Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Biobased products: current activities and future options

Transcription

1 OECD Workshop on the Sustainability Assessment of Bio-based products July, Montreal Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Biobased products: current activities and future options European Commission - DG Research Directorate Environment Unit I.3 «Environmental Technologies and Pollution Prevention» Mr Michele GALATOLA

2 EU Institutions Court of Auditors Court of Justice The European Parliament The Council of Ministers Committee of the Regions Economic and Social Committee European Commission (27 Commissioners, 36 DGs) SG. RELEX ENTR ENV SANCO RTD JRC IES IPSC IPTS IE..

3 Is bio enough? Origin of material Environmental performance Example Renewable Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Non-renewable Biodegradable Polycaprolactone (PCL) Renewable Non-biodegradable Polyethylene (PE) from sugar cane Non-renewable Non-biodegradable Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Biodegradability is linked to the structure of the polymer chain; it does NOT depend on the origin of the raw materials

4 Is bio enough? the credibility issue The fact that a product is bio-based is not alone a proof of its (environmental) sustainability For example, the 14 C method is the only test method which can be used to determine unequivocally the amount of renewable raw material in any given product. HOWEVER, it is worth noting that this method only relates to the origin of the carbon content of the final product. It does not include any consideration of the origin of the energy used in production, distribution and disposal of the material, which requires a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) if the true environmental impacts of any material is to be assessed.

5 Life Cycle Thinking in EU policies (examples) Integrated Product Policy (IPP) Lead Market Initiative (LMI) Eco-Design (EuP) Directive Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan (SCP/SIP) Waste Framework Directive Bio-Waste Green Paper Fuel Directive Renewable Energy Directive Upcoming European Environmental Technology Verification System (EU ETV)

6 Necessity of Life Cycle Thinking in Policy and Business Avoid shifting-of-burdens: from one stage in a product s life cycle to another among countries, acting in a global market across different environmental and health impacts from one generation to another across different impacts (environmental, economic, social)

7 Lead Market Initiative Legislation and policies Coherence of legislation on waste, recovery and recycling related to bio-based products and in comparison with others Ensure that biomass-related legislation encourages a sustainable use of biomass for bio-based products Encourage Green Public Procurement for bio-based products Introduction of requirements for environmental sustainability in tender specifications (16% of GDP in EU) -1 st step: HOW to tender (EU guidelines) -2 nd step: WHAT to tender

8 European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/429 Elaboration of a standardization programme for bio-based products: a review of existing standards (including possible revisions, and the prospect of a single bio-based product standard), a programme of standards (including a roadmap), Creation of BT/WG 209 Bio-based products to execute the work

9 European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/429 BT/WG 209 Bio-based products had kick-off meeting on 28 April Divided tasks among BT/WG and it s two Task Groups (definitions and terminology, gap analysis, identification of research needs) Finalized Business Plan Last meeting: 30 June Timeframe - to finalize its report by July CEN all rights reserved 05/08/2009 9

10 European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/430 Bio-polymers: CEN/TC 249 Plastics WG 17 Biopolymers established in October 2008, active since January 2009 Last meeting: 9 June, 2009 WI prcen/tr Recommendation for terminology and characterisation WI CEN/TS Determination of biobased carbon content WI CEN/TS Requirements for claims on selected characteristics Expected timeframe: TSs available in ENs available in 2012

11 European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/430 Bio-lubricants: CEN/TC 19 Gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin Last meeting: May, Decision on new WG (33) Bio-lubricants Timeframe: TS available in 2010 The European standards should cover the following aspects: Biodegradability (for bio-lubricants only) Product functionality Impact on GHG emissions and raw material consumption Measurement methods, test methods, and LCA procedures

12 Life Cycle Thinking is essential but - No common or authoritative basis to ensure consistency and quality - Limited compatibility of data from different sources and countries (methods, formats, ) - Dependence on expertise of single consultants/contractors - Increasing number of inconsistent schemes, life cycle data, methods, Growing global demands for LCT/LCA but conflicting messages Limited confidence in studies and instruments amongst some stakeholders

13 International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook Life Cycle Assessments Review Documentation, Nomenclature, Terminology Life Cycle Inventory Guidance Life Cycle Impact Assessment Guidance Overarching General Guidance - Life Cycle Data/Methods and Assessments ISO 14040, 14044

14 International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Basis for coherence, quality-assurance, and acceptance Complete, independent, global system from authoritative organisations Consulted with various advisory groups Based on existing standards and best practice

15 Benefits of consistent, robust, qualityassured life cycle data and methods Coherence across business and policy instruments Consistent messages for decision support Level playing field, especially for product comparisons Reduction in hidden bias and unfounded claims Reduced dependence on single contractors Reduction in reporting requirements Better data availability / reduced costs Increased stakeholder acceptance More sustainable consumption and production patterns

