We are witnessing a drastic change in business priorities in these days: carbon emissions and sustainability are becoming decisive
business factors for competition worldwide. Are you prepared?
Many free riders are going into business , but against which track record and background? If it comes down to the practical level,
the matter is serious: the challenge is to ensure and enhance the quality, transparency and credibility of your strategies, methods
and implementation. You have to take account of best practises – not only for your communication, but also your processes, your
human capacities, your tools and your data.
In this additional issue, you will find best practise examples from industry, information about the progress
of initiatives like the European platform on LCA,workshops
on the EuP directive, and training on implementation of sustainability.
Do you need some additional capacities, advice or help in implementation of your sustainability or carbon strategy? Just give us a
call, and we’ll provide you with the same help we offer many the top companies – worldwide!
Best regards
Michael Betz
Managing Director of PE INTERNATIONAL
EuP Directive: Stakeholder Meeting on First Working Plan
The project to prepare the first working plan for the EcoDesign Directive (ENTR/06/026) held its stakeholder meeting in July. The
method for defining the final 25 priority products to be considered under the EuP directive was presented and discussed. Some 250
subject areas were identified from about 600 EuPs. These were reduced via classification into 57 priority product groups. The
consortium (EPTA, NTUA and PE) has now presented the final 25 product groups to the European Commission for acceptance. Stakeholder
feedback was extensive and the consortium thanks all contributors for the fruitful discussion. The final report was delivered to
the Commission at the end of August and will be made public.
More Dr. Constantin Herrmann
Enhancement of ELCD core database
The European Commision’s »European Platform on LCA« (EP-LCA) has now started a series of new projects: A handbook on recommended
LCA practices, a project to identify a recommended LCIA framework, models and impact factors with global and European reference and
the enhancement of the core database of the European Reference Life Cycle Data System (ELCD). The Department of Life Cycle
Engineering (GaBi) at the University of Stuttgart, is leading a consortium to support the project.
Best Practise: Decision Making in Process Improvements
In order to provide top quality through environmentally compatible products and processes, Behr permanently invests in process
improvement. For this reason, PE compared different options for off-gas treatment processes by means of LCA. The results of the LCA
provided an excellent basis for decisionmaking. Behr relies on the knowledge, constructive operating principles and
long-standingexperience of PE, the world’s leading consultants for sustainability in the automotive industry.
Australian National Life Cycle Inventory data base moves forward. Under the acronym AUSLCI stakeholders from academia and industry
including PE Australia have teamed up to develop a database providing sound LCA information for key Australian materials, processes
and products.
ELCD data in GaBi 4 databases and new electronics database
The standard databases available for GaBi 4 – namely »professional« and »lean« – include all 113 data sets of the free-of-charge
European Reference Life Cycle Data System (ELCD) core database of the European Commission, maintained by its Joint Research Centre.
This database is the first non-reference version, which is presently further extended and harmonised, supported by nine EU-level
industry associations. It provides access to LCI data covering the sectors energy, transportation, steel, aluminum, plastics,
cardboard, and waste treatment.
The
Sustainable Chemical Engineering group led by Prof. Azapagic at the University of Manchester has used GaBi in a number of
research projects for identifying and quantifying life cycle impacts of different industrial supply chains.
»The powerful modelling features in the GaBi software are useful in assessing and optimising whole process chains as well as for
providing transparency in decision making. Due to its engineering approach, we also intend to use GaBi as an educational tool to
help engineering students to translate life cycle thinking into LCA practice.«
Professor Adisa Azapagic, University of Manchester
...NEWS.......
GaBi i-report on Demo CD: From October 2007, the GaBi 4 Demo will also include access to the GaBi i-report functionality. Among
others, this handy new feature allows designers to create specific DfE tools for their product ranges.
Going the extra step – customised information for Industry Sectors
Managing corporate sustainability information in a consistent and up-to-date format challenge. But even more challenging
collection, assessment and reporting for whole industrial sectors.
Many sectors (e.g. steel production, chromium production or transport and logistics) use SoFi for this challenging for quite
different purposes. After collecting as many as 1.5 million sets of every year, sometimes from hundreds around the world, the
information for sector reporting and internal benchmarking. A very sophisticated further application is the automated transfer of
collection of data into the leading LCA GaBi, making PE INTERNATIONAL technology leader for sectoral LCA studies.
Involving customers in service and software development is a basic approach in PE’s service and support concept. In addition to
regular individual dialog with SoFi-users regarding handling and improvements, a yearly workshop is held to identify and define in
a highly practical environment, upcoming needs and features. The third SoFi user workshop was successfully conducted at PE‘s office
in June.
G3 in a nutshell – that is what a new document on the GRI guidelines intends to provide. A GRI organisational stakeholder prepared
the useful ‘quick reference sheet’ which can now be downloaded and hung next to one’s desk.
As in previous years, the 3rd International Conference on Life Cycle Management in Zurich, saw the conglomeration of the key
players from the LCA/LCM world, from government, industry and academia. The numerous sessions were very well received with the
promotion of real-world applications of life cycle approaches being a central theme.
Mrs. Gu Xiaohong from Hangzhou Green and Clean Environmental Technology Co. Ltd. (a sales partner of PE) and Constantin Herrmann
from PE’s German office were recently invited to a Chinese conference on EuP and REACH issues in the province Zhejiang. As a
plenary speaker, Constantin Herrmann explained the options for actions for OEMs and suppliers to be prepared for the EuP directive.
November 11 to 15, 2007 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, (US)
This year’s topic is »Urban Environmental Issues and their Impacts on Ecological Systems «. PE will hold presentations on how LCA
is being used to guide business decisions. Paul Firth from Interface, Inc. will give a presentation on how Interface is using EPDs
in decision-making, Johannes Kreißig will talk about EPDs in building assessment and Marc Binder will give a talk on the work being
done to make Stuttgart’s public transportation system more sustainable. Stop by to learn from these real cases.
Corporate Responsibility Reporting & Communications, November 13 to 14, 2007 in London (UK)
The conference covers Corporate Responsibility Communications from every angle. Learn how to deliver a powerful message and engage
key stakeholders. Gain new perspectives on how to develop and evaluate CSR reports and what effect regulators and standards will
have.
More information: www.ethicalcorp.com/reporting
Workshop on EuP Directive, November 6, 2007 in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany
PE INTERNATIONAL offers a workshop on EuP Directive in collaboration with the expert circle "Bleifreie Elektronik" (BFE, Dr. G.
Reichelt). It covers results and status, of the EuP working plan, eco-design, CO2-footprint and practical training. The workshop
will be in German language.
More
information.
›› Fairs ›› Events ›› Dates 2007
In the table you find up to date information, when and where we and the employees of our cooperation partners are present on
exhibitions, conferences, etc. Make use of the possibility to meet us there and arrange an appointment. Our contributions to the
events are indicated by an "X".
Abbreviations: › P = Presentation › W = Workshop › B = Booth
