Evaluering af produktpanelerne
2 Résumé (in English)
In 1998 the Danish Environmental Protection Agency initiated an experiment with product area panels in order to strengthen the involvement of market players in the Product-Oriented Environment Initiative. The first three product panels were established in the electronics, the transport of goods and the textile sectors. These three product panels and the concept behind them are now evaluated as the basis of a reassessment of the strategy behind the product panels. The evaluation is divided into three main areas concerning three issues: 1) Do the product panels live up to the formal framework created for their activities; 2) Are the product panels a useful tool in the Product Oriented Environment Initiative and 3) Are adjustments of the concept needed?
2.1 Do the product panels live up to the formal framework created for their activities?
The product panels have not been subject to a very formal framework; they were regarded as an experiment, which had to define its own framework. The three product panels have developed in very different directions at different rates of speed. This is, among other things, due to the widely differing conditions of the panels.
The electronics panel have so far worked hard to develop the necessary knowledge basis, the tools and the competence needed to promote the development and sale of cleaner electronics products. The panel has focused particularly on technology on the supply side and has carried out a number of projects in this area. At the same time, the panel has focused on knowledge dissemination, particularly via a website developed by themselves. To a wide extent, the electronics panel lives up to the framework and aims described for the product panels. The primary challenge for the electronics panel is to promote the sale of cleaner electronics products, thus contributing to creating an actual market for cleaner electronics products. This market does not exist at present.
The transport of goods panel has so far focused on knowledge, methodological and competence building in the development stages. Only now the results of this work are beginning to appear in the form of calculation tools for international transport, green purchase guidelines, etc. The transport of goods panel has so far given knowledge dissemination a lower priority because only few results have appeared as yet. In relation to the formal framework the panel has not adequately used the action plans as management tools and there are no progress reports on the work of the panel. It has proved difficult to integrate the product lifecycle idea in the composition of the panel and the question is whether the present panel composition represents all of the essential market players in the goods transport sector.
The textile panel presents the most evident results on the supply side in relation to the overall objective, which is to further the development and sale of cleaner products. By using the Environmental Competence Scheme the panel has contributed to the development and marketing of a range of ecolabelled textile products. The textile panel has been able to focus on the supply side because a solid foundation consisting of knowledge, tools and competence concerning the environment already existed within the textile industry. The textile panel appears to live up to the formal framework even though not all members of the panel have substantial technical experience.
2.2 Are the product panels a useful tool in the initiative?
In several areas the product panels provide new elements in the Product Oriented Environmental Initiative. In all three panels new, cross-sector dialogue networks have been created in areas where such a type of network and working groups have not existed before. The panel members find that the work of the product panels have contributed to bringing the development and sale of cleaner products up for discussion in the three sectors.
The involvement and collaboration between the market players, including the work of the product panels, have in a way become a third instrument in the product-oriented environmental effort supporting and supplementing the two traditional instruments: regulation and economic measures. The product panels appear to be a relevant and useful instrument, which can be used mainly to:
 | Strengthen interaction between the market and the environmental authorities, |
| Strengthen the implementation of the Product-Oriented Environmental Initiative, |
| Increase the self-regulation of the market, and |
| Increase the dissemination of the product life cycle idea. |
2.3 Are adjustments of the concept 'product panel' needed?
Product panels are a good idea. It is a positive development to involve the market players more in the product-oriented environmental effort. The product panels may constitute a significant element in a fast and efficient implementation of the environmental initiative, which may create a commercial competitive advantage for Denmark on a market for cleaner products.
There are important experiences to take advantage of from the three product panels that have been evaluated. It is necessary to create a 'clearer' concept, which reduces the insecurities concerning the aims, framework, obligations, etc. On the basis of the present experiences a framework may be created for the product panels, which supports an improved and more constructive working process.
Recommendations concerning adjustment of the concept 'product panels' are summarized below.
Table 6.1:
Recommendations for the adjustment of the concept 'product panels'
Overall recommendations |
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Functions |
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Composition |
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The role of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency |
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Chairman and secretary |
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Action plan |
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Knowledge dissemination |
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Organisation |
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Financing |
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