European Forum on Eco innovation"

Environment

Boosting competitiveness and innovation

The role of environmental labelling, management and

information schemes

18th European Forum on Eco-innovation

Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 May 2015Barcelona, Spain

Karmenu VellaEuropean Commissioner

for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Welcome to the18th European Forum on Eco-innovation

Boosting competitiveness and innovation. The role of environmental labelling, management and information schemes

2 18th European Forum on Eco-innovation – Boosting competitiveness and innovation. The role of environmental labelling, management and information schemes

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 18th European Forum on Eco-innovation.

This Forum is being held as the Commission prepares a comprehensive new proposal on Circular Economy. The approach we are researching and preparing will look into goals on recycling levels, a smarter use of raw materials, intelligent product design, re-use and repair of products, and more recycling. Eco-innovation, of course, will play an important role, and some of the elements we will discuss this week – information, labelling and management schemes – are an important part of the discussion.

The contribution that environmental labelling, management and information schemes can make to boosting competitiveness and innovation is very important to delivering real change on the ground.

As Commissioner responsible for the Environment, my objective is to ensure that environment policy plays a significant role in creating jobs, encouraging investment, and preserving resources. Eco-innovation has the potential to harness the drive of business to deliver on all of these objectives. One major challenge facing firms is how to penetrate well established markets. Eco-innovators must convince investors and potential clients that their product delivers on its environmental promises, and is economically viable. While the market offers a plethora of instruments to help establish this credibility, SMEs still find it hard to choose the right instrument.

The Forum proposes to explore the landscape of existing schemes, discuss the reasons behind this continuing proliferation, and present a series of best practices. The pros and cons of voluntary and mandatory schemes will be assessed, and key messages will be developed for regulators, retailers, and business and consumers associations.

You will be presented with the latest developments in the field, and I’m sure that you will engage in discussions, share your experiences and learn from each other.

The Forum will also deliver the first statements of verification under the pilot scheme for EU Environmental Technology Verification. Eight technologies featuring impressive, and now verified, environmental performances, will receive their certification. The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards will be handed out to EMAS-registered organisations that are striving to continuously improve to reduce the environmental impact of their operations. I hope you find these examples inspiring.

My wish is that you will enjoy this Forum, and that you will come away enlightened, enthusiastic and engaged about the challenges and opportunities of boosting competitiveness with eco innovation. I look forward to receiving the outcome of your work, and to sharing it with my colleagues in the Commission and in the EU Member States.

Karmenu Vella

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Isabel García TejerinaSpanish Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Spain is honored to host the 18th edition of the Eco-innovation Forum.

The Forum has become an important reference in encouraging innovation not just in Europe but worldwide. It is also an opportunity to participate in other European initiatives linked to innovation and the environment: the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and Environmental Technology Verification (ETV).

The title of this edition, Boosting competitiveness and innovation—the role of environmental labelling, management and information schemes, emphasizes the value of innovation for enterprises—SMEs in particular—as the engine of the green and competitive economy.

Innovative SMEs committed to environmental excellence can play an important role in helping the EU exit from its economic crises. Environmental labelling and management schemes are a trademark of successful organizations. They influence business culture and provide a new perspective that takes smart and sustainable growth into account.

Public administrations have a responsibility to create the conditions necessary for enterprises to invest in green and innovative solutions.

In Spain the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment works in the domain of innovation and green public procurement, where public administrations play an important role in driving business innovation. The ministry recognizes the value of a common European ecolabel for green public procurement.

Other actions, like those carried out by the BRAVE project, recognise the commitment of businesses to environmental improvement through environmental schemes like EMAS. BRAVE promotes the integration of this voluntary scheme and the mandatory requirements of sectoral legislation like the industrial emissions directive as well as a guarantee in the Environmental Responsibility Law.

Public-private partnerships and voluntary agreements are also outstanding tools to contribute to cooperation between public administrations and private stakeholders. They promote competitiveness, entrepreneurial skills and the internationalization of SMEs.

To illustrate the importance of these tools, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, supports projects like Smart Water Cycle. This project promotes innovative technological solutions for water management in Doñana National Park involving both private and public organisations.

Voluntary agreements signed recently with the textile sector and with electronic waste organizations also show the importance of promoting and generating human capital and employment through smart and sustainable economic alternatives.

I look forward to a fruitful debate and hope you enjoy this unique opportunity to build future eco-innovative collaborations during your stay in Barcelona.

Isabel García Tejerina

Day 1Wednesday 20 May 2015Venue: Hôtel de ville de Lyon (Town Hall), 1 Place de la Comédie, 69001 Lyon, France


The event languages are English and Spanish.

12:00 Registration and lunch

13:00 – 15:00 Session 1: Framing the Forum Welcome and framing of context: environmental labelling and management and information schemes as tools to strengthen the competitiveness of innovative SMEs

Introduction to the policy rationale of environmental schemesThis session will highlight how environmental schemes can complement legislation to support its implementation.Maj Britt Larka1, Deputy Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment Assumpta Farran i Poca2, Director General for Environmental Quality, Ministry for Territory and Sustainability, Catalunya Kestutis Sadauskas3, Director Green Economy, European Commission

Understanding voluntary environmental schemesThis session will examine opportunities linked to voluntary environmental schemes, presenting their different typologies, features, purposes and objectives. It will clarify concepts and introduce information on current statuses and trends.Andrew Prag4, Policy Analyst, OECD

Enhancing SME competitiveness through environmental schemesThis session will explore voluntary schemes from the perspective of SMEs, presenting a sectoral case study and the experience of an SME intermediary.Víctor Vázquez Calvo5, Senior Project Manager, Environmental Area, Andalusian Institute of Technology (IAT)

Table discussions to share understanding of the landscape and participant experiences

15:00 – 15:30 Coffee/Tea break

15:30 – 17:00 Session 2: ConverStations Presentation of 20 case studies on environmental labelling, management and information schemes used by SMEs and retailers.

The aim is to explore, in groups smaller than the plenary, the reasons for developing such schemes and to hear about their results and market impacts. Each case study will be presented three times, allowing each participant to attend three different case study ‘stations’. Each of the three presentations will last 25 minutes.This session will not be interpreted.

1) Miljönär-vänlig: A Swedish environmental label for waste

prevention. Anna-Carin Gripwall6, Director of Communication,

Avfall Sverige, Sweden 2) The choice to simplify, the courage to reward: The BRAVE project supports the full integration of

EMAS (and other voluntary certification schemes, such as the EU Ecolabel) in the environmental legislation of EU Member States.

Víctor Vázquez Calvo, Senior Project Manager, Environmental Area, Andalusian Institute of Technology (IAT), Spain

3) Creating added value with management systems and eco-labels:

A large company selling Ecolabelled paper. Sami Lundgren7, Director, Ecolabels and Reporting,

UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Finland 4) Performing Europe’s first verification of a

technology under the EU ETV Pilot Programme The first verification body that issued a statement

of verification under the EU ETV Pilot Programme. Agnieszka Wawrzyniak8, Head of Verification Body,

Institute of Technology and Life Sciences in Falenty, Poznań Branch, Poland

5) Mosbaek and the value of Environmental Technology Verification (ETV):

One of the first technologies to receive the ETV Statement of verification.

Torben Krejberg9, Technical Director, Mosbaek A/S, Denmark

6) EMAS: relation between environmental impact and business profit:

An EMAS-certified company that has achieved spectacular waste reduction, resulting in important positive economic impact.

Jordi Bosacoma10, Sales & Safety, Health and Environment Manager, Menzolit Vitroplast, Spain

7) Austrian label of excellence for durable, repair-friendly designed electrical and electronic appliances:

An Austrian label of excellence for durable, repair-friendly designed electrical and electronic appliances.

