Pandrol works towards product range decarbonisation

As part of its commitment to sustainability, rail stress management specialist Pandrol is working towards the decarbonisation of its product range, which starts with measuring its impact on the environment through an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) or Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

A PCF measures the total greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout a product’s lifecycle, from raw material extraction to manufacturing and installation. It follows international standards like ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and provides a detailed breakdown of where emissions occur.

To measure this effectively, Pandrol worked with several providers, including SouthPole, a provider of global climate action solutions, which performed PCF analysis for its aluminothermic welding product.  The results have been validated by Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification.

The recent PCF assessment specifically focuses on Pandrol’s PLA and PLA Evo products, two aluminothermic welding processes designed to improve performance, optimise track quality and lengthen the life of the weld.

The PCF assessment provided Pandrol with a detailed breakdown of the carbon impact of its aluminothermic welding product, allowing the company to identify components and processes with the highest environmental impact. Pandrol can utilise this information to extrapolate the footprints of its other processes and reduce its carbon footprint even further.

Beyond guiding product development, a PCF is a cornerstone in a broader decarbonisation and sustainability strategy to reduce carbon across operations and lessen the impact on the environment.

As a global specialist in rail infrastructure solutions, Pandrol is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes and the installation of its solutions to support lower-carbon transport infrastructure. The company has already integrated a number of actions to reduce its carbon footprint, from on-site solar panels to more efficient processes and active engagement with suppliers.