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Cleaner products - new tools, players and relationships

3 Evaluation of cleaner technology in textiles, electronics, and transport, and of selected product projects

This chapter reproduces the summaries of the four evaluations carried out of cleaner technology in the textiles, electronics, and goods transport sectors, and of selected product-oriented projects.

3.1 Cleaner technology in the textiles and clothing industry Summary of the textiles evaluation

Cleaner technology in textiles

Prevention of environmental problems at source is a fundamental principle in Danish environment policy. 30 cleaner technology projects were commissioned in the textiles and clothing industry between 1990 and the end of 1997, with combined funding of just over DKK 30 million from the support programme for cleaner technology. The great majority of these projects focused on the development of cleaner production technology for textile wet processing; but some of the broader projects have also contributed to refining the approach to cleaner technology.

Developments in cleaner technology perception

Perception of the cleaner technology strategy in the textiles industry has changed gradually over time, and has followed a fairly “classic” path which can also be found in other sectors:

Analysis

The first projects were broadly framed with a primary focus on analysing where environmental problems arose, and outlining how these could be addressed. These analysis activities pointed to wet processing as the primary focus area, partly also to concentrate efforts on the environmental problems which arise in Denmark.

Demonstration and development projects

In the beginning of the 90’s, demonstration and development projects were commissioned, combined with a detailed analysis of the dye houses. These initiatives were further strengthened in 1993-94 with the establishment of the framework programme for cleaner technology in the textiles and clothing industry, which focused on the development and optimisation of processes and machines in relation to textile wet processing. The budget for the framework programme was DKK 10 million. In the period up until 1998, over DKK 16 million was spent. In connection with this programme, a steering committee was appointed which consisted of the core interested parties with knowledge about textile wet processing.

General projects

Focus on the development of cleaner production technology for textile wet processing has dominated the strategy right up until today. But since the middle of the 90’s, projects of a broader nature have also been carried out which are relevant to the entire sector. The first of these were two environmental management projects, followed by projects with a product-oriented focus. Unlike wet processing, there has not been a unifying idea and

strategy behind the product-oriented projects, but the project on supplier management, for example, has contributed to refining the cleaner technology perspective.

Agreement and close cooperation

There has been a high degree of agreement and close cooperation between the parties involved regarding the cleaner technology strategy. This has had a positive spill-over effect into the other environmental initiatives in the sector, including the development of a chemical assessment system, the work of briefing the sector on cleaner technology, the introduction of environmental management and the preparation of criteria for eco-labelling. The main players in the environmental initiatives and the cleaner technology projects have primarily been the business association (the Federation of Danish Textiles & Clothing), consultants from the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) and the Institute for Product Development (IPU), and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The secondary players have been enterprises, trade unions, suppliers, local and regional authorities, and a few other consultants.

The results

From good housekeeping to new technologies

A number of cleaner technologies have been developed in the area of wet processing, with relatively simple process changes or reorganisations of working procedures at one end of the scale and new dye machines and equipment for processing and re-circulating process water at the other end. The focused efforts in all of 13 cleaner technology projects have also contributed to the textile dye houses introducing “good environmental housekeeping” in the form of substitution of chemicals, techniques to reduce chemical usage, energy management, water conservation, etc.

Reduction in resource usage

The cleaner technology strategy in textile wet processing has also led to a total concept for the reduction of environmental problems and has, on a demonstration basis, paved the way for the development of wastewater-free dye houses. In the short term, quite significant reductions in resource consumption have been achieved, and in the longer term the trials in the Dantex project have shown that there is great potential for a 90-per-cent reduction in water usage and a 70-per-cent reduction in energy consumption and in the associated emissions.

Textile dye houses

However, membrane filtering of wastewater and re-circulation will require a “technological quantum leap” and large investments from the dye houses. The dissemination study carried out thus shows that “good environmental housekeeping” with direct economic savings is fairly well known in the sector already, while the more comprehensive water treatment technologies have not broken through – yet.

Textile printing shops

In relation to the printing shops, four cleaner technology projects have been completed which have contributed to reducing energy consumption and wastage and the use of organic solvents and PVC. For the knitting mills there has been just one substitution project.