Sepp Eisenriegler11, CEO, Repair and Service Center R.U.S.Z, Austria

8) WELL – voluntary labelling beyond energy efficiency:

A product classification system for information and guidance in making conscious purchasing decisions.

Irina Messerschmidt12, Director, EUnited Valves, Germany

9) Casino Environmental Index: A French retailer that provides an environmental

index and web tool to help consumers make informed choices.

Corinne Mercadie13, Environment and Packaging Manager, Casino Group, France

10) Travelife for Hotels & Accommodations: An EMAS III Travel and Tourism sector certification

scheme for hotels and accomodations. Fiona Humphries14, Relationship Manager, Travelife Ltd,

United Kingdom

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11) Solvent recovery plant in an EMAS company: A company that anticipated the VOCs legislation by

registering to EMAS. David Fernández15, Environmental & health & Safety,

Envases Plásticos del Ter, sa (ENPLATER), Spain12) Thuringias sustainability network - NAThüringen: Thuringias sustainability network Grit Booth16, Manager, Nachhaltigkeitsabkommen

Thüringen, Germany13) Gomà-Camps - Ecolabeling as a way of

differentiation in a very competitive market: A family business offering products with the EU

Ecolabel and the Catalan Ecolabel. Emma Mariné Ortiz17, Quality & Environmental

Manager, Gomà-Camps S.A.U., Spain14) Eco-innovation Lab - Eco-innovation as a factor

of business competitiveness: A trans-sectoral view of how eco-innovation tools

(ecolabels and EMS among others) provide a competitive advantage for companies.

Jordi Oliver Solà18, Technical Secretariat, Eco-innovation Lab, Spain

15) The success story of the Nordic Ecolabel – celebrating its 25th anniversary:

The Ecolabel with 25 years’ experience. Nancy Holm19, Marketing and Communication Head,

Svanen, Sweden16) The Environmental Technology Verification for

RCR – the Rotating Heat Recovery System for Polluted Effluents:

Heat recovery system engaged in the ETV verification process.

Alberto Pozzi20, Consulting Engineer, Director of Technical and Sales Dept., POZZI LEOPOLDO SRL, Italy

17) Enabling developing countries to seize ecolabelling opportunities:

Using type I ecolabels in SMEs in developing countries as trade opportunity.

Julie Godin21, Programme Officer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sustainable Lifestyles, Cities and Industry Branch, Division of Technology Industry and Economics (DTIE)

18) Basque Ecodesign Center: a public-private partnership initiative to boosting competitiveness through Ecodesign:

The Center is an organisation structured pursuant to a partnership framework between firms in the private sector and the Basque Government. It aims to foster the design and execution of innovative ecodesign projects.

José María Fernández Alcalá22, Ecodesign and Life Cycle assessment project manager, IHOBE, Agency of environment of the Basque Government, Basque Country, Spain

19) Nespresso’s sustainability certification: How Nespresso’s sustainability certification has

benefited small coffee producers. Paulo Barone23, Green Coffee Sustainability Manager,

Nespresso, Italy20) Sustainability and environmental certifications

and projects for the Italian leather sector Main certifications and labellings.

Experiences about these schemes. Sabrina Frontini24, IICEC Director and UNIC

Sustainability Representative, UNIC Group (Italian National Tanneries Association) – ICEC (Quality Institute of Certification for the leather sector), Italy

17:00 – 17 :30Session 3: Sparkling/challenging impact speaker A broader reflection on innovation and mandatory vs. voluntary schemes.Ramón Arratia25, Sustainability director, Interface EMEAI

Presentation and discussion with the audience

17:30 – 18:00Official delivery of ETV Statements of VerificationPresentation by Kestutis Sadauskas, Director Green Economy, European Commission

Technologies verified:• ASKET System for producing briquettes from biomass • J.S. TRADING Substrate for cultivation of mushrooms

using the digested biomass from a biogas plant• MOSBAEK Flow regulator for rainwater pipes

Closing words: Marcin Korolec26, Deputy Minister, Government Plenipotentiary for Climate Policy, Ministry of the Environment of Poland

18h00 - 19h00 Cocktail

19:00 EMAS Awards CeremonyThis event will not be interpreted. Welcome messages:Kestutis Sadauskas, Director Green Economy, European Commission Assumpta Farran i Poca, Director General for Environmental Quality, Ministry for Territory and Sustainability, Catalunya EMAS 2015 nominees short presentation

Proclamation of the EMAS 2015 winners 20:30 End of the EMAS Awards Ceremony

Day 2Thursday 21 May 2015


09:30 – 11:00 Session 4: Voluntary schemes—wrestling with dilemmas Dilemmas/paradoxes: introducing key issues and potential recommendations.A dynamic session where participants will discuss in table groups the issues that interest them most, identifying recommendations and one key message.

How do we ensure credibility of labels while at the same time offering the opportunity to differentiate? Implications for monitoring and surveillance to prevent the risk of green washing. What is good for industry vs. what is good for consumers?Paulo Barone, Green Coffee Sustainability Manager, Nespresso, Italy Antonio Mancini27, Head of Unit, Directorate General for Consumer Protection, Italian Competition Authority

Labels for consumers or specifications for suppliers?From labelling of products to supply chain specifica-tions, implications of single company approaches— role of retailers—B2C and B2B perspectivesEuan Murray28, TSC Chief Strategy Officer, The Sustainability Consortium Rosita Zilli29, Deputy Secretary - General, Euro Coop

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee/Tea break

11:30 – 12:20 Session 5: Voluntary schemes as a component of a competitive European economy The positive contribution of environmental labelling, management and information schemes

How do environmental labels help SMEs to innovate? Best practices and lessons from SMEsCliona Howie Del Rio30, European Project Manager and Environmental Advisor Chairperson, Environment Sector Group Enterprise Europe Network, Cámara Oficial de Comercio e Industria de Cantabria

From unregulated proliferation to a coherent EU framework?What is the role of governments in this space?Teresa Barres31, Head of Unit, General Directorate of Environmental Quality and Assessment, and Nature, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment Jorge Izquierdo Zubiate32, Head of the Area of Pro-grammes and Networks, Agency of Innovation, Business Financing and Internacionalization of Castilla y León (ADE)

Feedback from the audience on key messages/ recommendations

12:20 - 13:15Session 6: Plenary Panel and closing remarksPlenary Panel/sounding boardKestutis Sadauskas3, Director Green Economy, European CommissionFabio Iraldo33, Research Director, IEFE - Istituto di Economia e Politica dell’Energia e dell’Ambiente, Università L. BocconiSami Lundgren, Director, Ecolabels and Reporting, UPM-Kymmene Corporation

Announcement of the next EcoAP ForumThe 19th European Forum on Eco-innovation will take place on 27-28 October 2015 in Seoul, Korea, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of South Korea and the Korean Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI).

Main Forum closing remarks Guillermina Yanguas34, Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment Antti Ilmari Peltomaki35, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Directorate-General, European Commission

13:15 – 14:30 Lunch

14:30-16:15Best of Eco-innovation: project success storiesAn analysis of the results of CIP Eco-innovation market replication projects and showcase of successful practices.This event will not be interpreted.

Chairman: Didier Gambier, Head of Department LIFE and H2020 Energy, Environment, Resources, Executive Agency for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (EASME)

The European Commission funding support to eco-innovation Present the landscape of opportunities for funding available to innovative businesses from the European programmes (Horizon 2020, LIFE+, COSME, ESIF and EFSI).Lana Žutelija, Policy Officer, European Commission

Projects presented: ECO-SANDWICH, REGENERA, TV4NEWOOD, GEnIuS and ECOPROFABRICS

16:00 – 16:30Coffee/Tea break

16:30 – 18:30 Matchmaking event These pre-validated bilateral meetings of 20 minutes represent a good opportunity to boost contacts for contracts. These meetings are jointly organised by ACCIÓ – Government of Catalonia with the support Environment Sector Group of the Enterprise Europe Network.

