Cincinnati, OH – February 25, 2011 – Cornerstone Specialty Wood Products, LLC recently completed a study to evaluate the environmental impact of their mezzanine flooring product ResinDek® (an engineered wood product) versus concrete in the construction of mezzanines and industrial platforms. The study concluded that when engineered wood products such as ResinDek® are used instead of concrete, the environmental impact is decreased in every Life Cycle Assessment category. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for construction products is a systematic approach to quantify the environmental impacts associated with a product through its entire life, from initial extraction of the raw materials to manufacturing, use, and eventual disposal or recycling of it. The research compared the use of 4,000 psi and 3,000 psi concrete mix to ResinDek® panels in 5 different categories: • CO2 Emissions • Acid Rain Potential • Smog Production • Nitrogen Contamination in Water • Energy Consumed ResinDek® panels proved to be carbon negative over their life cycle compared to concrete for mezzanine flooring. Up to 45% more carbon is sequestered in ResinDek® products than is emitted over the rest of the product’s life cycle. ResinDek® was also defined as a net energy producer when burned at the end of its life cycle since very few fossil fuels were required to manufacture it, unlike concrete. Because ResinDek weighs less than concrete, and allows for a more resilient flooring system, fewer and lighter supports were required for this product for industrial platforms. Since mezzanines or industrial platforms are commonly added within distribution centers to increase space without using more land, the shift from concrete to engineered wood mezzanine flooring starts adding up quickly in several areas.