Product-oriented projects

A few product-oriented projects have developed new tools for environmental initiatives with a general character, relevant to other branches. This is true of the logbook and supplier management project. Conversely, the EDIP-tex project is an example of making use of experience from other sectors in the textiles industry. It is difficult to give an overview of the product-oriented projects, as they have been quite diverse and have almost exclusively had the character of elucidations. Only the project on “washable suits” has resulted in actual product development, although this has not been taken further.

The leaders

A reasonably large group of leading enterprises have introduced cleaner technologies and environmental management systems and these can be expected to be interested in taking the next step to a product-oriented environmental initiative. However, the remaining enterprises are yet to get started on systematic preventative initiatives going beyond direct process optimisations of resource consumption.

The incentives

For the leading enterprises, the incentive to develop environmentally friendly textiles is clearly to gain a competitive advantage on the market. The remaining enterprises can – before that time -– be expected to establish systematic preventative initiatives. The incentives for this must come from green taxes, environmental regulation (in the form of the score system, a future sector briefing), an outgoing sector organisation (with an emphasis on information and advice), etc. In other words, there is still much to be done to get cleaner technology and environmental management spread widely to enterprises in the textiles industry.

The textiles industry and the environment

It is worth noting that the elements of the textiles industry with the greatest environmental impacts have not moved abroad, but exclusively the labour-intensive elements. Danish environmental requirements have thus not prevented, for example, the operation of the dye houses, but have rather contributed to initiating an ongoing optimisation of the production process. The textiles industry has been foretold an impending demise in Denmark for several decades, but the reality has been increasing turnover, despite falling employment. This is partly because enterprises have been ready to adapt and they are good at managing cooperation with suppliers, sensing new currents and incorporating new market conditions into product development.

The challenge in the area of the environment has thus been to exploit these characteristics, both in relation to the “leaders” and the other enterprises in the sector.

Recommendations

From cradle to grave

With the introduction of the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative and the appointment of a product panel for textiles, focus has now been placed on the environmental impacts from textiles from the cradle to the grave, and on involving a broader pool of players. This evaluation provides an overview of the earlier cleaner technology strategy as inspiration for the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative in the textiles and clothing industry. The evaluation report contains elaborate sub conclusions which describe strengths and weaknesses of the earlier strategy in more detail.

 Cleaner textiles and more involved players

Changing from cleaner production to cleaner products and expanding the earlier pool of players cannot be avoided. But at the same time, there is reason to point out that the earlier projects ought to be pursued to their logical conclusion. Over DKK 15 million has been invested in projects directed towards the use of water, chemicals and energy in the textile dye houses, so the Environmental Protection Agency ought to assess, in cooperation with the other involved parties, how the dissemination and application of these cleaner technologies can be ensured via an increase in information initiatives, the initiation of economic schemes relating to environmental investment and/or via regulatory pressure.

Recommendations

In addition, the following recommendations can be highlighted based on experience from the earlier cleaner technology projects in the textiles industry:

1. Active involvement of enterprises

The projects have to be “owned” by the enterprises rather than the consultants, so that the enterprises are not reduced to data suppliers, and so that the project results find direct practical application. Networks, experience exchange (ERFA) teams, etc., can ensure the exchange of experience along the way between enterprises, and integrate knowledge acquisition with practical application in individual enterprises.

2. Development and dissemination as an integrated process

Rather than first carrying out a development project and then disseminating the results to the rest of the sector afterwards, process and product development should be seen as a distributed process involving a number of different players. There is reason to assume that the more parties who participate actively in dialogue and cooperation in relation to development projects, the better communication, and dissemination throughout the course of the project is ensured.

3. A range of tools

There is a need for a range of tools adapted to each enterprise’s situation and level of ambition. This flexibility must also ensure that each enterprise can easily adapt approaches and tools to their own needs and desires.

4. The balance between good environmental housekeeping and technology development

Projects aimed at good environmental housekeeping and direct results can motivate enterprises to move on to more comprehensive investments in cleaner technology. An appropriate balance between the short and long term can help maintain the interest of enterprises in investing in newly developed cleaner technologies.

