European Commission - DG Research
Directorate Environment
Unit I.3 « Environmental Technologies and Pollution Prevention »
Mr Michele GALATOLA
OECD Workshop on the Sustainability Assessment of Bio-based products
23-24 July, Montreal
Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Bio-
based products: current activities and future
options
EU Institutions
Court of Auditors
The European Parliament
The Council of Ministers
Committee of the Regions
Court of Justice
European Commission
(27 Commissioners,
36 DGs)
Economic and Social Committee
SG. RELEX ENTR ENV SANCO JRC
…. ...
IES
... ... ...
RTD
IEIPSC …..IPTS
…. ......
Is “bio” enough?
Origin of material Environmental performance
Example
Renewable Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)
Non-renewable Biodegradable Polycaprolactone (PCL)
Renewable Non-biodegradable Polyethylene (PE) from sugar cane
Non-renewable Non-biodegradable Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
Biodegradability is linked to the structure of the polymerchain; it does NOT depend on the origin of the raw materials
Is “bio” enough?the credibility issue
The fact that a product is “bio-based” is not alone a proof of its (environmental) sustainability
For example, the 14C method is the only test method which can beused to determine unequivocally the amount of renewable raw materialin any given product.
HOWEVER, it is worth noting that this method only relates to the originof the carbon content of the final product. It does not include anyconsideration of the origin of the energy used in production, distributionand disposal of the material, which requires a full Life CycleAssessment (LCA) if the true environmental impacts of any material isto be assessed.
Life Cycle Thinking in EU policies (examples)
• Integrated Product Policy (IPP)
• Lead Market Initiative (LMI)
• Eco-Design (EuP) Directive
• Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan (SCP/SIP)
• Waste Framework Directive
• Bio-Waste Green Paper
• Fuel Directive
• Renewable Energy Directive
• Upcoming European Environmental Technology Verification System (EU ETV)
• …
Necessity of Life Cycle Thinking in Policy and Business
Avoid shifting-of-burdens:
• from one stage in a product’s life cycle to another
• among countries, acting in a global market
• across different environmental and health impacts
• from one generation to another
• across different impacts (environmental, economic, social)
Lead Market Initiative
Legislation and policies• Coherence of legislation on waste, recovery and recycling related to
bio-based products and in comparison with others
• Ensure that biomass-related legislation encourages a sustainable useof biomass for bio-based products
Encourage Green Public Procurement for bio-based products• Introduction of requirements for environmental sustainability in
tender specifications (16% of GDP in EU)
-1st step: HOW to tender (EU guidelines)-2nd step: WHAT to tender
European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/429
• Elaboration of a standardization programme for bio-based products:
– a review of existing standards (including possible revisions, and the prospect of a single bio-based product standard),
– a programme of standards (including a roadmap),
• Creation of BT/WG 209 Bio-based products to execute the work
2008 CEN – all rights reserved 05/08/2009
9
BT/WG 209 Bio-based products had kick-off meeting on 28 April
Divided tasks among BT/WG and it’s two Task Groups (definitionsand terminology, gap analysis, identification of research needs)
Finalized Business Plan
Last meeting: 30 June
Timeframe - to finalize its report by July 2010
European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/429
Bio-polymers: CEN/TC 249 Plastics
WG 17 Biopolymers established in October 2008, active since January2009
Last meeting: 9 June, 2009
WI00249736 prCEN/TR.15932 Recommendation for terminology andcharacterisationWI00249737 CEN/TS Determination of biobased carbon contentWI00249738 CEN/TS Requirements for claims on selectedcharacteristics
Expected timeframe: TSs available in 2010 - ENs available in 2012
European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/430
Bio-lubricants: CEN/TC 19 Gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricantsand related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin
Last meeting: 14-15 May, 2009 - Decision on new WG (33)Bio-lubricants
Timeframe: TS available in 2010
European Standards for bio-based products: Mandate M/430
The European standards should cover the following aspects:
• Biodegradability (for bio-lubricants only)• Product functionality• Impact on GHG emissions and raw material consumption• Measurement methods, test methods, and LCA procedures
Life Cycle Thinking is essential but …
- No common or authoritative basis to ensure consistency and quality
- Limited compatibility of data from different sources and countries
(methods, formats, …)
- Dependence on expertise of single consultants/contractors
- Increasing number of inconsistent schemes, life cycle data, methods,
…
Growing global demands for LCT/LCA but conflicting messages
Limited confidence in studies and instruments amongst some
stakeholders
Life Cycle
Assessments
ISO 14040, 14044
Overarching General Guidance -
Life Cycle Data/Methods and Assessments
Documentation, Nomenclature,
Terminology
Review
International Reference Life Cycle DataSystem (ILCD) Handbook
Documentation, Nomenclature,
Terminology
Life Cycle Inventory
Guidance
Life Cycle Impact
Assessment Guidance
• Basis for coherence, quality-assurance, and acceptance
• Complete, independent, global system from authoritative
organisations
• Consulted with various advisory groups
• Based on existing standards and best practice
International ReferenceLife Cycle Data System (ILCD)
Benefits of consistent, robust, quality-assured life cycle data and methods
Coherence across business and policy instruments
