Background information
The European construction sector has a major environmental impact, consuming more than half of all extracted natural resources and accounting for 37% of total CO₂ emissions. While energy-efficiency measures reduce operational emissions, they often increase the embodied carbon of construction materials.
The CASCO project (Carbon Sink Constructions) addresses this issue by establishing an ecosystem for scaling up local and natural building materials. One key challenge is the need for accessible, harmonised tools to calculate the environmental impact of construction products and buildings.
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In the Netherlands, the environmental performance of buildings is expressed through the Milieuprestatie Gebouwen (MPG), using Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
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Belgium uses similar assessment tools but applies different impact categories, weightings and calculation rules.
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At European level, there are again alternative structures and calculation methods.
This creates inconsistencies that complicate cross-border collaboration — especially for biobased materials.
Assignment Description
You will investigate the differences between Dutch, Belgian and European sustainability calculation tools and test how these affect the assessment of biobased materials and buildings.
Your tasks include:
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Conducting a literature review of Dutch, Belgian and European sustainability calculation tools
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Analysing impact categories, calculation methods and weighting factors
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Performing case study calculations using Belgian and Dutch tools
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Exploring whether results can be translated or normalised across tools
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Assessing the significance of methodological differences for biobased buildings
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Writing a clear and structured final report summarising findings and recommendations
Research questions
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Where do the main differences lie between Dutch, Belgian and European sustainability calculation tools?
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How do these differences influence environmental impact calculations for biobased buildings?
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Is it possible to translate or harmonise results between tools?
Desired Skills
We are looking for a student with:
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Interest in sustainability, construction, LCA and analytical research
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Ability to work independently and systematically
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Background in environmental sciences, construction engineering, building technology or similar
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Strong analytical and reporting skills
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HBO or university-level education
Supervision
The assignment will be supervised by Shannon Peuling and Annine Rozema.
Regular meetings will be held to support your progress and provide feedback on your research and analysis.
Practical Details
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Start / End Date: February 2026 – July 2026 (20 weeks)
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Compensation: €350 per month
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Working Language: English
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Location: Avans University of Applied Sciences, Lovensdijkstraat 63, 4818 AJ Breda