LifeNet_Environmental_Product_Declaration

Environmental Product Declaration for LifeNet® Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net

Developed in conjunction with Quantis

This Environmental Product Declaration provides a quantative description of the environmental profile

of LifeNet, based on a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)1. This LCA was carried out in compliance

with ISO 14040-44, which has assessed elements such as raw material extraction and energy use during

production; the content of materials and chemical substances; emissions to air, soil and water and waste

generation during all phases of the life cycle of the product. In other words it has holistically assessed

the full environmental impact from all processes related to the production of the nets through to

their ultimate use and disposal at end-of-life.

This LCA is independently verified for its conformity with the ISO 14040-44 standard requirements

by expert panel review.

Environmental Product Declarations can be completed according to ISO Standards (referred to under the

acronymn - EPD). Within the ISO framework an EPD contains a variety of information about the composition

and environmental characteristics of a product, based on life-cycle assessment (LCA). The exact type of

information is specific to a particular type of product group and is determined in “product specific requirements”

(PSR) or Product Category Rules (PCR). These are drawn up by industry in full consultation with stakeholders

and competitors. Currently no Product Category Rule exists for long-lasting nets in the EPD system.

The fully ISO certified LCA from which the data in this document are extracted included a direct

comparison of LifeNet with existing polyethylene and polyester nets. More detailed information from

this LCA report is available upon request.

Introduction to this Environmental Product Declaration

1 BCS-ES (2011). Environmental Assessment of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets: Polypropylene net (LifeNet), polyethylene net and polyester net.

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ENvIroNmENtAL ProDuCt DECLArAtIoN

Bayer is an inventor company with a long tradition of research. By applying science to the major

global challenges, we deliver innovations that address unmet customer and market needs.

Our focus on innovation is the key to maintaining or gaining a leading position in every market

in which we operate. It is also the foundation for improving the lives of many millions of people:

• We help patients around the world by preventing, alleviating and

curing diseases as well as improving diagnosis

• We ensure a sufficient supply of high-quality food, feed and fibre

• We make significant contributions in the fields of energy and resource

efficiency, mobility and home living - to name just a few.

By working sustainably and accepting our role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen -

and by committing to our Bayer values - we create benefits for the communities in which we live.

Science For A Better Life: This is the promise we all give to our stakeholders.

Our mission: “Science For A Better Life”

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CoNtENtS

Our mission: “Science For A Better Life” ................................................................02

Company Related Information ............................................................................ 05

Description of the product LifeNet® ..................................................................... 08

Environmental Performance Calculation .............................................................. 11

System Boundaries ............................................................................................ 12

Assessing the Environmental Profile .................................................................... 15

References ......................................................................................................... 18

Glossary ................................................................................................................. 19

Contents

S O F T • S T R O N G • S U S TA I N A B L E

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5S O F T • S T R O N G • S U S TA I N A B L E

ComPANy rELAtED INformAtIoN

Bayers commitment to Vector Control in Public Health

Bayer has actively participated in the fight against

vector-borne diseases for over 50 years, delivering

innovation to improve the effectiveness of existing

interventions. With LifeNet Bayer has developed a

new generation of long-lasting insecticide treated

mosquito net; the first to incorporate deltamethrin

into polypropylene. Developed specifically in

response to the challenges malaria programs face

with bednet field durability and effective lifespan,

LifeNet represents a genuinely longer lasting net;

ultimately improving the sustainability of malaria

control programs and increasing the impact on

the disease.

But today, delivering a product with improved

performance over current standards is not

enough. Whenever possible, any new product

which is developed should have an improved

environmental footprint compared to the one it

replaces. LifeNet is the first long-lasting mosquito

net from Bayer so we have committed to a full Life

Cycle Assessment (LCA) for LifeNet in order to

scientifically assess its environmental profile

compared to existing market standards.

Bayer Sustainable Development Policy:

Bayer is committed to the concept of Sustainable

Development; with economy, ecology and social

commitment being accorded equal importance

in all of our activities. To quote our group mission

statement; “we acknowledge and accept our role as

a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen

and are committed to the principles of sustainable

development.” Consequently, respect for people

and nature and the sustainability of our actions are

among our key corporate values.