19:00 Joint final cocktail Venue: Alegra BarcelonaTransfer by bus to the Alegra Barcelona

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14:30 – 18:00 Retail Forum MeetingThe Retail Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform to exchange best practices on sustainability in the European retail sector to further enhance sustainable consumption and production in the whole sector. This year’s topic is “Consumer Information”.

Welcome (14:30 – 14:45)Kestutis Sadauskas, Director Green Economy, European CommissionMercedes Gutierrez, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA SpainPaz Molinas, Senior Manager, Barcelona City Council

Keynote speech (14:45 – 15:15)Antti Ilmari Peltomaki, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Directorate-General, European Commission

1st panel discussion: Closing the Loop, how retailers engage with suppliers and employees seeking to make circular economy a business case (15:15 – 16:30)Fabio Iraldo, Research Director, IEFE - Istituto di Economia e Politica dell’Energia e dell’Ambiente, Università L. BocconiPilar Chiva, Director of Prevention and Recycling, Catalan Waste AgencyChristina Raab, Head of Strategy, Made-By

Adele Torres Catalyud, Environment Department, Mercadona S.A.Fernando Frade, Safety and Environment Manager, Jeronimo Martins

2nd panel discussion: Communication tools, value of labels and their limitations, new means of communication with consumers (16:35 – 17:50)Carlos Martínez-Orgado, Honor president, Fundación para la Economía CircularMarion Sollbach, Environmental consultant, GALERIA Kauf-hof (member of METRO GROUP)Angeliki Malizou, Ecodesign Project Coordinator, BEUCAlejandro Martínez Berriochoa, General Director, EROSKI FoundationAna María Garcia Veses, Tecnico Ambiental, Consum

Closing Remarks (17:50 - 18:15)Kestutis Sadauskas, Director Green Economy, European CommissionMercedes Gutierrez, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Spain

Case Studies from Session 2: ConverStation

ConverStation concept: A dynamic process innovation that enables participants to choose 3 from a menu of case study presentations. Each roundtable session lasts 25 minutes and is repeated three times. Only 10-12 participants per case study.

20 case studies showcasing environmental labelling, management and information schemes


Case study 1: Miljönär-vänlig

ContactAnna-Carin GripwallAvfall SverigeProstgatan 2SE-211 25 Malmö[email protected]+46 70-662 61 28

Website: www.avfallsverige.se

Speaker Anna-Carin Gripwall

General description: Sweden’s waste management and recycling organisation, Avfall Sverige, has launched a new label—Miljönär-vänlig—that aims to inspire sustainable consumption and reduce the amount of waste produced.

The word ‘Miljönär’ is a pun combining the words for environment and millionaire. The Swedish label, which will be used by municipalities, will promote reduction, reuse and repair. The idea is to get the message across that one can get rich by sharing, repairing and reusing, and thereby reducing waste. Sweden is good at managing waste—we recycle 99% as material or energy. The problem is the amount of waste generated, which is not sustainable in the long run. We have to go beyond recycling up the waste hierarchy towards reuse and waste prevention.

The Miljönär label will encourage sustainable consumption and prolong the life of products as well as help reduce waste in line with European and Swedish environmental objectives. The idea is for the label to be carried by businesses that work to extend products’ lives such as shoe repair, libraries and second-hand shops. Consumers will be encouraged to participate in the scheme as reducing waste can save money and because their actions will also save natural resources and the environment.

Case study 2The choice to simplify, the courage to reward

ContactVíctor Vázquez CalvoIAT (Andalusian Institute of Technology)“Cartuja 93” Scientific and Technology ParkLeonardo da Vinci, 2 SP-41092 Seville [email protected]+34 954468010

Project website: www.braveproject.euSupporting document: www.braveproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Lay-man-ENG.pdfInstitutional website: www.iat.es

Speaker Víctor Vázquez Calvo

General description: The BRAVE project—Better Regulation Aimed at Valorising EMAS—aims to improve environmental legislation through better regulation and the reduction or simplification of administrative costs and burdens for EMAS-registered organisations. In the framework of this project, around 100 simplification proposals were developed, affecting both national and regional legislation, and engaging policy makers of several regions (i.e., Basilicata, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lombardia, Tuscany, Andalucía and Valencia). These simplification proposals have been shared with more than 200 stakeholders and experts who met over 30 times throughout the project in a variety of working groups set up at regional, national and European levels.

Moreover, in order to support environmental simplifications that may entail a benefit for those stakeholders working towards these goals, a guideline illustrating the tools needed to create forms of simplification addressing EMAS promotion was drafted. In this sense, the main

topics in which the measures have been grouped are the following ones: permitting procedure, inspection and control activities, environmental communication, green public procurement, financial guarantee, taxes and fees, and financing initiatives.

The following aspects could be discussed during this case study: - Could the measures (regulatory relief) adopted in

the framework of BRAVE be transferred into your region?

- What type of barriers could be found in case these measures were introduced within your current legal environmental framework?

- What could be the benefits arising from EMAS-registered companies?

Innovation and Technology

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Case study 3: Creating added value with management systems and eco-labels

ContactSami LundgrenUPM-Kymmene CorporationAlvar Aallon katu 1FI-00101 Helsinki [email protected] +358 405 800 910

Speaker Sami Lundgren

General description: UPM’s aim is to deliver ‘More with Biofore’ by continuously reducing the environmental impact of its products over their whole lifecycle. For this ambitious goal to be achieved, resource efficiency needs to play a key role in all company operations.UPM’s main production sites are covered by ISO 14001 environmental management systems and UPM has certified all its pulp and paper mills in Europe, its Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay, and its Changshu paper mill in China in accordance with the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). EMAS increases the credibility and reliability of environmental data.

With support of environmental management systems, UPM has reduced, e.g., its total amount of solid waste by over 30%, process waste water by 25%, and electricity consumption by tonne of paper by 20%.

UPM products have been granted several ecolabels, such as the EU Ecolabel, the German Blue Angel label and the PEFC and FSC forest certification labels. UPM is the largest producer of EU Ecolabelled newsprint, graphic and office papers. Ecolabels demonstrate that UPM’s products meet the environmental performance criteria expected by third parties. In 2014, 76% of UPM’s overall sales were ecolabelled, i.e., over 6.7 billion euros.

Supporting documents: UPM Annual Report 2014UPM Corporate EMAS 2013Website: www.upm.com


Case study 5 Mosbaek and the value of Environmental Technology Verification (ETV)

ContactTorben KrejbergMosbaek A/SVaerkstedsvej 20DK-4600 [email protected]+45 56638580

Speaker Torben Krejberg

General description: The vortex flow regulator is an invention by Mosbaek. The vortex flow regulator is made to handle rainwater before, within, and after entering the sewage system. The vortex flow regulator has no moving parts, requires no power and ensures a larger than normal orifice. In fact, the vortex flow regulator will allow orifices up to +425% the size of a sharp edged orifice at the same flow. This dramatically reduces the risk of blockage in the system. With no moving parts and a large opening size, the need for maintenance is no more complicated than a check for blockage.

Mosbaek’s CEV type vortex flow regulator earned performance verification through the ETV, making it a possible first choice in many situations.

The presentation will briefly cover the history, function and relevance of the vortex valve. There will be reflections on ETV and the ETV process from the perspective of an SME.