5. The balance between environmental improvements and evidence

What type of evidence is actually necessary to motivate enterprises? Rather than detailed scientific evidence, it is actually practical experience from daily operations which carries conviction. The same is true of a product-oriented environmental initiative: a complete life-cycle assessment is particularly necessary if the enterprise wants to praise the product environmentally in its marketing. In many other cases, enterprises can come a long way with environmental improvements of their product in response to environmental assessments based on the life-cycle perspective and an appreciation of the important environmental impacts.

6. Broader pool of players

The earlier strategy focusing on cleaner production has been characterised by engineers and production people. A product-oriented environmental initiative demands that designers, fashion people, retailers, consumers, environment groups, educational institutions, etc. be involved much more actively.

Environment project no. 502, 1999

Arne Remmen & Brian Dalby Rasmussen: Cleaner technology in the textiles and clothing industry. Environment project no. 502, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 1999.

3.2 Cleaner technology in the electronics sector Summary of the electronics evaluation

This sub-evaluation discusses the course, results, and dissemination of the cleaner technology projects in the electronics sector. The goal of this is to document the results of the earlier strategy and draw out experience with the future Product Oriented Environmental Initiative in mind. The evaluation report has been produced based on literature studies and interviews with relevant enterprises and consultants. Its contents and conclusions are summarised below.

The cleaner technology projects

The problem

In recent years, there has been increased focus on the environmental impacts of electronic products throughout their entire life-cycle, whereas the earlier focus was predominantly on each enterprise’s production processes. These products contain a number of different materials, with the result that both choice of materials and disposal are important phases. Many of the frequently used materials are harmful to the environment and health when incinerated or deposited, and several materials are produced from non-renewable and limited resources. Waste management can also be difficult, since electronic products are often constructed in a way that makes it difficult to reclaim materials. Electronic products also have a relatively high environmental impact during the use phase. This is due to the fact that electronic products consume electricity during operation and also have a not insignificant consumption on standby.

Projects in electronics

The cleaner technology strategy in the electronics sector has consisted of seven completed projects, with funding of almost DKK 7.4 million in the period 1993-97. The projects have, on the whole, focused on how environmentally friendly electronics products are – in terms of choice and design, production of printed circuit boards, component mounting and cable production. The seven projects carried out were:

• Setting forth guidelines for producing sustainable electronic products, project phases 1-3 (E1)
• Setting forth guidelines for producing sustainable electronic products, project phases 4-5 (E2)
• Environmentally sound component choices for the realisation of cleaner technology in electronic production (E3)
• A cleaner environment in the electronics sector using conductive adhesives (E4)
• Electrical and electronic products – collection and disposal (E5)
• The development and establishment of an environmental database on cleaner technology, recycling and waste management (E6)
• Optimisation of PVC-free materials for use in cables and associated building installations (E7)

In addition, there are three projects which were commenced in 1997 and which have not yet been completed. These are:

• A cleaner environment in the electronics sector using conductive adhesives. Product consequential analysis of environmentally-optimised adhesive variants (E8)
• Project silver (E9)
• Environmental specifications for electronic, tele, and data products (E10)

Perception of the outcome of the projects

Initiative takers and coordinators

For the completed projects, in all cases, consultants have played a role in taking the initiative for the projects. The motivation on the part of the enterprises has primarily been expectations of government regulations and the opportunity to be on the leading edge of development in the area of the environment. For the projects not yet completed, enterprises have taken the initiative in two of the three projects. Enterprises have co-ordinated the projects in half of the total of ten projects.

Barriers

All enterprises and consultants have had positive perceptions of the projects and there have been few barriers to carrying out the projects. One of the most significant barriers highlighted by the consultants has been uncertainty in the enterprises towards technological changes. In some cases it has been difficult to obtain environmental data for use in environmental assessments, partly due to supplier unwillingness. One of the projects was also affected by the fact that one of the enterprises involved went bankrupt.

The result of the projects

Good results

Several projects have resulted in experiments being done with other materials and processes in the Danish electronics industry. Where this has not been the case, the projects have given enterprises a better basis for product-oriented environmental initiatives, for example, by giving good advice for environmentally friendly design and by establishing a data foundation for the environmental assessment of electronic products. The strategy has predominantly been aimed at trying out environmental assessment as a method, and this has lead to the acquisition of quite a lot of experience with the environmental assessment of electronic products. Environmental assessments have been employed in seven of the 10 projects, and in all but one case, the EDIP method has been used.