Within the Environmental Science business

this can be translated into three areas of action:

1. Solutions & Innovations: Dedicate our innovation

potential to answer tomorrows problems. While

doing this, we consider the environmental

impacts of our solutions over their entire life cycle.

2. Customer Centricity: Develop long-term

win-win partnerships by answering sustainability

concerns/expectations of key stakeholders in

the markets we operate.

3. raising standards: Behave as a market

leader by developing and implementing new

sustainability standards along the value chain.

Company Related Information

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Bayer Implementation of Sustainable Development:

Voluntary commitments:

Regulations: Performance:

UN Global Compact

Sustainable Development

Sustainability Program

Responsible Care Human Rights Climate Program

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Corporate Compliance

Targets, KPIs

Corporate Citizenship

Process and Plant Safety

Reporting

Responsible Lobbying

Bayer’s focus on sustainability is underscored by:

1. Our commitment to uphold the 10 principles

of the UN Global Compact and to the Responsible

Care® initiative of the chemical industry.

2. We have firmly anchored this commitment in

our internal Group regulations, to provide a clear

framework and an unambiguous code of conduct

for all organisational units and employees.

3. To operationalise our sustainability performance, we

formulated specific five-year sustainability targets.

Bayer’s Sustainable Development 2015 Targets

Management & Corporate Governance

Supplier Management: Assess suppliers sustainability performance (75% of total volume procurement) + audit of 15 suppliers at least

Compliance: Extend training to all Managers

Employee

Diversity: Proportion of females in managerial staff approaching 30%

Occupational Safety: Reduce injuries with lost days by 25%

Social Commitment

Global CSR Commitment: Focus on scientific education, fostering talent, cutting-edge research, health care etc.

Innovation & Products

R&D: Maintain or increase R&D spending in relation to sales (approx 10% of turnover)

Product Stewardship: Roll out of Global Product Strategy in another 10 countries

Ecology

Climate Protection: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% (between 2005 and 2020)

Process & Plant Safety: Process and plant safety training for 40,000 employees by end 2012

Emissions: Reduce ozone depleting substance by 70% and VOC by 50%

Waste: Reduce hazardous waste from production by 2.5% in relation to manufactured sales volume

For more information about Sustainable Development at Bayer please visit www.bayer.com.


rECoGNItIoN of BAyEr’S ENGAGEmENt

Carbon Disclosure Project

Transparency and performance in the area

of climate protection. Bayer has been listed

continuously in:

• the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI)

(score 99/100) for the last seven years

• in the Carbon Performance Leadership index (CPLI)

(Score A) launched in 2010 for the second time

Bayer is the only chemical & pharmaceutical

company to have been included continuously

for seven consecutive years in the CDLI.

“ Sustainability Yearbook 2012”

Bayer is one of just three chemical

companies worldwide to recieve gold class.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the

rating agency SAM and the auditors KPMG

presented their Sustainability Yearbook 2012,

which named Bayer as the best German

chemical company and one of only three

enterprises in the sector worldwide to be

awarded Gold Class, the highest seal of quality.

Recognition of Bayer’s Engagement

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Description of the product LifeNet®

LifeNet is the worlds first LLIN to incorporate deltamethrin into polypropylene. LifeNet combines the mechanical

strength of a unique construction of multifilament polypropylene, with the efficacy of deltamethrin.

This patented incorporation process achieves biological efficacy beyond 35 washes. A strong multifilament

construction also means it is highly tear resistant but nevertheless still soft to the touch. LifeNet has interim

status within the World Health Organisation Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) with recognition of

biological efficacy after 30 washes.

DESCRIPTION SPECIFICATION

Net Shape Rectangular

Colour White

Fabric Composition 100% Polypropylene

Fabrication Warp knitted

Yarn Multifilament

Denier 100 Denier

Weight 40 g/m2

Active ingredient Technical deltamethrin complying with the requirements of WHO Specification 333/TC.

