Natural Mineral & Spring Waters The Natural Choice For Hydration
EU Product Environmental Footprint exercise (PEF) Dr. Philippe Diercxsens - Danone Waters With the kind collaboration of Mr. Bernard Pruvost Nestlé Waters Canadean Beverage Packaging Conference 26 th October 2016 Brussels
WHY assessing a common product s environmental footprint? More than 400 environmental labels in the world Only for GHGs, 80 leading reporting methods and initiatives = Issues: What is green? How do I prove that my product or company is green? If I choose one approach, will it be accepted by everyone? Do I have to prove I'm green in different ways to different clients? Will consumers and business partners understand my claim? Does green mean more expensive?
Features ON What is Product Environmental Footprint based (PEF)? Based on existing knowledge, Multi-criteria (16 impact categories) Life Cycle Assessment based Taking a product-specific approach: Identifying life cycle stages which are relevant for environmental performance Identifying environmental impacts that are most relevant for the product Common rules and data quality requirements Reproducible results Setting up benchmarks (average performance) Enabling consumer comparisons 4
PEF pilot technical Objectives Set up LCA category rules Set up rules of performance benchmarks Test B2B / B2C communication vehicles. 5
PEF objectives for stakeholders: For consumers : to give them information, in order to change their choices and improve their behaviour For companies : to be an incentive for ecodesign as it provides a reward for its results For all stakeholders : to reduce greenwashing.
14 non-food product categories selected T-Shirts IT-Equipment Thermal Insulation Household detergent Stationery Batteries & Accumulators Photovoltaic Elec. Generation Non-leather shoes Hot & cold water supply pipes Paper Leather Decorative Paint Metal Sheets Uninterruptible Power Supply
11 food product categories selected Petfood Coffee Packed water Feed Fish Dairy Meat Pasta Olive Oil Beer Wine
Organisation EF: 2 business sectors selected Retailers Consortium Copper production
Technical Advisory Board Organisation Steering Committee Commenting EF WIKI https://webgate. ec.europa.eu/fpfi s/wikis/display/e UENVFP/ MS representatives Commission Representative from pilots Representatives of main stakeholder groups Approvals, monitoring and conflict resolution Tech. Secretariat 1 Tech. Secretariat 2 Tech. Secretariat n EF Technical Helpdesk NGOs Ind. SMEs PAs NGOs Ind. SMEs PAs NGOs Ind. SMEs PAs 10
Who is in the packed water pilot? 4 industrial associations 5 natural mineral water producers 1 LCA consultant More information: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/pdf/fiche_packed_water.pdf
WHO is in the Dairy Pilot Technical Secretariat? 3 industry associations 6 dairy processors 1 retailer 1 LCA consultant 4 public and research bodies 3 packaging associations
Pilot phase timeline (2014-2017) 2017 VOTE Remodeling June 2017 End of pilot phase
Policy follow-up Policy discussion Future policies in 2020?? We are here Peer review of the pilot phase and of alternative methods tested under similar conditions (2017) Internal evaluation of the pilots
3 companies volunteered to test LCA studies Evian Ferrarelle Vittel PET one- way 1.5L from : Evian (France) other channels Reference year: 2015 Market: France Glass refillable 0.92L from Riardo (Italy) at horeca Reference year: 2015 Market: Italy PET one- way 0.5L from Vittel (France) at the office Reference year: 2015 Market: France
Our PILOT decided to select only 3 KEY impacts CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCE DEPLETION WATER RESOURCE DEPLETION MINERAL, FOSSIL
Next steps : Communication phase Principles: Transparency How information was generated Availability and accessibility Simple, immediately understandable (max 3 indicators), availability of detailed information Reliability Scientifically accurate, ensure confidence Completeness All relevant impact categories Comparability Over time, and if possible, between similar products Clarity Adjusted to target audience, product & purpose
French communication experiment 168 companies enrolled Environmental footprint available for more than 10.000 products. Duration : One year - from july 2011 to july 2012 Flexibility was given to the companies: Communication formats and media Choice of additional environmental indicators Governmental report sent to the French Parliament in 2013 Search of creativity for the format and analysis of their effectiveness
The French Communication experiment
Nescafé and Nespresso 3 environnemental indicators : climate depletion of non renewable natural resources water 3 communication vehicles mobile phone : (Application proxiproduit) magazine («Croquons la vie») internet : www.nestle.fr www.nescafe.fr www.nespresso.com/ecolabo ration www.croquonslavie.fr
Environmental impact index: Gives an indication about the global environmental impact of the product along the whole life cycle: 100g of that product represent 2,6% of the environmental impact of the daily food consumption of a French. Calculations are based on greenhouse gaz, water consumption and water pollution On the back of the pack : Definitions, Weblink www.indiceenvironnemental.fr) for more informations Code 2D : access to the information details
Virtual communication! Preferred option of the industry! Access by scanning the barcode Quantitative and qualitative information Multi-criteria Communication format common to all companies Possible use of the pictograms GREEN- HOUSE EFFECT WATER BIODIVERSITY NATURAL RESOURCES 23
EU pilots: Communication phase Questions to be answered: How is environmental footprint information used on the market? Does it increase the attractiveness of the products? Does it trigger changes in purchasing behaviour/investor relationships/ relationship with stakeholders? Does it raise awareness on specific environmental issues? Does it trigger improvement of environmental performance?
Possible communication vehicles Performance label Performance label + QR code Performance improvement label Barcode Pictogram Consumer receipt basket comparison Leaflets, catalogues, etc. Instruction manuals Websites App based on performance Marketing campaigns/ advertising
Where we are today? LCA methologies For free Data bases to be released. 2 Options considering Local Water Stress. Benchmark EFBW against ABCDE too simplistic benchmark. 8 PILOTS share same statement. Communication testing to come In the bottled water pilot 3 companies volunteered for testing: Ferrarelle, Nestlé Waters and Danone Waters.
Our messages to the Commission
PEF s need to be carefully managed! PEF (like other LCA techniques) is essentially a diagnostic tool, PEF is not a food product discriminatory pass/fail system, Its use, including the communication of any results to consumers or other stakeholders, should remain voluntary, On-pack labelling is only one possible communication vehicle,
PEF s need to be carefully managed! PEF does not necessarily allow for systematic product comparison along the value chain including at point of sale. Environmental footprinting should remain separate from nutritional profiling. PEF/OEF should not be the sole basis for possible future EU policy initiatives
PEF s need to be carefully managed! The variety and complexity of food and drink products imply both significant initial cost and ongoing expenditure Margins of error in assessment may exceed actual differences of performance. PEF must help to enhance Europe s international competitiveness and improve the operation of the Single Market.
Further information http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/ 31
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