When assessing whether a particular type of insulation is more or less sustainable than another it is important not to be swayed by green-washing and anecdotal stories.

The true story can be found out only when a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is undertaken. An LCA performed to ISO14040 will allow for a fair and transparent comparison, as it includes an inventory of the environmental impact associated with the life cycle of a product.

To make meaningful comparisons when using this information it is also important to understand where each assessment begins and ends. For example, if comparing imported products with New Zealand made, the ‘cradle to gate’ numbers may be similar, but when the impact of shipping distances is included this may mean the environmental footprint of the imported product is greater.