Insecticide content Deltamethrin 8.5 g/kg (corresponding to a total loading of 340 mg/m²).

Insecticide treatment method Incorporation into fibers.

Retention index

(deltamethrin content)

Not less than 80% after first wash and then within a range between 94 to 99% (2nd to 35th wash).

Efficacy according to WHO

LLIN testing guidelines

Exceeds current WHOPES requirements for LLIN.

Fulfils requirements for at least 30 WHO standard washes.

Useful life >5 years when used as directed.

Weight of bale 30 kg maximum for bale of 40 nets.

S O F T • S T R O N G • S U S TA I N A B L E

DESCrIPtIoN of thE ProDuCt LIfENEt®

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ENvIroNmENtAL PErformANCE CALCuLAtIoN

The environmental profile of LifeNet was calculated

using the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)

methodology1. This EPD is based on a LCA

performed by BCS-ES and Quantis, and reviewed

by a panel of three experts covering LCA, textile

technology and mosquito net use.

LCA is an internationally recognised approach

that evaluates the potential environmental and

human health impact associated with products

and services throughout their life cycle, from raw

material extraction and including transportation,

production, use, and end-of-life treatment.

Among other uses, LCA can identify opportunities

to improve the environmental performance of

products at various stages in their life cycle,

inform decision-making, and support marketing

and communication efforts. This methodology

is defined by the International Organisation for

Standardisation (ISO) 14040-14044 standards.

Functional Unit

In order for a comparison between different

products to be valid, the function fulfilled by the

product has to be clearly defined. This is called

the ‘Functional Unit’ within the terminology of the

LCA system. The Functional Unit (FU) quantifies

the service delivered by the product system,

providing a reference to which the impacts

presented in this EPD are related.

In the comparative LCA for LifeNet the Functional

Unit (FU) was defined as:

“ offering the efficient protection of persons against

malaria with a Long-Lasting mosquito net during a

period of time encompassing 30 washes”.

In the study, the effectiveness of the LLIN is only

considered in the context of the persistence of

insecticide - based on World Health Organisation

Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) evaluation.

Environmental Performance Calculation

1 BCS-ES (2011). Environmental Assessment of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets: Polypropylene net (LifeNet), polyethylene net and polyester net.

12


The definition of the boundaries of the studied system is a key step to present what has been considered in

the environmental assessment. The diagram opposite summarises this.

System Boundaries

1 BCS-ES (2011). Environmental Assessment of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets: Polypropylene net (LifeNet), polyethylene net and polyester net.2 humbert S, margni m, Jolliet o (2011). ImPACt 2002+ user guide: draft for version 2.2. Quantis, Lausanne, Switzerland. Available at www.impactmodeling.org

Life Cycle Stage Description - Location Data collection: main hypothesis

Raw Material Deltamethrin – India

PP, Master batch, Anti-UV additive

- Europe.

- Deltamethrin production: specific data (from BCS-ES

suppliers) are used for the study.

- Additive and polypropylene production: Generic data

(from Ecoinvent2 database).

Net Production Spinning, Knitting & finishing,

Cutting & Sewing, Packaging -

South East Asia.

- Spinning and knitting & finishing: specific data

(from BCS-ES suppliers) (reference year: 2011)

- Cutting & sewing: selected-generic data and assumptions

regarding the machines used.

Net Distribution Transportation from

Asia to Kenya.

Kenya has been selected as a representative country of use of

LLIN. Distribution from plant to users, distances and transport

mode, vehicle type (road and boat) are considered in the study.

Specific data are used for kilometres covered by truck and

ship; generic data for transport means.

Net Use Use of net to effectively protect

on a period of time encompassing

30 washes in Kenya.

Selected-generic data are used for the detergent modelling.

A readily available standard detergent has been taken as a

reference. The insecticide losses during each wash are based

on BCS-ES internal studies and specific retention index.

End of Life End of life of the net and

the primary packaging.