Lack of interest

While the results of the projects can generally be described as constructive, interest from other enterprises in the electronics sector has not been overwhelming. A seminar on simple guidelines for environmentally friendly electronic products received no support, and there has also only been limited interest in an information database on cleaner technology, recycling and waste management in the electronics sector. This is in a context where disposal is often found to be one of the most important phases in life-cycle assessment of electronic products. It can also be questioned whether enterprises are interested in the results of an environmental assessment if they feel that the environmental impact from their products is so significant that it would lead to bad publicity.

Dissemination to the rest of the sector

Environmental profile of 20 electronics enterprises

In the dissemination study, attitudes towards and knowledge of the environment were investigated in 20 electronics enterprises. The environmental profile of the enterprises can be summed up as follows: only a few had an environment policy, less than a third placed environmental demands on their suppliers, and one quarter had introduced some form of environmental management. There was generally good awareness of cleaner technology among the enterprises, but knowledge of the cleaner technology projects was relatively limited. However, there was widespread knowledge of conductive adhesives. The project on conductive adhesives involved a comprehensive communication effort, but even so it cannot be concluded that the sector’s knowledge of this technique is only due to this project. The technology itself has been known for a long time, but there has not been a focus before on the environmental gains of replacing solder with conductive adhesive, which was the purpose of the project. A Nordic project on conductive adhesives has also been carried out in the same period.

The environment not a competition parameter

The majority of the enterprises did not feel that customers in the electronics sector placed emphasis on the environment, and the environment was therefore not seen as a competition parameter. Two out of five enterprises felt that customers placed absolutely no emphasis on the environment, and a further one quarter described the interest as limited. The environment as a competition parameter in the electronics industry seems therefore, at the time of the investigation, to be relatively far off’– which might have contributed to the limited interest in environmental assessment of the enterprises’ products.

Conclusions and recommendations

Product-oriented angle

The cleaner technology projects in the electronics sector have been characterised by the fact that most have had a product-oriented angle. Quite a lot of experience has thus already been gained in this area – though primarily in the form of knowledge about the application of environmental assessment methods to electronic products. The most significant experience in this connection has been that data collection is a time-consuming and difficult process for complex electronic products.

Limited dissemination

The investigation into awareness of the cleaner technology projects suggested that there was limited interest in the results of the projects from other enterprises in the electronics sector. This lack of interest can partly be blamed on the limited demand for environmentally friendly products from the electronics industry. The dissemination study also showed that enterprises only see the environment as a competition parameter to a limited extent.

The foundation has to be strengthened

The result of the dissemination study showed that efforts are still required to stimulate enterprises to undertake systematic environmental initiatives based on cleaner technology in production and/or an environmental management system. The question can also be raised about the extent to which the sector is ready to employ the guidelines developed with the aim of integrating environmental considerations into product development. There are enterprises in the sector which are now, or will in the near future, be capable of implementing a product-oriented environmental initiative, but which appear to have reservations about how well new materials, techniques and tools can lead to improvement of their products.

On the basis of the conclusions of the evaluation, the following recommendations can be made:

1. Greater dissemination and broader communication efforts

Communication

The dissemination study showed that the results of the projects were only disseminated to a limited extent, which was partly due to a lack of interest from enterprises in the sector. Experience and results will need be disseminated to an even greater extent in order for the “power of example” to motivate other electronics enterprises to increase their environmental effort. This could, for example, be achieved by initiating a sector project so that increased knowledge is generated about how a product-oriented environmental initiative can be boosted in the electronics industry. After this, a communication project could ensure that tools and experience are disseminated to the right groups of enterprises and players. In this regard it is important that communication is not only aimed at the technical employees in enterprises, but also towards management and other professional groups.

2. Shared environmental data – an essential foundation

Environmental data

Several cleaner technology projects have focused on providing environmental data to the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative, but updating has been suspended due to limited interest from enterprises. It is important to have a common, accessible data foundation available when enterprises are ready for a product-oriented environmental initiative. Time-consuming and labour-intensive data collection must be seen as a significant barrier to using life-cycle assessment, especially in smaller enterprises. There is, therefore, good reason to support updates and extensions to environment databases which can provide a shared foundation for environmental assessments. This is particularly important in an electronics sector characterised by innovation and growth, since this leads to the data foundation becoming relatively quickly obsolete and incomplete.