Website: www.mosbaek.dk

Case study 4: Performing Europe’s first verification of a technology under the EU ETV Pilot Programme

ContactAgnieszka Wawrzyniak Institute of Technology and Life Sciences in Falenty, Poznan Branch (ITP) Polish Environmental Technology Verification Bodyul. Biskupińska 67 PL-60-463 Poznań[email protected]+48 665 216 988

Speaker Agnieszka Wawrzyniak

General description: The EU ETV Pilot Programme aims to verify the performance of innovative environmental technologies. The first European ETV procedure under the programme was completed at the end of 2014 by the Polish Verification Body established at the Poznań branch of the Institute of Technology and Life Sciences in Falenty. The candidate for verification was the BIOMASSER® technology offered by the Polish company ASKET. As a first fully implemented procedure, the verification presented a series of challenges both for the verification body and the proposer. For the verification body, major challenges were related to data acceptance, quality assurance, working with appropriate test bodies, and development of key process documents. Constant dialogue with ASKET was crucial to the procedure’s success, especially in formulation of a proper claim and agreement to the parameters to be verified in order to prove the claim and confirm the environmental added value demonstrated by the technology.

The result of this pioneering work was the issuance of a Statement of Verification Number: VN20140001 under the European Union ETV Pilot Program. in December 2014. The entire verification took about 15 months. However, the effort was worth the time. For the proposer, once the technology has been verified, it can be promoted at home, in Europe, and internationally. This gave the verification body the time to master the ETV procedure and put its implementation into practice as well as build relations with the client. These will definitely serve as sources of experience and foundations for the future verification services offered by the verification body at the EU and possibly also global market.

Supporting document: Statement of Verification in polish and English languages (http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/etv/news/polish-verifiers-issue-first-statement-eu-environmental-technology-verification)Website: www.itp-etv.edu.plwww.itp.edu.pl

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Case study 7 Austrian label of excellence for durable, repair-friendly designed electrical and electronic appliances

ContactSepp Eisenriegler Repair and Service Centre R.U.S.ZLützowgasse 12-14AT-1140 [email protected]+43 664 263 0991

Speaker Sepp Eisenriegler

General description: The production-consumption system of electrical and electronic goods is characterised by fast-changing supply chains, with large and increasing imports, especially from Asia. The environmental impacts at the production end of supply chains are felt mainly outside Europe.

European consumption is shaped by rapid technological developments, falling prices, more households and fewer persons per household, driving the purchase of more appliances. Appliances are often exchanged for new ones before they fail, and consumer electronics have become subject to fashion. Purchase-and-discard behaviour has made end-of-life electrical and electronic goods (e-waste) one of the fastest growing waste streams.

In the context of EU strategies for resource efficiency (e.g., 7th EAP, Ecolabel Regulation, Ecodesign Directive) it seems appropriate to discuss the only genuine official standard for the validation of durable, repair-friendly designed electrical and electronic appliances.

As the proliferation of eco-labels is often criticized we are working on a White List for durable, repairable EEE and expect our standard to be helpful for developing an advanced energy (resource) efficiency label.

Website: www.rusz.at www.facebook.com/rusz.atwww.youtube.com/reparaturundservicewww.twitter.com/RUSZ_Reparatur

Case study 6 EMAS: relation between environmental impact and business profit

ContactJordi BosacomaMenzolit Vitroplast S.L.Camí de Can Guri 18-22/Pol. Ind. Coll de la ManyaSP-08403 GranollersSpain [email protected]+34 93 844 33 84+34 606 39 77 31

Speaker Jordi Bosacoma

General description: To implement an environmental management system must help to control/reduce the environmental impact that Industrial activity produces. Implementation of EMAS at Menzolit helped the company change the perspective of its workers and its managers regarding the environment. Menzolit realized that having a good environmental management system is compatible with business profit. Although there were some initial investments, these were compensated for by the company’s final energy and waste savings. EMAS also helped the company achieve compliance with legislation and be better prepared for new laws with almost no investments. Success was made possible because everyone at the company participated. Menzolit is convinced that EMAS should be part of their business and as important as sales.

Still, EMAS did not make Menzolit a first choice for its customers. Some know what EMAS is, others don’t. Despite this, environmental management systems such as EMAS have proven successful and a source of real profit.

Website: www.menzolit.com


Case study 9 Casino Environmental Index

ContactCorinne MercadieCasino GroupQuality direction28, rue des Vieilles Vignes – Croissy BeaubourgFR-77 316 Marne la vallée cedex [email protected]+33 01 61 44 73 23

Speaker Corinne Mercadie

General description: The French retailer Casino has worked on environmental labeling of Casino brand products since 2006. Unlike some eco-labels, the information they provide concerns each product without promoting one over another. The goal is to help consumers adapt their consumption in order to reduce their environmental impact.

First based only on GHG emissions (carbon index), since 2011 the label has considered three environmental indicators: GHG, water consumption, and eutrophication.

In order to help manufacturers evaluate their products, Casino developed a web tool that helps non-environmental experts collect all the data needed to calculate their Environmental Index. Free of charge for Casino suppliers, this web tool is accessible to all other manufacturers of food products with a small fee.

Supporting document: www.groupe-casino.fr/IMG/pdf/L_Indice_Environnemen-tal_Casino.pdfWebsite: www.indice-environnemental.fr/,www.groupe-casino.fr/fr/

Case study 8 WELL – voluntary labelling beyond energy efficiency

ContactIrina MesserschmidtEUnited ValvesBranch Office FrankfurtLyoner Straße 18D-60528 Frankfurt am [email protected]+49 69 6603-1239

Speaker Irina Messerschmidt

General description: In 2011 European valve manufacturers organised at EUnited Valves established WELL, the Water Efficiency Label. The label in its original form provided ‘all-in-one’ information on water and energy use as well as technical features of sanitary valves. Now, due to increased consumer inquiries concerning the efficiency and environmental impact of sanitary valves, and the irresistible trend of turning one’s private bathroom into a small wellness temple, the European valve manufacturers felt that they needed to enhance WELL.

With a new labelling approach that simultaneously rates energy consumption and comfort, the WELL label represents the leading option currently on the market for consumers that want to be conscientious about their purchasing decisions. While the energy

rating in the center of the label correlates with the hot water use of taps and shower valves, the new comfort rating displays further technical product features, like the type of temperature control as well as the noise class of a product. When it comes to public application of taps and showers, a reference to the time control is added to the rating.

European valve manufacturers are convinced that the new approach of the voluntary Water Efficiency Label WELL offers transparent and reliable guidance for private consumers, planners and craftsmen. With further facilitated application criteria and lean administration, EUnited Valves will simultaneously support the label reaching a better market coverage in Europe.

Website: www.eu-nited.net/valves www.well-online.eu (will be updated according to the new approach and application system until end of July 2015)

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Case study 11 Solvent recovery plant in an EMAS company

ContactDavid FernandezEnvases Plásticos del Ter, sa (ENPLATER)POL. IND. C/ de la Industria núm 1SP-17257 Torroella de Montgrí (Girona) [email protected]+34 972 76 15 70+34 661 42 51 47

Speaker David Fernandez

General description: ENPLATER has been certified in ISO 14001 and EMAS since 2001 and has employed a solvent recovery plant to minimize VOC emissions since 2006. VOC emissions have been regulated in Spain since 2003 through RD117/2003 which limits VOC emissions in solvent use for certain activities. Since 2007 fulfillment of this regulation has been mandatory.

In 2003 ENPLATER started a project to study different options for fulfilling this legal obligation. Basically, they had two options: incineration or solvent recovery.

They chose solvent recovery, the more expensive option, but the best environmental option (less direct VOCs and CO2 emissions, less transit of solvents, less risk of chemical spills).