Different waste treatments are

considered (incineration, burning

in open air, burying and littering).

Incineration data are from ecoinvent and are based on

European Incineration plants. Open air burning, burying and

littering are other-generic data and are based on data available

in the literature and work assumptions.


SyStEm BouNDArIES

LifeNet’s system boundaries


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ASSESSING thE ENvIroNmENtAL ProfILE

Assessing the Environmental Profile

Description of the methodology

The peer reviewed and internationally recognised

Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCA) methodology

IMPACT 2002+ v2.09† (Jolliet et al. 2003 modified

by Humbert et al. 2011) has been applied to

assess the environmental impacts of LifeNet.

In addition to provide results for sixteen impact

categories (midpoint), IMPACT 2002+ allows their

aggregation into five classes of damage.

The aggregation of the midpoint indicators into

five damage categories provide results easier to

understand and interpret for the uninitiated to LCA, but

also provide a rapid assessment of key environmental

issues associated with the system under study.

Damage categories may be summarised as follows.

Aquatic ecotoxicity (USEtox)Terrestrial ecotoxicity

AcidificationEutrophication

Terrestrial acid/nitriLand occupationWater (turbined)

Midpoint categories Damage categories

NOx

Phosphates

Crude oil

Iron ore

CO2

Irrigation water

Cooling water

Human health

Ecosystem quality

Resource consumptionMineral extraction

Non-renewable energy

Climate changeClimate change

Water withdrawalWater (withdrawal)

Non-exhaustive list

Human toxicity (USEtox)Respiratory effectsIonizing radiation

Oxone layer depletionPhotochemical oxidation

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Impact indicatorsfrom IMPACT 2002+per Functional Unit(FU)

Global warming score(kg CO2 equ/FU)

Human health impact(DALY/FU)

Ecosystem quality impact(PDF*m2*yr/FU)

Water withdrawal(L/FU)

Resourceconsumption(MJ/FU)

38.0

58.7

97.2

72.5

1.24

2.49

4.47

3.80

80.4

6.43

0.06

0.14

221

6.5E-1

5.9E-6

7.9

144

Raw materialsproduction

LLINproduction

LLINdistribution Packaging Use stage End-of-life

Total

1.7

4.9

0.2 0.2 0.3 0.7

Upstreamprocesses

Coreprocesses

Downstreamprocesses

1.2E-06

2.9E-06

3.6E-07 1.2E-07

1.3E-06

4.4E-08

6.8E-02

4.5E-01

4.2E-02 6.4E-03 7.3E-02 3.6E-03

Damage categories

For the human toxicity and the aquatic ecotoxicity, the USEtox (v1.01) model promoted by the UNEP/SETAC Life

Cycle Initiative is used. Given the fact that BCS-ES already performed a USEtox assessment of the deltamethrin,

using USEtox for this study was an opportunity to build on BCS-ES internal expertise on this method.

Figure A: Presentation of the overall environmental performance of LifeNet among the 5 damage categories


ASSESSING thE ENvIroNmENtAL ProfILE

Main environmental characteristics

of LifeNet

The production phase of the net is the stage that

contributes the most in terms of environmental

impact for the 5 damage categories. The most

significant factor in this is the energy consumed

during the production processes.

While the usage phase would appear to be a

significant contributor to two categories (health

impact and water withdrawal) - due to respectively,

the production of detergent and water used during

the washing of the net; these contributions are low

compared to the production contribution.

The end-of-life contributes to the global warming

score due to the incineration (the scenario of open

air burning or conventional incineration).

Further details on the position of LifeNet compared

to other nets can be made available upon request.

The importance of the good practices

relating to washing

The registered product labels recommend that the

net’s wash-water (charged with active ingredient,

detergent and other dirt) be disposed of in a pit

latrine or directly into a hole in the soil. It specifies

that the water must be disposed of away from

ponds, rivers, streams, the house or animal

shelters. This washing and disposal practice

scenario is considered in this study.