In this sector there also has to be a focus on the components’ environmental impacts. It should be possible to extend the technically oriented component datasheets to include environment data, so that customers can more fully take environmental considerations into account in their choice of suppliers.

3. Test the tools in small and medium-sized enterprises

The needs of small enterprises

The Product Oriented Environmental Initiative in the cleaner technology projects has focused on environmental assessment methods which have been developed and tested by relatively large enterprises. The degree to which the tools developed can be employed by small and medium-sized enterprises needs to be tested; and the tools will need to be adjusted based on this experience.

4. Environment policy, goals, and action plans as a launch platform

A platform

Strengthening the work of electronics enterprises with cleaner technology and environmental management could create better conditions for a product-oriented environmental initiative. The advantages of environmental management are that the environmental initiatives are systematised and focus on ongoing improvements and organisational anchoring in the form of management commitment and employee engagement. However, there are examples of enterprises which have started with a product-oriented environmental initiative and have achieved the same advantages.

Regardless of the angle of approach, environment policy, environment goals, and action plans provide the foundation for a systematic environment strategy and are also the main elements of environmental management. The dissemination study showed that just a handful of the 20 enterprises questioned in the electronics industry had such a foundation. Changing this will require, among other things, a greater communication effort from the business associations, local authorities, etc.

5. Trials of methods in specific development situations

Implementation

The cleaner technology projects in the electronics sector have been based on trials of environmental assessment methods on “test products”. This has provided a great deal of useful experience, but future projects must focus on the design and development of environmentally friendly products based on the needs of enterprises. This can be ensured by having enterprises take initiative for the projects and coordinate them. Support must be given to implementation projects in which the methods are employed in enterprises as part of normal product development, and where the environment is considered along with other parameters such as functionality, design, quality, etc.

Environment project no. 504, 1999

Arne Remmen, Brian Dalby Rasmussen & Jette Egelund Holgaard: Cleaner technology in the electronics sector. Environment project 504, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 1999.

3.3 Cleaner technology in the transport sector Summary of the transport evaluation

The purpose of this sub-evaluation has been to discuss the course and results of the cleaner technology projects in the area of goods transport, with the aim of documenting the results from the strategy in the area to date and drawing out experience relevant to the future Product Oriented Environmental Initiative. The report has been produced based on literature studies and interviews with relevant enterprises and consultants. It has also been found appropriate to supplement the study with experiences from cleaner technology projects in the area of passenger transport. The report’s contents and conclusions are briefly summarised below.

The cleaner technology projects

The problem

Goods are primarily transported by ship, rail, or motor lorry. One of the significant environmental problems associated with transport is CO2 emissions, with ocean and rail transport often having an advantage over motor lorry transport. However, domestic goods transport in Denmark takes place using motor lorries as the preferred means of transport, since this form of transport is flexible and also often cheaper for an individual enterprise.

Perspectives

There are several initiatives underway in the area of goods transport which seek to reduce the environmental impacts from this sector, for example environmental management handbooks for both buyers and transport providers. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency appointed a product panel for goods transport at the end of 1998. The panel is one of three product panels and aims to initiate a number of activities to promote a reduction in environmental impacts from goods transport. It can therefore be expected in the future that enterprises with external transport activities, carriers and vehicle manufacturers will gain a greater focus on transport in a life-cycle perspective. This will also take place with involvement from sector-oriented organisations such as Railion Denmark, the Danish Shipowners’ Association, the Danish Road Haulage Association, and the Association of Danish Export Hauliers.

Projects in the area of goods transport

The cleaner technology strategy in the area of goods transport is part of the earlier environmental strategy in this area. Funding of just over DKK 2 million has been allocated to five cleaner technology projects for goods transport in the period 1993-97. The projects were:

• Eco-labelling and transport
• The environmental advantages of coaster transport compared to land transport
• The environmental impact of moving goods transport from land to sea
• Analysing the air pollution from marine engines with the aim of developing more environmentally-friendly engines
• Development of tools for assessing and choosing ferry types based on a life-cycle perspective

Projects in the area of passenger transport

Only relatively few cleaner technology projects have been carried out in the area of goods transport. In order to be able to make recommendations for the future Product Oriented Environmental Initiative we have therefore supplemented the study with the cleaner technology projects completed for passenger transport in the period 1993-97.

