Experiences with the Implementation of the Ecodesign Directive in Finland. Carina Wiik

Transcription

1 Experiences with the Implementation of the Ecodesign Directive in Finland Carina Wiik

2 Content Background National Implementation of the EcoDesign Directive Experiences of the Implementation of the Directive Review of the EcoDesign Directive in 2012 Awareness of the SMEs sector Conclusions

3 The Technology Industry the Most Important Sector in Finland Comprised of five sub-sectors with a total of 1600 members Electronics and Electrotechnical Industry Mechanical Engineering Metals Industry Information Technology Consulting Engineering 55% of total Finnish exports 80% of private-sector R&D investment Almost 290,000 employed directly in the sector, 720,000 employed in total, equalling about 30% of the entire Finnish labour force. Manufacturing mostly b2b products many products covered by the EcoDesign-directive, such as motors, fans, lighting in tetitary sector, machine tools, boilers, space and water heater equipment and air condition systems. Over 90 % of the members are small and medium enterprises

4 EcoDesign regulation in force EcoDesign Directive (revised 2009/125/EC, originally 2005/32/EY) Framework setting ecodesign requirements for energy related products on the single market in EU Focus on energy efficiency but takes into count all environmental aspects Product specific minimum requirement (harmonised EU regulations) Energy Labelling Directive 2010/30/EU) Scope energy related products

5 National implementation of the Ecodesign-directive EcoDesign act, which came into force in early 2009, and was revised in 2010 A resolution obligating the authorities to guide and inform producers about ecodesign requirements not a requirement of the directive EcoDesign related web site Information exchange forum Responsible authorities: Ministry of Employment and Economics Ministry of Environment Market surveillance authority: Safety and Chemicals Agency

6 Both EcoDesign and Energy Labelling Electric motors Specific requirements Product regulations Electric motors Information requirements Studies and work papers News

7 The review of the EcoDesign-directive in 2012 The results of the National Study Complicated and long process The regulatory process for water heaters took 7,5 years Weakness in the transparency in the process Availability of working documents Complicated questionnaires Lack of information of impact assessment Ambiguity in product scopes and overlapping requirements Problematic for complex products Not a driver for innovation Complicated technical regulation Lack of proper standards

8 Example: Professional storage cabinet EcoDesign requirements vs. other regulation Power consumption/energy efficiency vs. foodstuff storage Proposed ecodesign test package temperature for freezers is C National and EU regulation (818/2012, 89/108EC) requires -18 C Consumption values never meet in reality Approx. 20% of cabinets s proposed to be exempted from the scope Requirements proposed too weak Customers not satisfied Porkka, Food Storage Cabinet

9 Example: Multifunctional bidirectional ventilation unit Complex product, with multiple functions The whole ventilation unit will be under proposed EcoDesign regulation Energy Labelling regulation (smaller units) Under these regulations units will be divided to: residential vs. non-residential units unidirectional vs. bidirectional units Other basic functions: filtration of incoming and outgoing air heat recovery (heat exchanger) These basic functions will be (partly) regulated under EcoDesign and Energy Labelling regulations Ensto Enervent Pelican Pro Greenair HP

10 Example: Multifunctional bidirectional ventilation unit Complex product, with multiple functions On component level: fans > 125 W, regulated by EU 327/2011 (fans) shaded pole motors > 750 W, regulated by EU 640/2009 (motors) motors < 750 W and PM motors => preparatory study Lot30 => regulation proposition compressors => under preparatory study Lot31=> regulation proposition Other legislation in force or proposed: product safety, especially Low voltage and Machinery directives refrigerants under F-gas regulation (heat pump models) restricted substances under ROHS directive, Reach regulation waste phase in the WEEE directive building and construction related legislation, e.g. national building codes, energy efficiency of buildings Ensto Enervent Pelican Pro Greenair HP

11 The awareness of the SME sector 2 surveys conducted by the Finnish Government and the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries Survey of Finnish SME companies in the scope of EcoDesign Directive 60 interviews with SMEs were made (50 % were members of our federation) Focus on construction products (heat pumps, boilers, ventilators, fireplaces, room heaters, but also motors, pumps and fans, etc.) Visit companies and interview them about their knowledge of EcoDesign directive and its implementation product requirements Inform companies about ecodesign process, requirements, CE-marking, related standardisation, authorities and related web-sites etc. Collect comments from the field to improve the activities on national level

12 The awareness of the SME sector Main findings Most of the SMEs were not aware of the EcoDesign Directive and related product requirements or they did not have enough resources to monitor coming product regulation Ecodesign was seen as voluntary actions and not as regulated minimum requirements of the products The energy label was more common, but the extent of the scope was not known (scope = energy related products) A lot of problems with the interpretation was noticed, especially with complex products with multiple functions There was a lot of misunderstanding between the construction product regulation (CPR) and the ecodesign requirements as well as with the role of different product standards

13 Conclusions What should be improved? Regulatory process to be improved (eg. better planning and coordination, more transparency) EU actions SMEs need guidance and support on national level to be able to handle new product requirements - just informing is not enough These company visits were preferred instead of e.g. web sites or newsletters They responded that this might be the only way for SMEs to get proper information on ecodesign activities and regulated requirements Especially more information of the ecodesign prosess is needed when and how to be active and what to deliver and to whom - the role of industry associations? Lot of confusion about special product and other environmental regulation, also the role of standardisation is unclear guidance, support and interpretation help is needed the role of authorities?

14 Thank you for your attention! Questions? carina