However, given the fact that washing recommendations

may not always be respected, a pessimistic scenario

is modeled: 100% wash water discharged into the

river. This worst case increases the impact on

ecosystem quality by 80%, without any significant

increased impact on human health.

It reinforces the importance of communication

through the LLIN packaging and during the

distribution campaign to avoid unfavorable washing

practices of any insecticide treated net.

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BCS-ES (2011). Environmental Assessment of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets:

Polypropylene net (LifeNet), polyethylene net and polyester net.

Humbert S, Margni M, Jolliet O (2011). IMPACT 2002+ user guide: draft for version 2.2.

Quantis, Lausanne, Switzerland. Available at www.impactmodeling.org

3 Ecoinvent database; www.ecoinvent.ch

Reviewer

Quantis (www.quantis-intl.com) has reviewed this environmental product declaration

Contacts

For additional information relative to Vector Control activities of Bayer please visit our website:

www.vectorcontrol.bayer.com

General enquiries: [email protected]

Graphic design

Design and Production - Sugar Rush Advertising. Concept and Design - Mike Sumpter and Andy Kemp.

References


Glossary

rEfErENCES AND GLoSSAry

• Climate change: This category is the potential

of each GHG calculated based on the model of

the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC

2007) in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent

(kg CO2 eq.) based on infrared radiative forcing.

The GHG potential effects are estimated over a

100 year time horizon.

• Ecosystem quality: This category includes

aquatic and terrestrial toxicity impacts,

acidification, eutrophication, terrestrial

acidification and nitrification, land use, and

water turbined. It is quantified as the fraction of

habitats that will potentially disappear (potentially

disappeared fraction – PDF) in a given area and

over a certain time period per kg of emitted

substance. (PDF*m²*year/kg).

• Human health: This category accounts for toxic

substances (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic),

those that lead to respiratory problems, those

that generate ionizing radiation and those that

deplete the ozone layer. To assess the damage

factor, the gravity of the illnesses is expressed

in DALY (disability-adjusted life years), which

reflects human health damages.

• Water withdrawal: This is an indicator of

inventory and not impact. It is the sum of all

volumes of water used during the process,

with the exception of water used in turbines (for

hydropower production).

• Resource consumption: This category accounts

for non-renewable resource use and minerals

extraction, quantified in mega joules of primary

energy (primary MJ). Resources impact is the sum

of the midpoint categories “non-renewable energy

consumption” and “mineral extraction”.

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Allocation rules

To avoid allocation, a system expansion approach

is applied, expanding the product system to

include the additional functions related to the

co-products. For example, in this study, parts of

nets are recycled. Plastic recycling represents

typical multi-functional processes that have to

be addressed according to the allocation rules

proposed by the ISO 14044 standard. Therefore we

take into account the environmental burdens of the

recycling processes (in terms of material or energy),

as well as a credit for the avoided burdens when

substituting primary material or fuels.

For other foreground processes, we apply an

allocation rule based on physical property (mass).

For secondary data from the ecoinvent database,

standard ecoinvent allocation rules are used.

Cut-off rules

• A cut-off level of 1% was applied to mass and

primary energy: meaning that the process or

reference flow is neglected if it contributes less

than 1% of the total known mass or primary

energy, in general based on past experience,

proxy based short calculations, or expert

judgment. The process or reference flow is

not neglected when it implies substances

presenting known environmental impacts

(i.e. of environmental significance).

• All processes where sound data are

available are taken into account, even if their

contribution is less than 1%. This is in line with

the idea that the cut-off rule is used to avoid

gathering unknown data, but not to neglect

known data. Some processes were omitted

such as the plant building, the machines,

the computers, worker transport to/on the

production site, etc. These additional data

do not have an effect on the results and can

therefore be neglected from the analysis.

Appendix

Bayer SAS - Bayer CropScience Environmental Science Division 16 rue Jean-Marie Leclair F - 69266 Lyon (Cedex 09) France

www.vectorcontrol.bayer.com

Copyright Bayer 2012

Environmental Science is an Associate Member of the FSC

LifeNet_Environmental_Product_Declaration

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