eLCA Project

Table of Contents A.Project background: IPP and LCA B.Project Objectives C.Key understandings from the work done a.The market b.The context: IPP, ICT and SMEs c.The Product: eLCA WEB site and DB d.Implementation phase: work to do e.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 site Market 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 – Coordinator Environment Agency ECIPAR soc.cons.a.r.l. CNA IFEU - Institut für Energie und Umweltforschung Heidelberg gGmbH Aristotle University of Thessaloniki LHTEE Randa Group S.A.

Part C. Key understandings from the work done

C.a) Market (1) Environment perceived as “obligations” and costs Environmental issues to be integrated with other innovation aspects and by a gradual approach Environmental costs hidden, not “allocated” and not monitored Environmental 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 how Low 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 SMEs WEB 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 acceptable Needs 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 data Self-eval. System Routes contacts LANGUAGE COUNTRY TOOLS TRAINING INFORMATION General Service Context IPP IPP e SMES Supportive policies Market Tools Env. Man. Systems Analysis e design Methods LCA Ecodesign Env. Benchmarking LCI Data Base General Sector specific Examples-other supports Guidelines Case studies On 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