eLCA Project

Table of Contents

A. Project background: IPP and LCAB. Project Objectives C. Key understandings from the work done

a. The marketb. The context: IPP, ICT and SMEsc. The Product: eLCA WEB site and DBd. Implementation phase: work to doe. WEB Management model

Part A Project background: IPP and LCA

A. IPP Context (1)

Integrated Product Policy, IPP, aims to: Promote the demand and offer of "greener"

products through life-cycle approaches, environmental management tools and eco-labelling;

Involve all the actors through dissemination of environmental information along the value chain

Allocate responsibility by concept as “Extended Producer Responsibility”

A. IPP Context What is LCA? (1)

Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a quantitative methodology: to identify and evaluate environmental

burdens associated with the life cycles of products and services in a "cradle-to-grave" approach

used as common basis in different IPP tools

A. IPP Context: What is LCA? (2)

OUTPUTINPUT

materials

energy

water

main products

co-products

water effluent

airborne emissions

solid waste

other env.interactions

materials extraction

processing and manufacturing

distribution

product use

recycle: product, component, material

waste management

A. LCA and Databases

LCA requires a large number of Life Cycle Inventories (LCIs) containing structured data about impacts of materials, processes, energy, transportation, etc., LCIs available with critical limitations (data quality, cost, lack of standardisation, etc.)

Part B Project Objectives

B. eLCA Objectives

Technical & Economical Feasibility of DataBases and WEB site for the Adoption of LCA in SMEs Analysis of the availability and structure of

public information and private data for LCA Identification of best exploitation of databases

and WEB with new form of public/private partnership

Specialised LCA for SMEs Implementation of a prototype to test the

WEB site by a case study on a sample of SMEs

B. Expected outcomes (1)

Review of public and private databases for LCA. Structure of general and specific DBs for WEB siteMarket survey on SMEs’ needs, barriers, drivers, etc. for the adoption of LCA

B. Expected outcomes (2)

Design of WEB site structure covering: General IPP services, information and utilities

Specialised LCA methodology for SMEs

Guidelines, best practices and DBs for specific sectors

Consultancy and other services free or for a fee

Model of public/private management of WEB site and databases updating

Cost evaluation of DB and WEB site

Prototype realisation and testing on a sample of SMEs and consultants for one industrial sector.

B. Expected outcomes (3)

Self Assessment of the DBs and WEB site implementation: Context and Market The product The management model Marketing strategy Financial Plan

Results dissemination

B. Partners

Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l’Energia e l’Ambiente ENEA – CoordinatorEnvironment AgencyECIPAR soc.cons.a.r.l. CNAIFEU - Institut für Energie und Umweltforschung Heidelberg gGmbHAristotle University of Thessaloniki LHTEERanda Group S.A.

Part C. Key understandings from the work done

C.a) Market (1)

Environment perceived as “obligations” and costsEnvironmental issues to be integrated with other innovation aspects and by a gradual approachEnvironmental costs hidden, not “allocated” and not monitoredEnvironmental aspects often managed in outsourcing

C.a) Market (2)

Green products market does not exist except some sectorial “niches”Awareness to EMS, low knowledge of tools, lack of “culture” and know howLow willingness to human and financial investments

C.a) Market (3)

Expressed Needs: Procedures and tools adapted to the SMEs

characteristics Knowledge, information and training inside

the enterprise Guide to choose the most suitable solution Public supportive measures Support by consultants or other mediators

for the implementation phase

C.a) Market (4)

High interest in: Web site Easy access to general and specific data

(highlighted by the enterprises with LCA experience)

Examples and best practises On-line consultancy

C.b) The context: IPP and SMEs (1)

Barriers Low sensitivity of the market to green

products Costs and lack of internal knowledge inability to influence life cycle steps outside

the firm unavailability of life cycle data outside the

firm High number of products and variability

C.b) The context: IPP and SMEs (2)

Critical issues Applicability Integration Accompanying Measures, experts,

friendly solutions Short internal rate of return for the

investments Networking

C.b) The context: LCA and SMEs

Minimize work for SMEs: Specialised methodology and step-by-

step guided procedure to reduce methodological problems

Specialised databases for life cycle steps outside the gates

Guidelines and databases to focus on key internal aspects

Support by experts on request

C.b) The context: ICT and SMEs (1)

Results of our Market Survey supported by some Surveys on about 1000 Italian SMEsWEB very important to collect information, to interact with value chain, but not to sell. WEB tech. are already diffused Low diffusion of more complex tools (EDI, ERP,

groupware) requiring a strategic vision e-commerce trialled but considered not suitable

(competitiveness based on relations with customers)

C.b) The context: ICT and SMEs (2)

“Downsizing” of solution developed for large enterprises not acceptableNeeds for: Tailored and pre-elaborated solutions Service platforms for collective usage

(sectors and districts) Public support to create standards

and certification procedures

FREE PATH

GUIDED PATH

Firm dataSelf-eval. SystemRoutescontacts

LANGUAGE

COUNTRY TOOLSTOOLS

TRAININGTRAINING

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

General Service

Context IPP IPP e SMES

Supportive policies

Market Tools

Env. Man. Systems

Analysis e design MethodsLCAEcodesignEnv. Benchmarking

LCI Data BaseGeneralSector specific

Examples-other supportsGuidelinesCase studiesOn line cons

Inf. System to manage env. Data

ECO PRODUCTS SHOW ROOM

C.c) The product: eLCA WEB site structure

C.d) Implementation phase: work to do for Countries and Languages

European level is very important for the WEB site Country specialisation for: Legislation Standards and regulations Data Supportive instruments and services

National language is essential for SMEs

C.e) WEB Management Model

WEB with two parts:Public and open with general - European/National -Information, training, tools for direct access of SMEs Potential Partners: Agencies

Public-Private with sector specific items (some services free, other for a fee, pricing to be defined with private partners) Potential Partners:

Local Networks for services to enterprises Waste management firms Consultants, Associations IT operators