The NMD Bepalingsmethode is the Dutch standard for calculating the environmental impact of construction materials and processes. It defines how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies should be performed in the Netherlands and ensures consistency when publishing results in the Dutch National Environmental Database (NMD). The method aligns with European regulations (EN 15804+A2) and includes a standardized way to express environmental impacts using the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI or MKI). This article answers the following questions:
What is the NMD Bepalingsmethode?
What is the role of the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI/ MKI)?
How to calculate the ECI/MKI in Ecochain software?
What are the Bepalingsmethode indicators?
Feel like you're missing information? This article is connected to the following articles; check them out if you want to learn more:
On the LCIA phase
On LCIA methods
On Single Score
Update - October 2024: From July 2025 onward, only the new ECI, based on set 2 indicators, is accepted.
What is the NMD Bepalingsmethode?
The NMD Bepalingsmethode (previously SBK Bepalingsmethode) is a standard defining how environmental impacts of construction materials and processes are assessed in the Netherlands. It ensures consistency in LCA studies and aligns with European sustainability regulations. The latest 1.2 version can be found on the NMD website.
Key characteristics of the NMD Bepalingsmethode are:
Standardization: Provides a uniform method for calculating environmental impact.
Regulatory compliance: Required for publishing LCAs in the Dutch National Environmental Database (NMD).
Harmonization: Aligns with European EN 15804+A2 standards for broader applicability.
What is the role of the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI/MKI)?
To simplify comparison between different environmental impacts, the Bepalingsmethode uses a single-score approach: the Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI), known in Dutch as Milieukosten Indicator (MKI). This metric assigns a monetary value to environmental impacts, making it easier to compare different materials and processes (Figure 1).
Figure 1: A visual representation of how the ECI is derived.
Note - ECI use: The ECI is widely used in the Dutch construction sector, particularly in public tenders.
How is the ECI calculated?
Each impact category is assigned a weighting factor (e.g., €0.05 per 1 kg CO₂).
The weighted impacts are summed to produce a single ECI value.
The ECI score represents the shadow costs of a product, the estimated environmental cost in monetary terms.
How to calculate the ECI / MKI in Ecochain software?
We outline how to configure your settings in Ecochain software to achieve ECI/MKI scores here, which also includes specific guidance for Mobius and Helix.
What are the Bepalingsmethode indicators?
LCA studies quantify environmental impacts by categorizing inputs and outputs into specific impact categories. Each category represents a different way a product or process affects the environment.
The Bepalingsmethode is structured into three categories of indicators:
Set 1 indicators (OLD): Based on EN15804+A1:2013, including characterization factors from the CML method with three additional toxicity indicators. Set 1 indicators are used to calculate the old single score Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI or MKI) value. Table 1 presents Set 1 indicators.
Set 2 indicators (NEW): Introduced in EN15804+A2:2019 and are compliant with EN 15804+A2 and the Environmental Footprint (EF) method. These indicators are widely used in Europe and are required for new studies. Table 2 presents Set 2 Indicators.
Parameter indicators: A part of the EN15804 methodology, providing additional environmental impact information. They are not mandatory for reporting but are generally included. Table 3-5 present Parameter indicators.
Note - Bepalingsmethode reporting requirements:
Previously: Since version 1.1 (2022), reporting on Set 1 and Set 2 indicators is mandatory, while parameter indicators remain optional.
From July 2025 onward: Only the new ECI, based on set 2 indicators, is accepted. Read more about the new ECI here.
Table 1: Set 1 indicators
Indicator name | Unit | Weighting for ECI | Description |
Abiotic depletion, non fuel (ADPE) | kg Sb eq | 0.16 | Depletion of resources in the current geological or natural stocks of non-fuel resources. |
Abiotic depletion, fuel (ADPF) | kg Sb eq | 0.16 | Depletion of resources in the current geological or natural stocks of fuel resources. |
Global warming (GWP) | kg CO2 eq | 0.05 | Contribution to global warming expressed in equivalents of atmospheric CO2. |
Ozone layer depletion (ODP) | kg CFC-11 eq | 30 | Depletion of stratospheric ozone. |
Photochemical oxidation (POCP) | kg C2H4 eq | 2 | Photochemical oxidation leading in the troposphere. |
Acidification (AP) | kg SO2 eq | 4 | Contribution to acidification of water and land. |
Eutrophication (EP) | kg PO4--- eq | 9 | Eutrophication, nutrient overload of water and land. |
Human toxicity (HT) | kg 1,4-DB eq | 0.09 | Toxicity to human health. |
Ecotoxicity, fresh water (FAETP) | kg 1,4-DB eq | 0.03 | Toxicity to freshwater ecosystems. |
Ecotoxicity, marine water (MAETP) | kg 1,4-DB eq | 0.0001 | Toxicity to marine ecosystems. |
Ecotoxicity, terrestric (TETP) | kg 1,4-DB eq | 0.06 | Toxicity to terrestrial ecosystems.
