An Impact Perspective Labels, Standards & Certifications. Lynne Olson, Ph.D.

Transcription

1 An Impact Perspective Labels, Standards & Certifications Lynne Olson, Ph.D.

2 The Problem Which is more sustainable? Made from a renewable resource (trees) hold twice the contents of most plastic bags takes about a month to decompose 21% of paper bags are currently recycled Credit: Tim Smith, Ph.D. UMN (NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise) made of polyethylene, a petroleum-based resource consumes 40% less energy to produce than paper. generates 80% less solid waste than paper bags can take 1,000 years to decompose fewer than 5% of plastic bags are recycled 60 to 80 percent of ocean debris is plastic - poisoning or strangling marine life most commonly made from cotton (fossil-fuelintensive) cotton growers use more than 10 percent of the world's pesticides and nearly 25 percent of the world's insecticides most are woven outside the U.S. where labor is less costly Increased fossil fuels in transportation %#*&!, forgot it again

3 3 The Solution Proposed Objectives for Deciding What is Sustainable Purchasing Framework Guide purchasing decisions that: Have an positive impact on the facility Are measureable & comparable Accessible and simple Strategic (address the important stuff) Avoid undesirable tradeoffs - e.g. paper vs. cotton

4 4 Current State Labels, Standards & Certifications in Purchasing Product Level Regulatory Requirement Product Level Business Requirement Facility Level Options EU Detergent Regulation Internal Operations / Manufacturing Food Grade Packaging External Building / Destination NSF/ANSI 60 Drinking Water Standard

5 5 Benefits Labels, Standards & Certifications in Purchasing Sustainability is Complex Shifts responsibility for evaluating complex human health and environmental requirements to external organization Creates documentation for external validation e.g. LEED, Bids Communication of Sustainability Requirements Often not Defined by Procurement Eco-Certifications are easily specified in bids Check the box Only Tool Available, Accessible & Easy

6 6 Limitations Labels, Standards & Certifications in Purchasing Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of Only part of the impacts are considered - Operational safety - Water use - Energy use - Waste/Assets/Air Impacts Ecolab Total Impact View Limited product categories. Yet, broad range of products required to run a facility Unclear Connection between the standard and impacts GHG, water, waste..???? Can the impacts be measured and compared? Are there tradeoffs? (Paper bags Cotton bags.)

7 7 Next Step - Evolution Is there a way to broaden our perspective? Suppliers Feedstock's & byproducts Corporate footprint Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution User health & safety User Resources System Performance End of Environmental Impacts

8 8 Standards Gaps in Cycle Impact View Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of Suppliers Feedstock's & byproducts Corporate footprint User health & safety User Resources System Performance Environmental Impacts

9 9 is Important! Examples Facility Water Waste Energy Asset Air Yuengling Brewery (CIP) 950,000 Gal/yr Baymont Inn & Suites, Bryon Center MI (Laundry) 242,000 Gal/yr 74% less plastic 610 therms/yr (3.1 metric tones CO2 Protein Plant (water process treatment) Improved Water Quality $155,938 in surcharges Redu ced Odor

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11 11 Cycle Analysis Not Clear, Accessible or Easy Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of Suppliers Feedstock's & byproducts Corporate footprint User health & safety User Resources System Performance Environmental Impacts

12 12 Gaps Cycle Impacts Comparison Standards Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution LCA (cradle to gate) Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of End of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)? Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of

13 13 Vision Develop an Effective yet Simple cycle Impacts EPD Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of Procurement Level Roll up GHG Water Waste

14 14 Summary Impact Perspective Problem data data driven, sustainable, procurement decisions Today, standards and LCA s have a limited view Future vision consider impacts across product life cycle Define and prioritize impacts Measurable and comparable Roll up to facility level Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)? Sourcing, Mfr. Distribution End of

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