Website: www.enplater.com/en

Case study 10 Travelife for Hotels & Accommodations

ContactFiona HumphriesTravelife Ltd30 Park StreetUK-SE1 9EQ LondonUnited [email protected]+44 7507 909113

Speaker Fiona Humphries

General description: Travelife for Hotels & Accommodations is an internationally recognised sustainable tourism certification standard, addressing sustainability across the triple bottom line. It is the only sustainable tourism certification to work directly with tour operators such as TUI Group or Thomas Cook across international source markets, as well as online travel agents, all of whom promote its certified properties.

Travelife currently has 1200 members in 43 countries and membership offers a step-by-step approach to developing sustainability programmes in hotels and accommodations. It is a low cost certification with benefits that include the opportunity to reduce operating costs, manage risks and enhance reputations. All audits are performed by third party auditors who are qualified sustainability experts.

The Travelife for Hotels & Accommodations standard has achieved international recognition from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, as well as being aligned with the requirements of the EU Ecolabel.

Website: www.travelife.org/hotels/home.asp


Case study 13 Gomà-Camps - Ecolabeling as a way of differentiation in a very competitive market:

ContactEmma Mariné OrtizGrupo Goma-CampsC/Cardenal Gomà, 29SP-43450 La [email protected]+34 977 876 800

Speaker Emma Mariné Ortiz

General description: Gomà-Camps is a family business group located for over 250 years in La Riba (Spain). Our mission is to manufacture, transform and sell tissue paper products and other similar products.

Gomà-Camps manufactures high quality products covering the demand of consumers committed to the environment. Its management system and manufacturing processes have been certified to the ISO 14001 Standard since 2004.

The company has improved its production processes, investing over EUR 10 million over the last five years in: optimising resource consumption, reducing its environmental impact and fostering paper recycling. While Gomà-Camps’s commitment to the environment is sincere, it still faced the question of how to translate this feeling to its customers in a confident way.

Ecolabeling was the solution: after obtaining the Catalan Ecolabel almost twenty years before, Gomà-Camps was the first Spanish company in the tissue

paper sector to obtain the European Ecolabel, in 2008. The company’s recycled products also hold the PEFC certificate and the energy it uses comes from renewable sources.

This strategy has contributed to the development of the business, many customers choosing them because they are officially certified. In the beginning, Gomà-Camps was the only certified company. Its competitors were not, which gave Gomà-Camps an advantage. Nowadays, almost everyone has realised the importance of this kind of labeling and there are more and more certificated products on the market.

Now the challenge for the system is to maintain the prestige of these certifications by:- avoiding certification of manufacturers with little

commitment to the environment;- doing inspections on certified manufacturers and

products; and- reviewing and increasing the demands of the

criteria.

Website: www.gomacamps.com

ContactGrit Booth Nachhaltigkeitsabkommen ThüringenGemeinsame Geschäftsstellec/o Verband der Wirtschaft Thüringens e. V. 1 Lossiusstraße DE-99094 [email protected]+49 361 6759-173

Speaker Grit Booth

General description: The Nachhaltigkeitsabkommen Thüringen (NAThüringen) — Sustainability Network of Thuringia — was established as a voluntarily agreement between the government of Thuringia and the Thuringian economy in March 2004. It combines all three dimensions of sustainability: economy, environment and CSR. The network brings together politics, administration and business on the subjects of climate and environmental protection, resource conservation, energy efficiency and social commitment.

Thuringia, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, is located right in the middle of the country. With around 2.2 million inhabitants and an area of roughly 16 000 square kilometres the Free State is one of the smaller states of the Federal Republic. The population density is below the national average. Its state capital and largest city is Erfurt, where the office of NAT is located.

As part of the agreement, NAT connects sustainable businesses from all over Thuringia. These provide at least one sustainable measure—for example the

implementation of an environmental management system according to DIN EN ISO 14001 or EMAS—in advance. The participation in the agreement is voluntary and limited to up to 30 months.

Whereas the NAT had only 40 participants in the first year after its founding it grew substantially over the years. Today — more than a decade later — the agreement counts more than 400 sustainable Thuringian companies. Those are companies from all kinds of branches and different sizes: a one-man chimney sweeper as well as SMEs or large, international companies such as Bosch, Opel or Siemens.

The NAThüringen is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Free State of Thuringia by the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Energy as well as by the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society.

Website: www.nachhaltigkeitsabkommen.de

Case study 12 Thuringias sustainability network - NAThüringen

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RDIC ECOLABEL

1518th European Forum on Eco-innovation – Boosting competitiveness and innovation. The role of environmental labelling, management and information schemes

Case study 15 The success story of the Nordic Ecolabel – celebrating its 25th anniversary

ContactNancy HolmEcolabelling SwedenBox 38114SE-100 64 [email protected]+46707176532

Speaker Nancy Holm

General description: The Nordic Ecolabel celebrates its 25th anniversary. It started in 1989 in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Finland) where there was a growing concern about environmental issues. There were debates about chlorine, seal deaths in Sweden, and unease among politicians that Nordic consumers were given too little information about what products were best to buy from an environmental perspective.

The answer was to establish a consumer tool that gives consumers the possibility of choosing which products were the best to buy from an environmental perspective. Consumers needed a consumer guide to reassure them that the Nordic governments, represented in the Nordic Council of Ministers, were behind this environmental trademark, the green swan. It was also a way to discern the serious companies who wanted to improve their products and who had achieved a Nordic Ecolabel license from those who quite often use greenwashing without any third-party audit.

During these 25 years many barriers have broken down, from which criteria to develop (first were for batteries), to convincing companies and consumers to prefer Nordic Ecolabelled products and services. Today there are over 20,000 available on the Nordic market and almost 2000 companies that carry Nordic Ecolabelled products and services. The Nordic Ecolabel has 91% recognition in the Nordic countries, and today you can choose everything from hotels, cleaning services, and carwashes to houses and detergents. In the near future, criteria for equity funds and housing renovations may become available.

Supporting document: Regulations for Nordic Ecolabelling of products (http://www.svanen.se/en/For-Companies/Download/Regulations/)Website: www.svanen.se

Case study 14 Eco-innovation Lab - Eco-innovation as a factor of business competitiveness

ContactJordi Oliver-SolàEco-innovation Lab/ Labora-torio de EcoinnovaciónFundació Fòrum AmbientalAv. Reina Maria Cristina s/n - Pl. EspanyaFira de Barcelona - Palau de la Metal·lúrgiaSP-08004 Barcelona, [email protected]+34 93 233 23 09

Speaker Jordi Oliver-Solà

General description: The purpose of the Eco-innovation Lab is to identify, classify and disseminate success stories of companies that have increased their competitiveness by incorporating eco-innovation strategies.1. Identify business opportunities that have the

environment as a driving factor.2. Increase the competitiveness of companies and

help to reduce processing and operational costs.3. Meet future eco-innovation needs of companies

that aim to improve competitiveness.4. Collaborate in promoting eco-innovation and

responsible innovation as a strategy for more sustainable development.

The intervention will include a brief presentation of the Eco-innovation Lab and its portfolio of tools for incorporating eco-innovation in SMEs. It will present conclusions of a trans-sectoral report of approx. 30 case studies of eco-innovative companies, focusing on the benefits, drivers and barriers for implementing eco-innovation (ecolabels, EMS, etc.) in companies.

At least the following questions should be tackled:• Why and how do eco-innovation tools like

ecolabels and EMS (among others) provide a competitive advantage for companies?

• Which barriers do they help overcome?• What type of returns should companies expect?

