Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC Federal Office for the Environment FOEN Division Life Cycle Assessment as a rational Basis for Environmental Policy H.P. Fahrni Federal Office for the Environment Zurich, August 27-29 2007
Structure of presentation 1. How it began 2. Four examples of LCA with political impact - Looking for the best packaging material - Recycling or elimination? - Biogenic fuels - are they as environmentally sound as stated? - Criteria for clean and efficient cars 3. Positive side effects of LCA application 4. Outlook and conclusion 2
How it began LCA have a relatively long tradition in Switzerland: In 1984 the Federal Office for the Protection of the Environment published Ökobilanzen von Packstoffen a booklet with inventories of different packaging materials, as tin plate, glass, paper and cardboard and several plastics (LD-PE, HD-PE, PS, PVC). For the aggregation of the environmental impact of different pollutants to air or to water the tool of critical volumes was used. It is calculated by dividing the mass of the pollutant by the concentration limit stipulated by the law for the same pollutant. 3
The best packaging Since 1985, FOEN acquired and enhanced the instrument of life cycle analysis. Therewith, the big retailers were able to optimize the most important packaging. The goal was, to reduce environmental impact over the whole life cycle. we got light weight packaging (reduced material consumption and waste quantities). Private companies, producer of packaging material and retailers became acquainted with LCA and began to use it in other environmental areas than waste and packaging. 4
Small beverage containers (33 cl) impact assessment with eco-indicator 100 90 80 100% = 76'300 Eco-PTS *10-8 / 70 Impact assessment [%] 60 50 40 30 EW- Glas 181 g EW-PET 24 g EW-PET 24 g EW-PET 24 g Alu 14.7 g WB/Alu 28,6 g EW-PET 24 g 20 10 0 89% 98% 80% 98% 80% 98% 80% 98% 88% 98% 88% 98% 80% 98% Greenhouse effect Depletion of. strat. ozone Heavy metals Carcinogens Summer smog Acidification Winter smog Eutrophication 5
Recycling or Elimination Should used paper rather be burnt with energy recovery in MSWI or is it better to recycle it to produce cardboard and recycled paper? Is it from an ecological point of view better to burn used motor oil in cement kilns or should we try to recycle it? Similarly for spent solvents: recycling or burning as fuel in specially equipped incinerators? 6
Some figures about the impact of the production of new and of recycled paper Production of 1 kg recycled paper, incl. deinking Production of 1 kg new paper incl. pulp production Water 10 20 dm3 used paper 1,1 1,3 kg wood - Energy 1 3 kwh Chemical oxygen 2 5 g demand in water 30 100 dm3-2,2-2,5 kg 3 6 kwh 5 50 g 7
LCA as decision instrument already in 1986 In 1986 NGOs, scientist and authorities came together with representatives from economy to elaborate the Guidelines for waste management in Switzerland. They agreed on the following principle: Waste should only be recycled if this results in less environmental pollution than disposal of the waste and manufacture of a new product. Recycling needs to be economically viable in the long term. This wording stipulates the application of life cycle assessment for decisions in waste management guideline. 8
Results: Municipal Solid waste and separately collected material [mio. tons] 6 Total MSW in 2004: 4.99 million tons (672 kg/cap.) 5 4 3 2 1 0 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 Year 48% 2,41 mio. tons 324 kg/cap. various recycling glass paper & cardb. compost Mixed MSW; 2.58 mio. tons 348 kg/cap. (since 2000, incineration only ) 9
Biofuels as ecological as stated? EMPA: Ökobilanz von Energieprodukten: Ökologische Bewertung von Biotreibstoffen Environmental impact ecoindicator Emissions of greenhouse gas relative to gasoline 10
What is the political impact of the study on biogenic fuels? The Federal administration is actually preparing an ordinance on tax exemption for biologically produced fuel to specify a law already decided by the Swiss parliament FOEN will propose: Biogenic fuels may profit from tax exemption, if they lead to a clear reduction of green house gas emissions (at least 40%) and if they don t cause an environmental impact which is more than 25% greater than the impact of fossil fuels. This means e.g.: no advantages for products which lead to deforestation in countries of origin. 11
Criteria for ecological and efficient cars I Traffic is still an important source of air pollution, (e.g.: nitrogen oxides, precursors of ozone as hydrocarbons, particulate matter as pm10) Traffic consumes about half of fossil fuels in Switzerland emission of 17 mio. tons of CO2/year Traffic noise disturbs a big part of the population We need criteria for the evaluation of the environmental impact of cars. 12
Criteria for ecological and efficient cars II Why do we need these criteria? When developing a strategy to reduce pollution of ambient air with particulate matter (pm10, Feinstaub) we found it necessary to use also economic instruments to reduce emissions of pm10 from cars with diesel engines. We need criteria for the definition of a gradual tax scale, which reflects the overall environmental impact of different cars. 13
How to evaluate the environmental impact from different cars For each model of a car sold in Switzerland exists already a data base (Typenprüfung) with the measured emissions of Particulate matter(pm10) NOx HC CO2 Noise fuel consumption In addition we take also in to account the process of fuel production. The inventories are calculated with ecoinvent and results are aggregated as ecopoints following the method of ecological scarcity. 14
Criteria for ecological and efficient cars The 12 cars with lowest ecopoints 15
Criteria for ecological and efficient cars The 12 cars with most ecopoints 16
Positive side effects Application of LCA helps to better understand the life cycle of goods. We learn which phases in the life cycle of a product are ecologically the most important ones Already the elaboration of the inventories may help us to detect the most important possibilities for improvement of products. By comparing LCA of alternative products companies have a valuable instrument for a continuous improvement of their production. 17
The best packaging for milk In 1990, the issue of best packaging got lots of public and political attention. In cooperation with companies as MIGROS, TetraPack and Milk distributors we developed LCA for different packaging Polyethylen bag Refillable bottle, PC LPB-board Refil. Glass bottle 18
A very energy consuming step in the life cycle of a milk packaging The open refrigerator! 19
Conclusions I Life cycle assessment are used in the preparation of decisions in the field of environmental policy. LCA are applied and have consequences Holistic approaches may be more reliable and stay useful over a longer period of time than narrow, focused LCA. LCA are only the a stable base for decisions, when everybody can comprehend and reproduce the results. Therefore we need: clear and reliable scientific bases a transparent process of calculation of inventories and of evaluations 20
Conclusions II LCA provide valuable information for consumers. If used for the allocation of labels, it becomes a helpful instrument for decisions about consumption of products and services. The environmental impact as evaluated with LCA is in many case only one element in decision making. The convenience of a product for the consumer or the price of a product have their influence also. Life cycle assessment will not answer ethical questions. We have to decide ourselves, if we want to transform wheat to gasoline for cars or if we do better use it to feed hungry people. 21
We still need a further broadening of inventories There is a lot of challenging work for scientists and researchers Thank You for Your Attention 22