The following six relevant projects were carried out, with funding of just over DKK 2.8 million:

• The development of environmentally friendly oil burners for busses, etc.
• Life-cycle assessment of automobiles (preliminary project)
• Environmental considerations related to the purchase, operation, maintenance and disposal of automobiles (main project)
• Life-cycle assessment of busses (preliminary project)
• Environmental improvements to busses (main project)
• Development and testing of a prototype solar hybrid vehicle

Environmental awareness resulting from the projects

Environmental awareness – an important output

The projects in the area of goods transport have created knowledge focusing on the link between the environment and goods transport. This has contributed to greater environmental awareness in the area. However, this environmental awareness has only been anchored to a limited extent in the enterprises participating in the projects. The only project where enterprises have participated as something more than data suppliers was the project “Analysing the air pollution from marine engines with the aim of developing more environmentally-friendly engines”. This was also the only project where there was actual cooperation with parties outside the enterprise, consultant, and monitoring group. As far as the other projects are concerned, the results and the associated environmental awareness have only been spread via the final report.

In the projects relating to passenger transport, there are more examples of environmental awareness being anchored in the enterprises. In the majority of cases, the environmental work of the enterprises has been in focus, with enterprises having responsibility for most of the projects.

Perception of the outcomes of the projects

Few enterprises in goods transport projects

Generally, both enterprises and consultants consider that the projects in the area of goods transport to have had positive outcomes. The most significant barrier for enterprises was that they were too little involved and for too short a time, and a few consultants point out that it will be a long process to change the environmental awareness of enterprises regarding transport.

Enterprises active in the area

There have not been signs of similar barriers in the projects for passenger of passenger transport transport. This might be because those involved in most of the projects already had a long history of cooperation even before the projects were initiated.

The Product Oriented Environmental Initiative

Limited product focus in the goods transport projects

Product-oriented initiatives have been limited in the projects for goods transport. However the project, “Analysing the air pollution from marine engines with the aim of developing more environmentally-friendly engines” has resulted in more environmentally friendly engines for ferries. The project on “The environmental impact of moving goods transport from land to sea” has also focused on how enterprises can environmentally optimise their external transport activities by choosing other routes and forms of transport.

No projects have focused on how transport providers could provide a more environmentally friendly service. Neither have any projects developed guidelines for environmentally friendly purchasing of transport services or environmentally friendly use of transport methods in goods transport.

General product initiatives in passenger transport

In the area of passenger transport there has been greater focus on the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative. The projects can basically by divided into three types:

• One preliminary and main project has focused on life-cycle assessment employing a detailed method for the environmental assessment of busses.
• One preliminary and main project has focused on life-cycle assessment employing a short-cut calculation, experience, and relevant literature, with the aim of providing recommendations for public procurement of vehicles.
• Two projects have focused on the direct sources of environmental problems with an existing product, and are developing cleaner products based on this analysis – a solar hybrid vehicle and an oil burner.

In the first project above, participation by the enterprise has been erratic, as the product went out of production during the long process of carrying out a detailed life-cycle assessment. However, the project has resulted in a number of proposals for environmental improvements to busses, jointly prepared by the enterprise and consultant. With reference to the future Product Oriented Environmental Initiative, the other projects are examples of how “common sense” and life-cycle-based “qualified guesses” can provide a basis for the development of more environmentally friendly products or “environmentally sound” purchasing. The projects in the area of passenger transport have thus methodically covered a general approach to the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative, from “common sense” to detailed life-cycle assessments.

