Federal Department of the Environment,Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC

Federal Office for the Environment FOENEconomics and Environmental Monitoring Division

Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

The Swiss Green Economy approach

Frank HayerSwiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

Plenary Meeting FOOD SCP ROUND TABLEBrussels, 20.11.2013

2 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Agenda

• The Swiss Green Economy Approach

• Revision of the Environmental Protection Act

• Measures within Consumption and Production

3 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

The Swiss Green Economy ApproachA brief look back in time...Oct 2010Federal Council (FC) gave the federal administration mandates for building a green economy in six areas of actionMar 2013Reporting and action plan with 27 measuresFeb 2013FC gave the federal administration mandates for proposing the revision of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) = indirect counterproposal to the popular initiative for a Green Economy (long-term objective: ecological footprint of 1 earth in 2050)Jun 2013FC submits legislative amendments of the EPA for consultationSept 2013End of the consultation

4 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Action plan and Initiative of Green Party

• Federal Council approved Action Plan for Green Economy on march 8 2013

• Action plan is base for a change of the Environmental Law as a counterproposal to Initiative of Green Party in favour of Green Economy

• Implementation in 4 core areas:1. Consumption and Production2. Waste and raw materials3. International engagement4. Measurement and Information

5 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Objectives Consumption and Production

• Reduce environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of products

• Increase the demand and supply of ecological products

• Stimulate environmentally conscious behaviour

Revision of the Env. Protection Act

6 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Measures Consumption and production

• Negotiated agreements

• Environmental information of products

• Environmental information of the assortment / product groups

• Minimal environmental requirements for the admission of products

• Reducing food waste

• Effectiveness of sustainable product standards

7 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Measures Consumption and production

1. Voluntary approach comes first: • Negotiated agreements

• Recommendations for product environmental information

2. Mandatory policy measures for:• Environmental information of product groups/assortment• Minimal requirements for admission of products

=> Only if voluntary approach isn‘t sufficiently effective!

8 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Negotiated Agreements with the Industry

Focus: Products with considerable impacts on the environment

Elements of the Agreement:•Partners: Industry, Civil Society, Government•Timely fixed and ambitious Goals to reduce impact of products on the environment•Use of international established sustainable production Standards •Reporting as a tool for Monitoring and competition

9 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Environmental Information of Products

• Information of environmental effects of products with significant impacts on the environment

• Recommendations for analysis and assessment are provided by the government

• Guidance for communication of the results

• Mandatory regulations only in accordance with international regulations (EU)

11 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Environmental Information of Products

Links with EU approach: Same goal: comprehensive and reliable information for consumers

Same principles: transparency, reliability, comparability, etc.

Similar methodological approaches: LCA-based and development of PCRs

BUT still some differences in the methodology

→ Compatibility between approaches need to be improved

→ Participation to the testing phase of the EU

12 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Environmental Information of Products

Planning: • Public consultation on recommendations for

environmental information on products (autumn 2013)

• Publication for voluntary use (early 2014)

• Participation in the EF pilot phase II • accompanying measures

• Development of an impact assessment for biodiversity• Development of test PCR

17 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Outlook

• Change of Environmental Law (as counterproposal to initiative of the Green Party): intern consultation (administration) in Winter 2013

• Decision of the Federal Council: Spring 2014

• Debate in the parliament starting in 2014

• Action plan: Comes into force if change of environmental law is rejected=> less stringent

→ Work to enhance Green Economy goes on

18 FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector

Frank Hayer, FOEN

Questions?

Thank you for your attention.

Frank HayerScientific Officer

Federal Office for the Environment FOENEconomics and Environmental Monitoring Division

frank.hayer@bafu.admin.chwww.bafu.admin.ch