Website: www.laboratorioecoinnovacion.com


Case study 17 Enabling developing countries to seize ecolabelling opportunities

ContactJulie GodinUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Sustainable Lifestyles, Cities and Industry BranchDivision of Technology Industry and Economics (DTIE)15 rue de MilanFR-75441 [email protected]+33 1 44 37 46 96

Speaker Julie Godin

General description: The presentation will build on the lessons learned during a five-year project that supported lifecycle-based ecolabels in developing countries. The project involved multiple stakeholders from civil society, industry, and government to create an environment conducive to the use and promotion of ecolabels. Co-funded by the European Commission and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany), the project involved several countries, namely: Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mexico and South Africa. To create trade opportunity, each country was invited to select a sector in which a product could be recognised under an ecolabelling scheme in Europe. Activities included capacity building, technical assistance, exchange of information and knowledge to promote cooperation among ecolabelling schemes.

It will also introduce initiatives at the international level to improve resource efficiency and tackle current sustainability information issues: 1) the Eco-innovation Project which aims to build the capacity and enabling conditions for eco-innovation in SMEs in developing and emerging economies and 2) the Consumer Information Programme under the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

Supporting document: UNEP.2013.Redefining Ecolabels to Improve Sustainability and Trade in Developing Countries: Lessons Learned and Recommendations from a UNEP Project Website: www.unep.org

Case study 16 The Environmental Technology Verification for RCR – the Rotating Heat Recovery System for Polluted Effluents

ContactAlberto Pozzi POzzI LEOPOLDO SRLVia Paganini 14SP-20825 Barlassina (MB)[email protected]+393356380807 or +39036290811

Speaker Alberto Pozzi

General description: This contribution evaluates the reasons for obtaining a verified performance claim according to the rules of the European Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Pilot Programme, supported by the European Commission. A brief explanation will be given of RCR—a rotating heat recovery system for highly polluting effluents, which has earned certifications for best innovation and practice by independent energy organizations in various European countries. An analysis will also be given of

the changing demands of the current global market, where there is increasing support for environmental verification offering reliable proof of performance for this energy-saving technology while being profitably cost-effective.

Website: www.pozzi.it


Case study 19Nespresso’s sustainability certification

ContactPaulo BaroneNestlé Nespresso SAAv. De Rhodanie 40, CH-1007 [email protected]+41792500470

Speaker Paulo Barone

General description: An independent study analyzes the impact that the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program has had in the lives of coffee farmers in Colombia during the period 2009 to 2011.

The objectives of the study were to determine: 1) the contribution the AAA Program is making in terms of sustainability, 2) whether environmental practices impact farm results, 3) whether AAA farmers have higher levels of income and productivity and 4) whether benefits apply equally to small farmers.

The farmers involved were predominately smallholder farmers – with less than 5 ha, typically with low level of education, served by poor infrastructure and access to resources.

With the support of the Rainforest Alliance and other partners, Nespresso has been supporting farmers for over 10 years with training on farming and business practices, delivered by a team of dedicated agronomists. One of the main lessons learned is that productivity, and quality are key elements to sustainable coffee farming, and that these need to be addressed with better, more environmentally and socially friendly farming practices.

Supporting document: www.rainforest-alliance.org/publications/crece-nespresso-reportWebsite: www.nespresso.com

Case study 18 Basque Ecodesign Center: a public-private partnership initiative to boosting competitiveness through Ecodesign

ContactJosé María Fernández AlcaláIhobeAlda. Urquijo 36 – 6ªSP-48012 Bilbao SpainEmail: [email protected]+34 944230743

Speaker José María

Fernández Alcalá

General description: The Basque Ecodesign Center is an organisation based in the Basque Country and structured pursuant to a partnership framework between firms in the private sector and the Basque Government. It aims to foster the design and execution of innovative ecodesign projects.

Created in 2011, the Basque Ecodesign Center’s mission is to foster the development of ideas and business activities through ecodesign in such a way that contributes to improving competitiveness and prevents damage to the environment in the Basque Country, while also becoming a point of reference within the European Union through a network formed by companies and the Basque Government.

The work carried out under this framework is divided into four big activity blocks: the development of technical projects, whether individually or in a collaborative manner between companies; the support to SMEs in the Basque Country, promoting life cycle thinking across the supply chain of their members; the development of new business ideas, through an Ideas Laboratory; and a strong push in training and education activities. On top of these four thematic blocks, project spreading and communication tasks are also carried out.

The total figures of the Basque Ecodesign Center members right now are: 79,738 jobs, EUR 56,205 million in turnover and 12 788 suppliers, 2200 of whom are in the Basque Country.

Supporting document: “Ecodesign Made in Euskadi15 years of product environmental innovation”. http://www.basqueecodesigncenter.net/Publicaciones/Website: www.basqueecodesigncenter.netwww.ihobe.net


Case study 20 Sustainability and environmental certifications and projects for the Italian leather sector

ContactSabrina Frontini UNIC Group – ICECVia Brisa 3, I-20123 Milano (MI) [email protected] [email protected]+39.02.880771.1

Speaker Sabrina Frontini

General description: Main certifications and labellings for the leather sector:ISO 14001, EMAS, EPD (Environmental Product Certification), Eco-leathers (UNI11427), Carbon Footprint (ISO TS 14067).

Main topics, experiences, for Italian tanneries about these schemes: ex: eco-leathers for all kinds of tanning processes; system boundaries-LCA for finished leathers (Product Category Rules) etc..

Supportive document: UNIC Sustainability Report 2014 – ICEC brochure Website: www.icec.it

European Forum on Eco-innovation

The main goals of the European Forum on Eco-Innovation are to:• Disseminate innovative eco-friendly ideas • Give leading and emerging eco-innovators the opportunity to examine areas of policy, finance and technology • Raise awareness of recent research and policy development• Encourage innovation through communication between disciplines and sectors• Identify key issues requiring action by national governments and the EU• Help mobilise relevant actors with common objectives• Develop concrete strategies for future action.

Under the Eco-innovation Action Plan (EcoAP), these objectives are reaffirmed with a greater focus on business stakeholders (especially SMEs), and with the aim of delivering key messages for the shaping of eco-innovation policies at European, national and regional level.

The Forum is held over two days and presents the latest developments in the field of eco-innovation. Discussions revolve around a central theme which is proposed by the EcoAP High Level Working Group, the European Commission or the host country. Each Forum event focuses on a particular issue and features a number of relevant panel sessions.

During each Forum, recommendations are made for future action by the business and finance worlds, as well as national and European policy makers. Shortly after the forum, a report is pub-lished based on the presentations, discussions and recommendations and is made available to down-load.

Eco-innovation Action Plan

The Eco-innovation Action Plan (EcoAP) aims to boost innovations that result in, or aim at, reducing pres-sures on the environment and on bridging the gap between innovation and the market. The partnering approach referred to in the EcoAP will help to suc-cessfully turn research into market solutions, thereby mobilising the full innovation chain for sustainable growth in Europe and beyond. A new Eco-innovation Action Plan was adopted in December 2011 to help businesses deliver green growth and environmental benefits.

The Eco-innovation Action Plan comprises seven actions to help build stronger and more stable market demand for eco-innovation. These actions focus par-ticularly on market supply and demand, on research and industry, and on policy and financial instruments. They will bring together stakeholders, the private and public sectors, and the European Commission.

Actions of the EcoAP: Action 1 – Environment policy and regulation for promoting eco-innovationAction 2 – Demonstration projects and partnerships for eco-innovationAction 3 – Standards and performance targets for key goods, processes and services to reduce their environmental footprintAction 4 – Finance and support services for SMEsAction 5 – International cooperationAction 6 – New skills and jobsAction 7 – European Innovation Partnerships

More information on the EcoAP can be found at:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap

Launched in 2006, the bi-annual European Forum on Eco-innovation brings together experts from the worlds of business, finance, technology development, academia and civil society, as well as other relevant stakeholders actively involved in eco-innovation and resources efficiency.

