| Parameters |
Tools / Mechanisms |
Examples |
| Is this product needed? |
 | Availability of alternatives to meet objectives e.g. service, process. |
|
| R&D |
| Industry collaboration |
| Economic Incentives
| Price/green taxes/support schemes for cleaner products |
|
|
|
| Requirements of existing infrastructure e.g. washing machine, car. |
|
| R&D |
| Economic Incentives |
| Industry Collaboration
| Supplier relationships/ partnerships |
|
|
Domestic appliance & detergent manufacturers |
| Societal aspirations / expectations |
| Personal awareness & attitudes |
|
| Marketing |
| Education / Public Debate |
| Consumer advice
| Information provision to raise awareness of environmental impacts |
|
|
|
| Which product is purchased? |
| Availability |
|
| Regulation
| Checks against producer monopolies |
| Prohibition/ Restriction of products/ substances |
|
| Retailer environmental policies |
| Retailer incentives to stock less environmentally damaging products |
| Supply side/chain alternatives
| Development/use/ promotion of alternative consumer purchasing channels |
|
|
|
| Cost |
|
| Regulation
| Government watchdog re price fixing |
|
| Economic Incentives
| Green taxes/tax breaks on raw materials &/or products |
|
| Marketing
| Consumer incentive schemes |
| Special offers |
|
|
Consumer incentive schemes e.g. in Belgium electricity companies offer
financial rebate on more energy efficient appliances. Water companies and other negatively
affected parties could give partial rebate for alternatives to products which contain
problematic chemicals, ideally based on LCA to ensure no impact displacement. |
| Quality |
|
| Business Advice |
| Management Systems |
| Product design |
| Eco-labels
| Minimum quality standards for eco-labelled products |
| Indication of product life-span |
|
| Minimum product standards |
|
|
| Suitability / ‘Fit for Purpose’ |
|
| Marketing
| Market research |
|
| Product design |
| Eco-labels
| Minimum performance standards for eco-labelled products |
|
|
EC Eco label criteria for washing machines include a performance
requirement |
| Perceived product attributes eg value added, environmental benefits |
|
| Product design |
| Green marketing (producer & retailer) |
| Retailer policy: Retail staff training |
| Eco-labels, Energy labelling |
| Consumer advice
| Government/ NGO helpline |
|
| Education
| Public environmental awareness campaigns/ education |
|
| Product information
| Risk / Hazard labelling |
| Producer helpline |
| Retail staff advice |
| Consumer organisation reports/product tests |
|
|
EC legislation under development to regulate green marketing. Labelling:
B&Q in the UK have developed a label for paint & varnish which classifies VOC
content & is accompanied by explanatory leaflets.
|
| Habit/Established behaviour/Inertia |
|
| Product information: provision and promotion |
| Marketing: producer and/or retailer |
| Consumer advice
| NGO campaigns/ organised boycotts |
|
| Education
| Public environmental awareness campaigns encouraging individual responsibility and
action |
|
|
Campaigns using examples of where individual actions can be
effective. |
| How to use the product? |
| Product (use) information |
|
| Product information
| Labelling |
| Advertisements |
| In-store demonstrations |
|
| Consumer advice
| Articles |
| Helplines |
| Leaflets |
|
|
Certain detergent manufacturers provide detailed dosage information
according to soiling and water type, and a telephone helpline service informing consumers
of their local water type, thus preventing excessive dosage. |
| Requirements of existing infrastructure |
|
| R&D |
| Economic Incentives |
| Industry Collaboration:
| Supplier relationships/ partnerships |
|
|
Development of upgradable infrastructure e.g. Siemens dishwashers can be
reprogrammed to enable increased water/energy/detergent efficiency |
| Habit/Established behaviour/Inertia |
|
| Product information: provision and promotion |
| Marketing |
| Consumer advice
| NGO campaigns |
|
| Education |
| Public environmental awareness campaigns encouraging individual responsibility and
action |
|
|
| Cost |
|
| Economic Incentives: Green taxes/tax breaks on products |
|
|
| How dispose of product (or contaminated product packaging)? |
| Convenience |
|
| Best practice: identification and dissemination |
| Minimum requirements/ standards for infrastructure provision |
| Widening involvement
| Stakeholder consultation to identify convenience factors |
|
| Supplier/Retailer policies |
|
Belgium: box scheme comprises free doorstep collection of unwanted
household chemicals |
| Cost |
|
| Best practice |
| Product design |
| Corporate policies
| Supplier/Retailer take-back policy |
|
| Industry collaboration
| Take-back schemes |
|
| Regulation
| Producer responsibility legislation |
|
| Economic Incentives
| Green taxation |
| Consumer incentive schemes |
|
|
Consumer incentive schemes eg: $ back, $ off next purchase, x free
products for y used products returned, pre-paid return envelopes etc. |
| Compliance |
|
| Advice
| Consumer awareness raising regarding regulations |
|
| Monitoring/ enforcement |
|
Eg UK: public often not aware that it is prohibited to pour motor oil
down drain. Increased potential for municipalities to raise awareness of regulations. |
| Availability |
|
| Development of suitable disposal methods and facilities and subsequent dissemination of
findings to those actors identified via
| R&D |
| Industry collaboration |
| Widening involvement |
| Best Practice |
|
|
|
| Awareness |
|
| Consumer advice & Product Information:
| Information provision regarding dangers/impacts of incorrect disposal |
| Information provision regarding correct disposal method, location of disposal facilities
etc |
|
|
Scope for negatively affected parties to be much more involved in
prevention via raising consumer awareness e.g. water companies could inform their
customers which household chemicals cannot be safely disposed of down the drain |