WS3_FINMIPS_Lettenmeier

Workshop 3Indicators on SCP

Case study: FIN-MIPS Household

Dialogue & Action Platform for Sustainable Consumption and Production

Wuppertal, 17 March, 2009

Michael LettenmeierWuppertal Intitute for Climate, Environment and Energy

2 Wuppertal Institute16-18 March Workshop 3: FIN-MIPS Household Project Michael Lettenmeier

Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

The WI searches for and develops environmental policy guidelines,

strategies, and instruments in order to promote sustainability at the local, regional, national and

international level.

3 Wuppertal Institute

• Biggest Finnish environmental NGO

• 33 000 members

• 76 corporate members

• 15 regional organisations, 209 local societies

• Appr. 40 employees

• Participating actively in political discussion and

preparation of legislation

• Biodiversity, municipal planning , EU, Baltic Sea,

energy and climate change, sustainable resource

use, sustainable lifestyles, waste prevention, ...

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

Workshop 3: FIN-MIPS Household Project Michael Lettenmeier 16-18 March

4 Wuppertal Institute

The Sustainable Consumption Network of Finnish NGOs

• Founded in the early 1980ies to

promote recycling organised

mainly by NGOs at that time

(original name: Recycling

Movement of Finnish NGOs)

• 20 member organisations:

youth and women organisations,

student unions, consumer and

environmental organisations, etc.

Workshop 3: FIN-MIPS Household Project Michael Lettenmeier 16-18 March


FIN-MIPS Household: the background

Population x 2Economy x 6Food production x 2,5 Fresh water use x 2Timber for pulp and paper x 3Dammed water x 4

GROWTH 1960-2000:

...but the Earth has not grown at all

Some of us, the ones that were bornbefore the 1950´s, have seen more population growth than the entire growththat has taken place in the last 4 Million years.

The World Economy Output has increasedfrom 4 Trillion US $ in 1950 to 20 Trillion US $ in 1995.

In the time space between 1985 and 1995 the World Economy has experienced a great change similar to the change that took place since the beginning of civilization until 1950.

L. BrownPresident of the

Worldwatch Institut

© www.seppo.net


FIN-MIPS Household: the research

Research agenda

MIPS-studies 2006-2007• Literature review on data basis• 6 master’s theses for new MIPS data in

different consumption areas

Household study 2007-2008• 27 voluntary, different households

documenting their consumption• Results: ecological backpack of household in

kg p.cap. p.a.• Focus groups after showing backpacks to

households: how to decrease resource consumption?

• 4 master’s theses, 3 bachelor’s theses


FIN-MIPS Household: how it was organised

Funding: 2 ministries: environment (60%) and economy, 1 retail corporation, 4 municipal institutions, SC network of Finnish NGOs (dissemination)

Project team: Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, Wuppertal Institute, 13 students from 9 departments at 5 universities, Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre

Two similar projects previously:Factor X – Entering markets eco-efficient (2000–2002): 25 companies et al.FIN-MIPS Transport (2003–2006): 2 ministries, 4 authorities, 2 companies


The indicator: MIPS

- refers to a relevant issue- holistic indicator- understandable

(ecological backpack)- good for comparing

different products and activities

service unit

material input


Results: Factor 10 between households


FIN-MIPS Household research: what we learned

Huge differences huge potential to expect

• Need for new kinds of awareness and action

• Need for new lifestyles, new technologies and new policies

• Focussing on the consumer is not enough => Triangle of change

• Finland ≠ every land => projects in other countries would be interesting

No necessary contradiction between economy and ecology

• Lower resource use with lower income, smaller appartment/house, less

car-driving

Need for creating general resource-efficiency awareness

• Public discussion NGOs, households, companies, governments,

media

• Education and awareness-rising for all actors and on all levels


FIN-MIPS Household: useful for NGOs

Useful research results

• Clear message: Factor 4 is existing, Factor 10 is possible

• Lifestyles can be addressed

• Lifestyles may even be more important than technology

New arguments in public debate

• Participations in committees and hearings

• Basis for continuous lobbying and communication

New contacts in society

• 1 media contact per day during hot phase => NGO is taken seriously

• New contacts with administration and business and within NGOs

New ideas for internal discussion

• MIPS as a link between nature conservation and environmental protection

• New aspects for internal communication (e.g. member magazine)


FIN-MIPS Household: agenda setting for SCP

Continuous media interest during project

• 1 media contact per day during hot phase

• 4 series of articles / columns in newpapers and magazines (Helsingin

Sanomat!)

2 big conference events

• Finnish Society for Industrial Ecology: 300 people

• Final conference of project: 200 people, 5 TV channels, radios, newspapers

Huge public interest for results

• SC Network of Finnish NGOs: campaigns, exhibitions, materials

• Onedidit.com, posters, internet games

• Publications are referred to regularily, especially Food MIPS study

• Final report in English published 13th March 2009


Thank you for your attention!

[email protected]+49 202 2492 175

www.wupperinst.orgwww.mips-online.infowww.mips-online.fiwww.onedidit.com

Technology

WS3_FINMIPS_Lettenmeier