Product Environmental Information in EU Environmental Policy

Transcription

1 Product Environmental Information in EU Environmental Policy Pavel MISIGA Sustainable Production and Consumption Directorate General for Environment European Commission 1

2 Tonnes CO2 equiv/capita/year GHGs caused by European consumption - where do they arise? Emitted in other countries (embodied in imports) 10 8 Emitted by national production for domestic market 6 4 Direct in households and from private cars

3 SCP Policy Objective Reduce resource use and limit environmental impact of production and consumption by: Improving environmental performance of companies Improving environmental performance of products Poor performance Good performance Environmental performance Influencing consumer behaviour and stimulating demand for better products

4 Resources Health and Environment Energy Climate Change Material Scarcity Eutrophication Land Use 4 Toxic Pressures

5 A policy mix for better products Optimal policy mix No. of products Minimum requirements (Ecodesign) Incentives (Financial, Fiscal) Green Public Procurement Labels (Ecolabel), Information to consumers Environmental performance of products

6 Consumer information needs Environmental performance is the 3 rd most important characteristics of the product (after price and quality) for consumers to make purchasing decisions Up to 80 % of EU consumers are willing to buy green products Only 20% of consumers really buy green products The trust gap is growing 6

7 Information Clear Comprehensive Reliable 7

8 The EU Ecolabel ISO Type I ecolabel LC-based criteria (pass-fail system) developed by the JRC and approved through formal EU decision making process Ex-ante and ex-post control by Ecolabel competent bodies in MS 25 product categories licences Most licences in floor covering, paints, detergents, tissue paper Most licences in Italy, France and UK 8

9 The EU Energy Label Mandatory declaration of energy efficiency of the product Label must be placed on products and information provided in internet marketing Performance classes are set via formal decisionmaking Control by market surveillance bodies 10 product categories in the area of lighting, air conditioning, cooling and refrigeration, washing machines and driers, dishwashers, TVs 9

10 RE Roadmap SCP Actions Provide guidance to Member States and the private sector on a methodology to assess the environmental performance of products Address the environmental footprint of products, including through setting requirements for products (ecodesign requirements) Provide better information on environmental impacts of products and prevent misleading claims Strengthen Green Public Procurement Increase market rewards for genuinely environmentally friendly products Measures to extend producer responsibility to the full lifecycle of the products they make 10

11 New policy development Work on a new product information scheme Objective: ensure consumers' access to information on LC environmental performance of products Based on a new LCA methodology Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Information in a normalised form (e.g. scale, comparison to a benchmark of good performance) for 3-4 most significant environmental aspects 11

12 New policy development 1Q 2013: publication of PEF and recommendation to MS and private sector to apply it on voluntary basis /2016: Pilot application of PEF on a voluntary basis including development of PCRs for priority products: - Performance benchmarks - Verification methods - Access to LC data - Testing of communication formats and tools 2015: Legal instrument/review of the Ecolabel 12

13 (Free) high quality life cycle data PFCR = Product Footprint Category Rules OFSR = Organisation Footprint Sector Rules B2B = Business to Business B2C = Business to Consumers D4E = Design for Environment 13

14 Is there already a PFCR? YES A comparison based on the exact rules agreed in the PFCR is possible (if needed) vs. NO Do you want to compare it to another fruit? NO A study based on the PEF methodology is necessary YES A PFCR for fruit is necessary The apple producer will have to take (and report transparently) on a number of methodological choices Multistakeholder process Definition of the product category Definition of the average product Screening study based on PEF requirements Identification of the most relevant life cycle stages Identification of the 3 most relevant impacts Definition of benchmark values and, if necessary, values for a grade system Allocation rules Definition of data quality requirements Scenario for the use and end-of-life (where relevant) Other methodological tailored choice relevant for the fruit product category Identification of the product Identification of the most relevant life cycle stages Identification of the 3 most relevant impacts Allocation rules Report on data quality requirements Scenario for the use and end-of-life (where relevant) Other methodological tailored choice relevant for its product Review information Environmental impacts Water Resources Climate E Verified by 14

15 Thank you for your attention Questions? 15