carbon footprint and water use.
These insights demonstrated how the environmental impacts of a product can be significantly reduced at the design stage, specifically for raw materials extraction.
The saf-Tglo® eco E1TM EPD reaffirms STG’s commitment to sustainability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Working with Valpak has given us the data and confidence to substantiate our sustainability efforts with evidence-based results. The LCA has demonstrated how thoughtful design can significantly improve the overall environmental impacts of a product. The EPD for saf-Tglo® eco E1TM has been game-changer, helping us showcase our progress towards lower-impact, sustainable lighting solutions.