|
Table 2: Set 2 indicators
Indicator name | Unit | Weighting for new ECI | Description |
Climate change | kg CO2 eq |
| Contribution to climate change. |
Climate change - Fossil | kg CO2 eq | 0.116 | Fossil components of contribution to climate change. |
Climate change - Biogenic | kg CO2 eq | 0.116 | Biogenic components of contribution to climate change. |
Climate change - Land use and LU change | kg CO2 eq | 0.116 | Land use and land use change related contribution to climate change. |
Ozone depletion | kg CFC11 eq | 32.00 | Depletion of stratospheric ozone. |
Acidification | mol H+ eq | 0.39 | Acidification of water and land. |
Eutrophication, freshwater | kg P eq | 1.96 | Eutrophication of freshwater. |
Eutrophication, marine | kg N eq | 3.28 | Eutrophication of marine water. |
Eutrophication, terrestrial | mol N eq | 0.36 | Eutrophication of the land. |
Photochemical ozone formation | kg NMVOC eq | 1.22 | Photochemical ozone formation in the troposphere. |
Resource use, minerals and metals | kg Sb eq | 0.30 | Resource use of current geological or natural stocks of minerals and metals, reducing future access to the resources available now. |
Resource use, fossils | MJ | 0.00033 | Resource use of current geological or natural stocks of fossil energy sources reduces future access to the resources available now. |
Water use | m3 depriv. | 0.00506 | Amount of water that is taken from other uses. This considers the water use and the regionally available water supply. |
Particulate matter | disease inc. | 549750.00 | Particulate matter-induced disease increase. |
Ionising radiation | kBq U-235 eq | 0.049 | Ionising radiation as a health hazard compared to Uranium-235 |
Ecotoxicity, freshwater | CTUe | 0.00013 | Toxicity to freshwater ecosystems. |
Human toxicity, cancer | CTUh | 1096368.00 | Toxicity to human health, in terms of increased rates of cancer. |
Human toxicity, non-cancer | CTUh | 147588.00 | Toxicity to human health, in way other than cancer. |
Land use | Pt | 0.000178 | Land use changes and degradation of soil quality. |
Tables 3 - 5: Parameters
Table 3: Raw material use
Indicator name | Unit | Description |
Energy, primary, non-renewable (PENRT) | MJ | Total use of non-renewable primary energy, sum of non-renewable primary energy (PENRE) and non-renewable primary energy used as materials (PENRM). |
Energy, primary, non-renewable, excluding materials (PENRE) | MJ | Use of non-renewable primary energy excluding non-renewable energy used as materials. |
Energy, primary, non-renewable materials (PENRM) | MJ | Use of non-renewable primary energy used as materials. |
Energy, primary, renewable (PERT) | MJ | Total use of renewable primary energy, sum of renewable primary energy (PERE) and renewable primary energy used as materials (PERM). |
Energy, primary, renewable, excluding materials (PERE) | MJ | Use of renewable primary energy, excluding renewable primary energy used as materials. |
Energy, primary, renewable, materials (PERM) | MJ | Use of renewable primary energy as materials. |
Secondary fuel, non-renewable (NRSF) | MJ | Use of non-renewable secondary fuels. |
Secondary fuel, renewable (RSF) | MJ | Use of renewable secondary fuels. |
Secondary material (SM) | kg | Use of secondary materials. |
Water, fresh water use (FW) | m3 | Net use of freshwater. |
Table 4: Waste categories
Indicator name | Unit | Description |
Waste, hazardous (HWD) | kg | Amount of hazardous waste produced. |
Waste, non hazardous (NHWD) | kg | Amount of non-hazardous waste produced. |
Waste, radioactive (RWD) | kg | Amount of radioactive waste produced. |
Table 5: Output flows
Indicator name | Unit | Description |
Exported energy, electric (EEE) | MJ | Amount of electric energy leaving the system boundary. |
Exported energy, thermal (EET) | MJ | Amount of thermal energy leaving the system boundary. |
Materials for energy recovery (MER) | kg | Amount of materials for energy recovery leaving the system boundary. |
Materials for recycling (MFR) | kg | Amount of materials for recycling leaving the system boundary. |
Next steps
The NMD Bepalingsmethode standardizes how environmental performance is measured in the Dutch construction sector. By aligning with European standards and introducing a single-score metric (the ECI), it enables consistent, comparable, and policy-relevant LCA results. As reporting requirements evolve (shifting toward exclusive use of Set 2 indicators by July 2025), understanding how the method works will be increasingly important for anyone conducting LCAs in the Dutch market.