ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR PRODUCTS
Enterprise Ireland Support for SME’s
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INTRODUCTION
Grant support scheme for ESP projects
Aid to improving business environmental sustainability
Aimed at improving environmental / business performance of SME’s
Benefits to SME’s from exploiting market for ESP’s
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ESP DRIVERS
Legal Drivers – EU Directives: Packaging and Packaging Waste,
ELV, WEEE, ROHS
Market Pressures – Improved Environmental Performance through
Supply Chain
Economic Factors – Increasing Waste Disposal Costs
Pressure from ‘green’ Consumer Market – Tesco going ‘green’
Increasing importance of
Product Certification initiatives
– Eco-labels
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BENEFITS FROM ESP
Cost savings on waste disposal - €15 per tonne waste disposal levy
Market Advantages – Maintaining and developing existing, opening new, preferred supplier listing
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ESP SCHEME
ESP scheme designed to support Irish companies respond to drivers and exploit business opportunities to gain competitive advantage
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ESP SCHEME
Aim to assess ESP potential in existing or new
product range by reducing environmental impact
without compromising
product functionality,
quality, ability to manufacture or cost
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TYPICAL ESP PROJECT
Typical elements of ESP feasibility assessment:
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Simplified LCA conducted to identify and evaluate
main environmental issues and options to make
environmentally superior e.g. each stage of life cycle
of product can be examined:
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Life Cycle Assessment
• Raw Materials
• Production
• Distribution/Transport
• Consumption
• End of Life
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• Market Research
Review of market for product identifying:
• Target Market: home/export
• Competitors & competing products
• Demand & customer requirements
• Size & value of market for product
• Relevance of third party recognition schemes e.g. product eco-labelling schemes
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• Technical FeasibilityProposed product changes assessed for ability to manufacture,
product specification, quality and functionality
• Legislative / Industry Requirements
Requirements of relevant legislation, industry, export market
requirements
• Cost Assessment
Proposed changes assessed in terms of associated costs or cost
benefits
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ESP CASE STUDY EXAMPLES
• Pilot demonstration initiative run from 1999-2001 involving
range of SME’s in electronics, IT, construction, packaging,
waste, furniture and timber sectors.
Benefits:
• Commercial and environmental successes achieved.
• Companies found that by reducing environmental impact,
product functionality improved and was often cleaner,
quicker and cheaper to produce
• Benefits added to ‘environmentally superior’ nature of
product
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ESP examples
MURCO Ltd. – Gas Sensors for commercial, domestic use
LCA of product to investigate compliance with WEEE and ROHS Directives for components of sensors. Successfully identified changes from lead based solder, changes to enclosures etc. in order to meet legal requirements.
Spring & Precision Tools – Manufacture of edge tools
Examination of process to replace edging process and steel raw materials with environmentally friendly alternatives and access market potential.
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Grant Support for ESP Scheme
Grant of up to 50% up to maximum €31,740, ex VAT
Eligible expenditure:
- Salary/wages for staff engaged in study
- Fees to technical advisers consulted during study
- Travel / Subsistence costs
- Materials / Prototype related expenses
Contact: Declan White, Environmental Policy Unit
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01-8082480
Website: www.envirocentre.ie
or www.enterprise-ireland.com/esp
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New Funding Scheme
Plans for new Environmental Sustainability Grant Incorporating integrated approach to environmental issues at business level.
Maintain existing support for ESP and EMS with increased funds.
Include new support for assessment of energy efficiency, carbon footprinting, eco-design, eco-labelling and other perceived environmental improvements
Suggestions from clients on where other supports could be targeted?
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Advantages of ESP?
Gaining a Head start on the Opposition