Hannover Forum April 2014

Prague Forum May 2013

Lyon ForumDecember 2014

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Hanoi Forum November 2013


Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) aims to improve the situation for innovative environmental technologies by providing verified evidence derived from credible and scientifically sound procedures that they perform as claimed.

The end product is an ETV Statement of Verifica-tion, a document that establishes the performance of new technologies and enables them to be differ-entiated from existing, competing technologies. All market-ready technologies with innovative and environmentally beneficial elements can be pro-posed for ETV certification. The scheme, presently in its initial pilot phase, currently covers the following technology areas:

• Water treatment and monitoring (e.g., mon-itoring water quality, treatment of drinking water and waste water);

• Materials, waste and resources (e.g., sepa-ration and sorting of solid waste, recycling of materials, end-of-life products and chemi-cals, biomass-based products);

• Energy (e.g., renewable energy, energy gen-erated from waste, energy efficiency).

ETV can help innovative technologies penetrate new markets by enabling consumers to make useful com-parisons between their performance and that of ex-isting technologies. ETV is particularly well suited for use in the following contexts:

• Reaching international customers with per-formance claims tailor-made to the needs of targeted markets;

• Validating the innovative features that make a technology unique, thus going well beyond simple compliance with regulations or standards;

• Providing information on the performance of new technologies entering the market and allowing them to be differentiated from ex-isting, competing technologies;

• Persuading investors of the potential of new activities or investments;

• Facilitating the granting of permits or public authority approval for new installations;

• Increasing the market share held by a par-ticular technology and facilitating access to new national or international markets.

Since the ETV programme became operational in 2013, around 100 technologies have been presented for the first step of ETV (quick-scan) and 44 have signed up for the complete verification process. SMEs represent 90% of companies submitting a technol-ogy for verification, and micro-enterprises alone exceed 50%, confirming the SME orientation of the programme.

The official delivery of ETV Statements of Verification is an opportunity to meet the companies having de-veloped the first technologies verified, to know more about the scheme, its role and specific features in the landscape of EU information and labelling schemes.

Innovation is the driving force of the European economy. Although new environmental tech-nologies can make a significant difference in terms of resource and cost savings, they often fail to gain a foothold in the market simply because they are new and untested.

Pilot Programme

Helping eco-technologies

reach the market

Demonstrating environmental

added value Supporting

Eco-innovation

Energy technologies

Materials, Waste& Resources

Providing

credible performance parameters

Water treatment & monitoring

Environmental Technology Verification

The European Commission decided to reward the ex-cellent work of EMAS-registered organisations in the field of environmental protection by launching the EMAS Awards in 2005. The Awards recognise out-standing achievements in environmental manage-ment, each year focusing on a different aspect such as resource efficiency or waste management.

The event is a cornerstone of the promotion of the EMAS scheme and the work of Award winners, as well as a platform facilitating dialogue between key stakeholders.

The EMAS Awards 2015 will highlight inspiring ex-amples of EMAS registered organisations that have been particularly innovative in becoming greener and which are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact. Former EMAS Awards winners and nominees demonstrate that going green doesn’t mean going into the red—quite the contrary! Both public and private organisations implementing the premium en-vironmental management tool EMAS lead the way with their outstanding environmental contribution and the European Commission is pleased to support them through the EMAS Awards. Last year’s edition focusing on the broad theme of ‘effective eco-innovations supporting improvements

in environmental performance’ showed there is a high level of environmental performance and com-mitment among EMAS registered organisations. Moreover, fostering eco-innovation is essential for the transition to a more resource-efficient, sustain-able economy. Therefore the EMAS Awards 2015 will keep its focus on this theme.

More information on EMAS is available at: www.emas.eu.

The EMAS Award trophy is made in a highly ecological manner, using natural materials like stone, certified wooden veneer, felt and bone glue and chalkstone (for the engraving colouring).

Also the customized packaging is highly ecological, its glue even edible.

Each has been handmade by a German artist, Ms Floriana Meike Ohldag

The packaging is made of 100% recycling paper and PEFC®-certified cardboard.

EMAS Awards Ceremony Hannover 2014

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Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards Ceremony


Best of Eco-innovation: project success stories

This session will present an analysis of the results of CIP Eco-innovation market replication projects and a showcase of successful practices. The aim is to stimulate the exchange of best practices and gather feedback on eco-innovation barriers and opportunities from the on-the -ground implementation.

ECO-SANDWICHECO-SANDWICH® is a ventilated prefabricated wall panel utilising recycled construction and demolition waste (CDW) and mineral wool produced using innovative and sustainable Ecose® technology. The ECO‐SANDWICH® represents improvement of existing prefabricated wall panel products, tackling the 2020 goals (20% increase in energy efficiency, 20% reduction of CO2 emissions, and 20% renewables by 2020) and represents a possible technological solution for fast construction of very low-energy buildings on a large scale. Panels are durable, economical and enable rapid construction with high aesthetic values. The ECO-SANDWICH® wall panels are both reusable and fully recyclable. Possibilities for the application of the ECO-SANDWICH® panels in new construction as a load bearing structure or as cladding wall panels include: apartment buildings, houses, warehouses, manufacturing buildings, office complexes, schools, farms, etc. For more information: http://www.eco-sandwich.hr

REGENERA The Regenera project concerns the development of a sorbent material to efficiently remove arsenic from drinking water. The material is highly efficient and regenerable. In the course of the project, two plants were built, one to produce the material and a second to regenerate spent sorbent. Already in the first few months of operation, four different plants were refilled with regenerated material, saving more than 60 tons of arsenic waste from being released into the environment. For more information: www.regenera-project.eu

TV4NEWOOD TV4NEWOOD has developed a new wood modification process called Thermovacuum, an innovative and environmentally friendly process that makes the best use of local species for the new generation of high added-value thermally modified wood. It has outstanding properties that match or exceed those of the best tropical hardwoods and treated woods. The Thermovacuum process is the most ecological process for wood modification—energy saving, 100% free of chemicals, and without air polluting emissions. For more information: http://www.tv4newood.it/

GEnIuS The GEnIuS project will launch Graphene Plus (G+) into the European market as an eco-innovative solution for oil spill clean-up. G+ is an inert, safe and recyclable absorbent material based on natural graphite, with a high and fast absorption capacity for every type of non-emulsified oil. G+ is capable of removing hydrocarbons even at low concentrations and almost all absorbed oil, thus limiting the production of waste. G+ can be produced directly on-site thus preventing transportation costs. For more information:http://genius-project.com/project/

ECOPROFABRICS EcoProFabrics is working to set up and test the textile industry’s first circular chain with fully recyclable work wear. The project develops work wear garments made of 100% polyester-based fabrics and leases the garments to customers with accompanying maintenance services. After use, the garments are returned and recycled into new garments. For more information: https://ecoprofabrics.wordpress.com/

Information about CIP Eco-innovationThe European Union’s Eco-Innovation initiative bridges the gap between research and the market. It helps innovative green ideas become fully-fledged commercial prospects. In doing so, the initiative helps the EU meet its environmental objectives and also boosts economic growth. Priority areas include material recycling, buildings, the food and drink sector, water as well as greener business. Between 2008 and 2013, nearly EUR 200 million was earmarked for the Eco-innovation initiative.

More than 65% of beneficiaries were small and medium-sized businesses. The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) manages the Eco-innovation initiative on a daily basis on behalf of the European Commission. Since 2014, market replication projects are covered by the programme Horizon 2020.For more details on the Eco-Innovation programme, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation.

Projects presented during this session:

European Forum on Eco-innovationThe European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) are presented by the European Commission every two years.

Since 2014 the Award ceremony takes place back to back with the Forum on Eco-innovation.