Recommendations

On the basis of this report’s conclusions, the following recommendations can be drawn for the ongoing environment work in the area of goods transport:

• Get the enterprises’ environment work into the centre for the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative, and let this provide the basis for general involvement of relevant players in the sector, including transport purchasers, carriers and vehicle manufacturers.
• Support enterprises in the work of analysing the environmental impacts of transport, since neither green accounting, environmental management, nor life-cycle assessments have generally led to greater priority on the environmental impacts from transport in enterprises’ environment work.
• As far as possible, use as a basis products expected to remain in production long term and/or which represent a product family so that the results can be used widely in the sector, including across the division between goods and passenger transport.
• Maintain balance in the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative so that there is still room in future for both common sense and life-cycle based “qualified guesses”, on an equal footing with detailed life-cycle assessments. In each case it is necessary to look at the goal of the assessment and the enterprise’s situation when choosing a specific method.

Environment project 505, 1999

Arne Remmen & Jette Egelund Holgaard: Cleaner technology in the transport sector. Environment project 505, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 1999.

3.4 Cleaner technology via product and analysis projects Summary of the product evaluation

The purpose of this sub-evaluation is to present and assess the outcomes and results of 35 projects in the category of product and analysis projects, carried out under the action plan for cleaner technology 1993-97. One primary aim of the report is to gather together experience from the activities carried out with the future Product Oriented Environmental Initiative in mind.

In connection with this evaluation, distinction has been made between enterprise projects, which are typically based on the work of one or more enterprises with specific product development, and elucidation projects in which a consultant firm elucidates the situation relating to a sector or a product.

Data foundation

The background for the report and its conclusions is an analysis of case documents (applications, recommendations and reports) and interviews with relevant enterprises and consultants.

Characteristics of the projects supported

A total of over DKK 36 million has been allocated to support the 35 projects. Most projects received support of less than DKK 1 million (25), while two projects received support of over DKK 5 million. It has been outside the scope of this analysis to assess whether such an allocation of funding, whereby two projects have received about 33 per cent of the total resources, is appropriate from an environment perspective.

Project outcome

Just over one quarter of the projects did not proceed as the interviewed project managers had expected – a common explanation for this being lack of time. One cannot rule out the possibility that more projects would have attained tangible results if there had been greater agreement between the actual workloads and the goals set.

Enterprise projects proceeded

There is a clear relationship between whether the projects were elucidation or enterprise projects, and whether they continued after support ceased. The enterprise projects continued to a much greater extent than the elucidation projects.

Environment funding as business support?

In the assessment of the project managers, six of the enterprise projects completed and one of the elucidation projects, together representing 15 per cent of the total funding allocated, would have been carried out in any case. On the one hand, it can appear to be of concern that the limited funding resources were used on projects which would have been carried out anyway. Such funding, from a narrow perspective, would have to be characterised as business support. On the other hand, such funding can speed up the product development process and mean greater publicity for the results achieved – and hence better opportunities for dissemination of the cleaner technologies/products developed.

From cleaner processes to cleaner products

Perception of cleaner products

One of the main aims of the action plan for cleaner technology was to shift the focus from processes to products. This intention is reflected in about half of the projects by the involvement of life-cycle-based elements. The other half of the projects were based on common knowledge of environment factors in the sector. Of these projects, five were enterprise projects which do not mention the incorporation of environmental factors outside the producing enterprise, either in their starting point or during project execution. One quarter of the project managers interviewed had a narrow perception of cleaner products which was typically defined in relation to a particular problem – e.g. energy or environmentally damaging substances. This implies that in many of the projects there was a genuine lack of awareness of the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative. However, it also needs to be emphasised in this assessment that the projects were not formulated within the framework of what is today called the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative. This perspective was under development during the programme period.

Cooperation in the product chain

For both project types, there was widespread lack of cooperation with other players in the product chain. This can be seen by the fact that there is typically cooperation with the early links in the product chain, while consumers, retailers, and consumer organisations are virtually completely absent as cooperation partners. A tentative conclusion is that cooperation on product development has not been expanded from the players with which enterprises normally cooperate: primarily suppliers.

At the same time, a surprising number of enterprises point to increased cooperation in the product chain as a significant result. This must be interpreted as an alarmingly narrow perception of ’the product chain’.

Exploitation of the market dynamic

The participating enterprises can generally be described as environmental leaders. Many name the environment as an important parameter in product development, and even more indicate that they make use of the environment in their marketing. The majority of the enterprises also indicate that they plan to market the results of the projects as environmentally sound products – or already do so. Even though eco-labels only seriously began to be developed during the period of the programme, it is still thought provoking that the enterprises are not more aware of exploiting the opportunities for eco-labelling.