16 International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Company X National Database F Research Project Z Business Association Y Consultant H ELCD ILCD Handbook ILCD Data Network ELCD: European Reference Life Cycle Database

17 ILCD Data Network of consistent, quality-assured LCA data Decentralised Global, open. Only requirement: Data compliant with ILCD Handbook (easier entry level for build up phase) Not in competition to any other database, including commercial databases: Data provider determine terms and conditions Data registry Company X Business Association Y National Database F Consultant H Research Project Z ELCD Data editor, compliance tools, templates are provided as free support tools

18 Advisory Groups Business Advisory Group 16 EU-level associations: ACE, ACEA, CEI-Bois, CEMBUREAU, CEWEP, EAA, ECI, EUROFER, EUROGYPSUM, FEFCO, IMA-Europe, LDAI, MARCOGAZ, PlasticsEurope, SLF, TBE LCIA method developers Advisory Group, developers of : CML 2001, Eco-indicator 99, EDIP97 and EDIP2003, EPS, Impact 2002+, LUCAS, ReCiPe, LIME, TRACI LCA tool and database Advisory Group, developers of: BREEAM, CMLCA, EcoSME, EDIP, EIME, GaBi, KCL-Eco, LCA-Evaluator, LCAit, LEGEP, MIPS, NLZ-Data, SimaPro, UMBERTO

19 Early invited consultations of international organisations and non-eu countries United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Brazil China Japan Malaysia Thailand Disclaimer: Involvement in drafting teams, Advisory Groups and invited consultations, does not indicate agreement or endorsement

20 Biorefinery Joint Call : Overall Aim and Topics Aims at the research, development and integration of innovative technologies to prove the viability of advanced biorefineries taking into account the entire value chain and sustainability issues Two topics / Two Instruments / Two Budgets Collaborative Project (CP) «Sustainable Biorefineries» - 55 M Co-ordination and Support Action (CSA) «Enhancing exchange of information, synergies and cross-fertilization between projects in the field of Biorefineries» - 2 M

21 Sustainable Biorefineries : Scope Sustainable processing of biomass into building blocks for production of bio-based chemicals, materials, second generation biofuels, power and heat Address the entire value chain, from production of feedstock to end product Integrated multi-disciplinary approach, notably by involving the development of thermo-chemical and biochemical technologies Demonstrate performance, sustainability and feasibility at least at pilot scale in an integrated approach Demonstrate the part of the biorefinery complex that is closer to the market at industrial pilot plant scale Assess for the entire value chain the environmental, economic and social sustainability, including: competition for food and biomass resources, GHG net balance, impact on water and land use, etc.

22 Other Research activities Innovation in Life Cycle Analysis for Sustainability (deeper and broader LCA) (CALCAS) Sustainability Assessment of new and existing pervasive Technologies (PROSUITE) Improved Life Cycle Impact Assessment methods and factors (LC- IMPACT) Operational ILCD guidelines for LCA studies in the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen sectors

23 Drivers for an internationally co-ordinated solution Global environmental problems, including transboundary issues Globally inter-connected life cycles of all goods and services Necessity to avoid unnecessary costs to private and public sector for repeated data collection, calculation, reporting and as result of conflicting LCA studies and instruments (e.g. EPDs, Ecolabels, Carbon footprint, etc.) Necessity to avoid trade barriers related to environmental policies Interest in compatibility among guidances developed presently in many countries for National LCA database activities Need for ensuring quality of LC studies in globally exploding life cycle market (Carbon footprint-effect)

24 Recommendations - 1 We need to encourage the transition FROM a product-based economy TO a system-based economy Eco-efficiency should be always a driver when taking strategic decisions at macro/meso level No shift of burdens shall be allowed.

25 Recommendations - 2 Decisions should be based on the Best Available Information available, NOT on perfect information. Quantitative and qualitative information on the three pillars of Sustainability should separately be provided to decisionmakers. They should then apply their own weighting (if any) according to their priorities. Find an international agreement on a common approach (e.g. LCA) and build together the different pieces to make it fully operational

26 Main limitations, gaps, uncertainties Data quality Allocation methods Land use changes Rebound effects

27 References ILCD Lead Market Initiative Biorefinery R&D CALCAS (EU RTD project)

28 American Chemical Society Conference San Francisco, March 2010 Sustainability Assessment of Biorefineries: system level analysis using Life Cycle Assessment M. Galatola, S. Pontoglio, A. Tilche

29 Thank you for your attention Michele GALATOLA DG Research Directorate Environment Unit I.3 Environmental Technologies and Pollution Prevention