Managing Resource Efficiency: The Role of Policy

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1 Managing Resource Efficiency: The Role of Policy Ernst Worrell Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development Utrecht University The Netherlands YES-DC Utrecht, November 19 th, 2013 Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. Kenneth E. Boulding ( ) 1

Utrecht, November 19 th, 2013 Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go

2 Introduction Material use is still growing strongly, despite: Environmental impacts Strong relation to energy use & climate change Increasing prices Scarcity concerns Material efficiency can be an effective response strategy How is material efficiency integrated in policy design? Packaging materials Netherlands Mankind Dominates the Flow of Materials Source: Klee & Graedel,

can be an effective response strategy How is material efficiency integrated in policy design?

3 Global Flows of Materials Options to halve emissions while demand doubles? 3

Focus on Packaging Materials Packaging use still growing strongly Small saturarion/de-materialization effect Large part of MSW in many countries Material Efficiency Options: Prevention China's

Given a population of 1.3 billion, unprecedented carbon emissions and a slew of recent lead-toy scandals, many would say the country stands as a if not the prime example of environmental failure.

4 Focus on Packaging Materials Packaging use still growing strongly Small saturarion/de-materialization effect Large part of MSW in many countries Material Efficiency Options: Prevention China's Plastic Bag Ban Will Save 37 Million Barrels of Oil China Leapfrogs Other Nations with Simple Message: Bring Your Own Bag China has never been considered an environmental role model. Given a population of 1.3 billion, unprecedented carbon emissions and a slew of recent lead-toy scandals, many would say the country stands as a if not the prime example of environmental failure. Yet, in a bolt from the blue, it looks like the red has embraced green. Yesterday, China s State Council put a nationwide ban on plastic bags. The cabinet has demanded all stores (from major supermarkets to small shops) go plastic bag-free after June 1. According to the Daily Mail, China uses more plastic bags than any other country. China squanders 37 million barrels of crude oil on plastic bag production every year. The nationwide ban will no doubt help correct China s tarnished image, especially before the Beijing Olympic Games. Leaf Rapids San Francisco New York City Austin Bakersfield Boston New Haven Portland Phoenix Annapolis China Kenya Uganda Zanzibar Ireland Italy 4

5 Material Efficiency Options: Product Re-design Packaging Policy in The Netherlands Date Policy in The Netherlands Date European policy 1988 Memorandum Prevention and Reuse of Waste Materials 1985 European Directive (85/339) Packaging Covenant I 1994 Law Environmental Management 1994 European Directive (94/62) 1997 Agreement Packaging and Packaging Waste Packaging Covenant II Packaging Covenant III Decree on Packaging and Paper & board Management Framework Agreement 2008 Packaging Tax 5

Environmental Management 1994 European Directive (94/62) 1997 Agreement Packaging and Packaging Waste 1998 2002 Packaging Covenant II

6 Packaging Policy in The Netherlands CV I ( ) CV II ( ) CV III ( ) Decree ( ) Framework ( ) Prevention kt 2063 (1997) 1914 (2000) 2128 (2001) 2676 (2005) - - Recycling Total % 40 (1995) 60 (2000) 65 (2001) 70 (2005) 65 (2006) 65 (2008) 70 (2010) Paper & board % Glass % Metals % Plastics % /55/ (2009) 42 (2012) Wood % Recovery % (2005) 70 (2006) 70 (2008) 75 (2010) Disposal kt (2001) 850 (2005) - - Achievements Packaging Policy Netherlands 3600 Packaging material consumption (ktonnes) CV I CV II CV III Decree Upper baseline Lower baseline Dutch packaging data EU packaging data Time (years) Source: Rouw & Worrell,

4 38 (2009) 42 (2012) Wood % - 15 25 25 25 Recovery % - - 73 (2005) 70 (2006) 70 (2008) 75 (2010) Disposal kt - 940 (2001) 850 (2005) - - Achievements Packaging Policy Netherlands 3600 Packaging

7 Policy Effectiveness Dutch packaging policies have been effective in reducing the total packaging volume until 1998/1999. After 2000, frequent changes in policy definition (e.g. target, year, baseline definition) After 2000, absolute targets were changed into intensity based or relative to growth of GDP After 2000, packaging consumption increased at a faster rate than the baseline, suggesting that policy measures have not been effective since Experience suggests that material efficiency needs absolute targets and specific attention to be implemented What is done in Material Efficiency? Focus on waste prevention (i.e. reduce volume of packaging material per trip or unit of product) Analysis of 131 case studies of packages that have been changed in the period Selected case studies Self-reporting Limited information 7

targets were changed into intensity based or relative to growth of GDP After 2000, packaging consumption increased at a faster rate than the baseline, suggesting that policy measures have not been

MATERIAL ENERGY POSTPONE Material Efficiency Improvement in Packaging Elimination Eliminating components/ elements Quantitative Prevention More optimal packing Resource extension Void space/ material

8 MATERIAL ENERGY POSTPONE Material Efficiency Improvement in Packaging Elimination Eliminating components/ elements Quantitative Prevention More optimal packing Resource extension Void space/ material mitigation Reduction Bulk packing Lightweighting Reducing packaging volume Lightweight material Laminating Switch to flexible packaging Source: van Sluisveld & Worrell, 2013 Type of Changes in Packaging (n = 131) Source: van Sluisveld & Worrell,

Reduction Bulk packing Lightweighting Reducing packaging volume Lightweight material Laminating Switch to

Changes by Product Category (n = 131) Source: van Sluisveld & Worrell, 2013 Conclusions Material policy mainly driven by waste management policy Policy does not follow the preferred hierarchy

9 Changes by Product Category (n = 131) Source: van Sluisveld & Worrell, 2013 Conclusions Material policy mainly driven by waste management policy Policy does not follow the preferred hierarchy Material efficiency can be an effective strategy to reduce waste volumes However, material efficiency not a specific target, leading to limited attention Set absolute targets for waste volume Set specific targets for material efficiency But... lack of good metrics Currently implemented material efficiency options are limited to traditional options with more smaller impacts 9

material efficiency not a specific target, leading to limited attention Set absolute targets for waste volume Set specific targets for

10 Thank you for your attention Ernst Worrell This presentation would not have been possible without the research of students of the M.Sc. Programme Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. Thank you! 10

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