ISO 14067 CARBON FOOTPRINT OF PRODUCTS: Future Challenges

TOPICS Background to ISO 14067 What is ISO 14067 Future Challenges

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 The concept of Carbon Footprint (CF) stems directly from the theory of CLIMATE CHANGE and related Anthropogenic Green House Gases (GHG) Emissions/Removals. This theory introduces a new dimension to environmental and cleaner production concerns. On top of air & water pollution, soil degradation, bio-diversity loss, resources depletion, energy supply crises and other environmental headaches, humanity is now facing a new threat which is by far the most terrible if Climate Change theory proves to be correct.

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 The fundamental difference between GHG and other pollution vectors dealt with in cleaner production mechanisms are two; GHG are locally emitted but have a global impact, therefore imposing a de facto inter-linkage between nations. Most GHG do not affect directly human health and have no immediate apparent environmental degradation effects; Their rather disrupt on a global scale and over a relatively long time span, the biosphere which sustains human life. The issue of GHG may thus profoundly impact international relations and the existing economic order.

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 GHG consist of the following main individual or families of gases included in the Kyoto protocol; CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) CH4 (Methane) N2O (Nitrous Oxide) Montreal protocol gases (CFC, HCFC, Halons, CCl4, ……) Hydro-fluorocarbons (HFC 134a, …………) Perfluorinated & Fluorinated compounds (CF4, SF6,,…………….)

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 CO2 is the most important GHG with an estimated time and geographic average atmospheric concentration of ~ 390 ppmv in 2011. Methane concentration is around 1.8 ppmv while N2O is ~ 0.32 ppmv. Other GHG exist in much lower concentrations

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 GHG are expressed as CO2 equivalent (CO2e) using weighting factors called Global Warming Potentials (GWP) assessed over an impact period of 100 years. Some examples of GWP100; GWP100-CO2 = 1 GWP100-CH4 = 25 GWP100-N2O =298 GWP100-HFC134a = 1430 GWP100-SF6 = 22800 The Carbon Footprint of a Product (CFP) is the weighted sum of all GHG Emitted or Removed over the life time of the product expressed as CO2e CF = GHG1*GWP1 + GHG2*GWP2 + GHG3*GWP3 + GHG4*GWP4 + GHG5*GWP5 + GHG6*GWP6 + …………........… = ……….gCO2e It is possible to compute the CF of any human activity like: banks, universities, manufacturing plants, a beverage can or ……….. a person.

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 In order to combat climate change and environmental degradation, some countries are already taking steps to introduce environmental indicators on products labels (e.g France, UK, Germany,………) “POLLUTER PAYS” and “RESOURCES SQUANDERER PAYS” are the main drivers behind these actions CFP is the most important environmental indicator used on such labels. Economic actors (Consumers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, importers,…….. ) will select products and services based not only on physical quality and price but also based on “environmental quality”

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067

BACKGROUND TO ISO 14067 In order to avoid haphazard GHG initiatives at the national level that may lead to trade barriers, ISO standards addressing the quantification and communication of the carbon footprint of products and organizations are being currently developed. One of the most important standard is ISO 14067 (Carbon Footprint of Products) which addresses the CO2e emitted over the life cycle of a product/service.

WHAT IS ISO 14067

WHAT IS ISO 14067 ISO 14067 details principles, requirements and guidelines for the quantification and communication of the CFP (Goods and Services) over the life cycle of the product from raw material acquisition to end of life disposal. The purpose of this standard is to harmonize between the different national initiatives related to products and services aiming to limit the anthropogenic GHG emissions and thus stabilize or reduce atmospheric GHG concentration. Without unifying standards , barriers to trade due to environmental labeling will certainly arise.

WHAT IS ISO 14067 The CFP quantification methodology in ISO 14067 is based on Life Cycle Analysis. The CFP could address all life stages of a product (raw material extraction stage, production stage, use stage and end of life stage) or a partial treatment involving one or more of these stages. CFP communication types, methodologies and requirements, whether Business to Business (B to B) or Business to Consumers (B to C), are clearly spelled out in ISO 14067. Communication may take different forms like reporting, product labeling, public information on a website, etc…… ISO 14067 implementation may lead to trade barriers, this is an issue being currently hotly debated in the work group writing the standard. Developing countries which have mostly carbon intensive economies (including Lebanon), do have apprehensions regarding this issue.

WHAT IS ISO 14067 ISO 14067 addresses a single impact category, namely climate change, it does not take into account other environmental considerations like biodiversity loss, habitat loss, overall eco-toxicity, water degradation, etc…... The manufacturer of a product labeled according to ISO 14067 cannot claim environmental superiority. Such claims are inaccurate and may lead to unfair competition. ISO 14067 has also other limitations related to CFP quantification, because the theoretical tools related to GHG are not yet fully developed. It relies heavily on the theoretical concepts developed in the first volume of the IPCC reports. LIMITATIONS OF ISO 14067

WHAT IS ISO 14067 Despite these limitations, ISO 14067 will impact the markets in all countries over the whole spectrum of economic sectors on both the supply and demand side. To give an order of magnitude of its importance, ISO 14067 impact on the market is expected to be many folds the impact of ISO 9001.

FUTURE CHALLENGES

FUTURE CHALLENGES ISO 14067 will make out of Carbon Footprint a critical production parameter exactly like labor cost, capital cost or raw materials cost. In the near future a carbon footprint cost will need to be accounted for. Exporting industries in Lebanon to developed countries will be the first to experience the effect of ISO 14067. These industries need to drastically adapt to CFP requirements or their exports to such countries may be seriously curtailed. Unfortunately some factors are not under the industry control like the primary energy supply (electricity, type of fuels) and transportation infrastructure; while an extra cost burden related to CFP reporting/verification is to be accounted for.

FUTURE CHALLENGES Low CF intensity industries will also have to adapt because their CFP will be compared to similar industries abroad. In a not so distant future, a low carbon footprint will be a prerequisite for an industry survivability. Organizations that will not adapt will most probably disappear. Organizations in Lebanon should seize the opportunity of an early warning because Lebanon is contributing to the preparation of ISO 14067. This standard will not “fall on our heads” as a surprise. Hopefully the manufacturing sector in Lebanon will heed the call.

Thank You