– Consistent messages for decision support
– “Level playing field”, especially for product comparisons
Reduction in hidden bias and unfounded claims
Reduced dependence on single contractors
Reduction in reporting requirements
Better data availability / reduced costs
Increased stakeholder acceptance
More sustainable consumption and production patterns
ILCD Data Network
ELCD:
European Reference Life Cycle
Database
National
Database FCompany X
Business
Association Y
Consultant H
ELCD
Research
Project Z
ILCD
Handbook
International ReferenceLife Cycle Data System (ILCD)
ILCD Data
Network of
consistent,
quality-assured
LCA data
• Decentralised
• Global, open. Only requirement: Data compliant with ILCD Handbook (easier “entry level” for build up phase)
• Not in competition to any other database, including commercial databases: Data provider determine terms and conditions
• Data registry
• Data editor, compliance tools, templates … are provided as free support tools
National
Database FCompany X
Business
Association Y
Consultant H
ELCD
Research
Project Z
Advisory Groups
LCIA method developers Advisory Group, developers of :
CML 2001, Eco-indicator 99, EDIP97 and EDIP2003, EPS, Impact 2002+,
LUCAS, ReCiPe, LIME, TRACI
Business Advisory Group
16 EU-level associations: ACE, ACEA, CEI-Bois, CEMBUREAU, CEWEP,
EAA, ECI, EUROFER, EUROGYPSUM, FEFCO, IMA-Europe, LDAI,
MARCOGAZ, PlasticsEurope, SLF, TBE
LCA tool and database Advisory Group, developers of:
BREEAM, CMLCA, EcoSME, EDIP, EIME, GaBi, KCL-Eco, LCA-Evaluator,
LCAit, LEGEP, MIPS, NLZ-Data, SimaPro, UMBERTO
Early invited consultations of international organisations and non-EU countries
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
• Brazil
• China
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Thailand
Disclaimer: Involvement in drafting teams, Advisory Groups and invited consultations, does not indicate agreement or endorsement
Biorefinery Joint Call :Overall Aim and Topics
Aims at the research, development and integration of innovative technologies to prove the viability of advanced biorefineries taking into account the entire value chain and sustainability issues
Two topics / Two Instruments / Two Budgets
Collaborative Project (CP) « Sustainable Biorefineries » -€ 55 M
Co-ordination and Support Action (CSA) « Enhancing exchange of information, synergies and cross-fertilization between projects in the field of Biorefineries » - € 2 M
“Sustainable Biorefineries”: Scope
Sustainable processing of biomass into building blocks for production of bio-based chemicals, materials, second generation biofuels, power and heat
Address the entire value chain, from production of feedstock to end product
Integrated multi-disciplinary approach, notably by involving the development of thermo-chemical and biochemical technologies
Demonstrate performance, sustainability and feasibility at least at pilot scale in an integrated approach
Demonstrate the part of the biorefinery complex that is closer to the market at industrial pilot plant scale
Assess for the entire value chain the environmental, economic and social sustainability, including: competition for food and biomass resources, GHG net balance, impact on water and land use, etc.
Other Research activities
Innovation in Life Cycle Analysis for Sustainability (deeper andbroader LCA) (CALCAS)
Sustainability Assessment of new and existing pervasiveTechnologies (PROSUITE)
Improved Life Cycle Impact Assessment methods and factors (LC-IMPACT)
Operational ILCD guidelines for LCA studies in the Fuel Cells andHydrogen sectors
Drivers for an internationallyco-ordinated solution
• Global environmental problems, including transboundary issues
• Globally inter-connected life cycles of all goods and services
• Necessity to avoid unnecessary costs to private and public sector for repeated data collection, calculation, reporting and as result of conflicting LCA studies and instruments (e.g. EPDs, Ecolabels, Carbon footprint, etc.)
• Necessity to avoid trade barriers related to environmental policies
• Interest in compatibility among guidances developed presently in many countries for National LCA database activities
• Need for ensuring quality of LC studies in globally exploding “life cycle” market (Carbon footprint-effect)
Recommendations - 1
We need to encourage the transition FROM a product-basedeconomy TO a system-based economy
Eco-efficiency should be always a driver when taking “strategic”decisions at macro/meso level
No shift of burdens shall be allowed.
Recommendations - 2
Decisions should be based on the Best Available Informationavailable, NOT on perfect information.
Quantitative and qualitative information on the three pillars ofSustainability should separately be provided to decision-makers. They should then apply their own weighting (if any)according to their priorities.
Find an international agreement on a common approach (e.g.LCA) and build together the different pieces to make it fullyoperational
Main limitations, gaps, uncertainties
Data quality
Allocation methods
Land use changes
Rebound effects
References
ILCDhttp://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eplca/deliverables/international-reference-life-cycle-data-system-ilcd-handbook
Lead Market Initiativehttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/policy/lead-market-initiative/index_en.htm
Biorefinery R&Dhttp://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/rtd/susbioref/library
CALCAS (EU RTD project)www.calcasproject.net
American Chemical Society ConferenceSan Francisco, March 2010
Sustainability Assessment of Biorefineries: system level analysis
using Life Cycle Assessment
M. Galatola, S. Pontoglio, A. Tilche
Thank you for your attention
Michele GALATOLADG Research – Directorate Environment
Unit I.3 “Environmental Technologies and Pollution Prevention”
Email: [email protected]