One project has especially led the way, as this project tried out other approaches for the integration of environmental considerations into product development and for raising awareness of a product’s environmental properties.

Results

Implementation in product development

Of the projects investigated, over half, or 20 out of 35, resulted in a marketed product (6) or the production of a prototype (14). Of these 20 products, the assessment was that half will have higher production costs than comparable products, while four will have unchanged production costs, and four will have lower production costs.

Of the 14 projects developing a prototype, eight have more or less concrete plans for marketing and two are developing products that are also expected to be marketed. All in all it can thus be expected that at least half of the projects will result in marketed products in the short term.

Only two enterprise projects state that they only resulted in product descriptions. These limited results appear to be due to a combination of the fact that product development is an exploratory, learning process, for which the practical barriers along the way cannot be foreseen, as well as problems related to the actual coordination of the project management.

Environmental results

In the environmental arena, most enterprises believe that the projects will have positive consequences in the form of reduced air pollution (13 of 23), while just over half this number believe that the environmental effects will be in relation to waste and wastewater.

If one considers the basis for these environmental improvements, there is an overrepresentation among the enterprises investigated of initiatives in the form of more complex substance substitutions and changes to process technology. This is an indication that the easy environmental gains have already been harvested and that the time has now come for more demanding initiatives – and hence the need for funding.

Anchoring of knowledge

There is a weak tendency for the more general environmental knowledge attained through the projects to be predominantly anchored with the manufacturers. On the one hand this is very good, since it is where the development processes take place, but on the other hand it can also be a barrier to the dissemination of this knowledge since, to a certain extent, these enterprises may keep this knowledge relatively close to their chests, in line with the environment becoming a competition parameter. Conversely, the consultant enterprises, all things being equal, due to their function and their range of contacts would have to be seen as having an interest in serving to disseminate knowledge.

Funding has influenced technological development

The results of the projects have not yet spread to other enterprises. One explanation for this might be that these are technological developments which were not otherwise on the way within the sectors, and that the other enterprises have not yet had time for the adjustment process. Against this background, the funding, in itself, can predominantly be considered to have promoted development, even though many of the projects, as already mentioned, would have been carried out in any case.

Funding was spread across many sectors

It was noted that the individual projects were spread across a relatively large number of individual sectors. As a result there is limited opportunity for synergy effects within the sectors which could contribute to more effective dissemination of the results. However there was one clear exception -– two sub-projects which together gathered all or significant parts of a sector’s manufacturers. In these cases this cooperation was highlighted as being a very positive result, and in terms of dissemination, almost ideal.

Difficult to evaluate results of the elucidations 

 It can be difficult to assess the results of the elucidation projects, as their effects will first be felt in the longer term compared to specific product development projects. Those projects, which directly contribute with tools to be used as a basis for making environmental decisions, are an exception.

Recommendations

Based on the evaluation, the following summary recommendations can be made for the future strategy in the product area:

• that in future, projects more explicitly incorporate a life-cycle perspective – either in the form of a full life-cycle assessment/screening or intensified cooperation between players in the product chain. 
  
• that greater efforts be made to ensure that participating enterprises in product projects also understand the fundamental concepts in this strategy. 
  
• that future projects more consciously work in dialogue with the later links in the product chain, such as customers, consumers, and the waste and transport sectors.
  
• to support projects which work on developing methods for customer and consumer-oriented dialogue and communication.
  
• to continue to strengthen the work on developing eco-labelling criteria and seek in future to stimulate the supported enterprises to have an active relationship to the official eco-labels.
  
• that an analysis be made of the relationship between a project’s environmental gains in the shorter and longer term and the amount of funding received, for a large group of projects.
  
• that a more thorough assessment of whether projects can be practically completed within the set framework be undertaken when allocating funding.
  
• that methods be developed to assess whether or not a given project expresses a development which would have taken place in any event, with the aim of achieving better management of funding resources.
  

Environment project 522, 2000

Jesper Lassen & Arne Remmen: Cleaner technology via product and analysis projects. Environment project 522, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 2000.

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