The European Business Awards for the Environment recognise European companies of all sizes that have made an outstanding contribution to sustainable development; those whose activities contribute to economic and social advance without detriment to the environment.

The competition has five award categories: Management, Product & Services, Process, International Business Cooperation and Business & Biodiversity. The winners are those who demonstrate progress through a combination of innovation, economic viability, environmental concern and social responsibility.

To be eligible, companies must first succeed in their national award schemes which are organised throughout Europe each year. This means that the companies awarded the European prize are ‘the best of the best’; the most far-sighted, responsible and innovative across Europe. Companies from all EU Member States and candidate countries can apply for the awards. The submission of entries to the European awards competition is managed by national coordinating bodies.

The competition has been running since 1987 and its longevity demonstrates the strong interest taken by businesses in caring for the environment and their increased awareness of the economic and social benefits that this brings.

National coordinators of the European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) are meeting in Barcelona on Thursday 21 May.

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European Business Awards for the Environment

More information on EBAE is available at:www.ec.europa.eu/environment/awards/index.html


The European Ecolabel

Right at the core of the EU Ecolabel is the life-cycle approach. All of the products that display the EU Ecolabel have been designed to ensure that their main environmental impacts are reduced throughout the product’s life-cycle.

The EU Ecolabel helps companies produce products with high environmental performance, that:

• Uses less energy while performing as well as or better than other products;

• Functions at least as well as conventional products through more durable design and availability of spare parts;

• Are easier to recycle due to more thoughtful assembly and use of materials; and

• Consume fewer natural resources (such as water and raw materials).

The EU Ecolabel distinguishes products that meet high standards of performance and environmental quality. For manufacturers and retailers, the EU Ecolabel gives added value to their products and competitive advantage in the growing market of greener goods and services. The EU Ecolabel, managed by the European Commission and authorities in every EU Member State plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, is a long-standing and reliable environmental label.To be awarded the EU Ecolabel, products and services must comply with ecological criteria that are set by panels of stakeholders and assessed by independent experts.

• The EU Ecolabel makes the customer’s choice in favour of your product easy. This holds true for business purchasers, as well for as shoppers.

• It is recognised throughout Europe. This makes it easy for you to sell your products across the continent.

• It is not an environmental label for industry by industry. The scheme involves certification as well as compliance checks by independent, qualified scientists, and is trusted by consumers.

• It is worth it. The EU Ecolabel adds value to your business and your products because it increases reputation, indicates corporate social responsibility and has the potential to increase sales.

• The application process is simple. There are special discounts for SMEs, micro-enterprises and applicants from developing economies.

Five reasons to go for the EU Ecolabel:



Any questions? Contact the EU Ecolabel Helpdesk. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 88 70 88 Email: [email protected]

For further information about the EU Ecolabel, visit www.ecolabel.eu

Five reasons to go for the EU Ecolabel:

The EU Ecolabel guarantees a high level of transparency, reliability and scientific credibility, which meets consumers’ green demands. Unlike other environmental information or labelling, no technical understanding is required to read and understand the label. By choosing EU Ecolabel products, consumers automatically make an environmentally friendly choice.

Supporting the EU Ecolabel is a winning choice for you as a retailer. It not only boosts your corporate image, but it can furthermore fulfil consumers’ increasing demand for true green products, and support manufacturers that make credible green choices.

How retailers can support the EU Ecolabel:

• Obtain the EU Ecolabel award for products sold under their own store brand name;

• Strongly encourage their own suppliers to apply for the EU Ecolabel for their products, or seek out existing EU Ecolabel licence holders as suppliers;

• Ensure strategic placement and ease-of access of EU Ecolabel products on shelves to facilitate green shopping;

• Integrate the EU Ecolabel into communication campaigns and promotional material to inform consumers on environmentally friendly choices;

• Inform the EU Ecolabel Helpdesk about successful in-store initiatives in favour of the EU Ecolabel for possible promotional coverage on official EU Ecolabel publications and on social media pages.

In order to support the EU Ecolabel, retailers can:


The Retail Forum Meeting is a multi-stakeholder platform set up to exchange best practices on sus-tainability in the European Retail sector to further enhance sustainable consumption and production.

Retailers in Europe are in an exceptional position to promote more sustainable consumption not only via their daily contact with millions of European consum-ers, but also through their own actions and their part-nerships with suppliers.Retail business in the EU counts for more than 11% of GDP, hence they play a critical role in supporting such change.

The Retail Forum has been working on bringing to the fore more sustainable products. Currently the Forum is preparing for the next operational cycle, which will focus on how to contribute to the development of a truly functioning circular economy.

The Retail Forum Meeting will take place on Thursday 21 May 2015 from 14:30 to 18:15.

Retail Forum Meeting


Guided visit to some of the Retailers’ Environmental Action Programme members’ stores on Friday 22 May 09:00 to 13:00

Visited stores:

MercadonaMercadona is a family-owned company with a net-work of 1,530 stores and 74,000 employees. Sus-tainability is an integral part of Mercadona’s manage-ment model. The visit will show the inner functioning of the store, including, but not limited to, measures to recycle and reduce waste and improve efficiency, the information campaign about fish sustainability and examples of the ecodesign achievements from its integrated suppliers.

Caprabo (Eroski Group)Caprabo is the oldest supermarket company in Spain. Our new supermarket generation – on the market since 2011 - includes innovative measures in sus-tainability that improve quality, service, and better efficiency in the whole supermarket management.

ConsumConsum is a co-operative, putting care for the people at the core of its action. 71% of our supermarkets are eco-efficient, with the objective of minimizing the impact of our activity on the environment. During the visit to our facilities you will also know how we tackle climate change through our management plan.

As a follow-up to the Retail Forum Meeting, the major Spanish retailers Mercadona, Caprabo (Eroski Group) and Consum are proposing to all participants of the Forum a guided tour of their stores to illustrate how they conceive and implement sustainability.

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For further information

Visit the official EcoAP website for the latest information on:• Policies and Actions• Innovative Technologies• Funding resources• Links and forthcoming events• EcoAP news (newsletters and platform) and other communication tools.

Contact information

Directorate-General for the EnvironmentUnit A1 - Eco-Innovation and Circular EconomyTel: +32 (0)2 296 48 88Contact: [email protected]/environment/ecoap/index.htm

The paper used in this product is manufactured from managed forests and is FSC certified.

Useful Links

European Commission DG Environment http://ec.europa.eu/environmentEco-innovation Action Plan http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/index_en.htmEco-innovation http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/EMAShttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/index_en.htmETV http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/etv/

EU Ecolabelhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htm

Retail Forumhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/industry/retail/in-dex_en.htm

Entreprise Europe Networkhttp://een.ec.europa.eu/European Environment Agencywww.eea.europa.euOECDwww.oecd.orgSpanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmentwww.magrama.gob.es/enGeneralitat de Catalunya, Government of Cataloniahttp://web.gencat.cat/en/inici/index.htmlClub EMASwww.clubemas.cat/en

WHERE TO FIND US

18th European Forum on Eco-innovation Official delivery of ETV Statements of VerificationJoint cocktail on 20/05/15Retail Forum MeetingEMAS Awards CeremonyBest of Eco-innovation: project success storiesEMAS meetingsEBAE Steering MeetingMatchmaking event

Joint final cocktail on 21/05/15

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The forum is co-organised by: With the support of:

Edificio ONCEC/ Sepúlveda, 1 SP-08015 BarcelonaSpainParticipants’ entrance: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 400

Alegra BarcelonaC.C. Maremagnum. Planta superiorMoll d’Espanya, 5SP-08039 Barcelona

@EU_ecoinno@EMAS_EUEcolabel#EcoApForum#EMAS_Awards_2015

Documents

European Forum on Eco innovation"