PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) represent a major problem for the European Community. Some 9 million vehicles per year, with an average weight of around 1000 kg per vehicle, cause a huge amount of waste. A large part of this waste (33%) ends up in landfills. The ELV Directive set objectives to increase recycling and, at the same time, to reduce landfill dumping to 16% by 2005 and 5% by 2015. Through the EDIT program, Federation Plasturgie Activities (FPA) aims to apply an integrated approach to product design. This approach to parts design for all environmental parameters, throughout all stages of the product life cycle, should produce better overall environmental performance.
OBJECTIVES
EDIT sought to develop a methodology and support tools, using a supply chain approach, that would involve key stakeholders: carmakers, parts manufacturers, and raw material suppliers. The EDIT approach was based on life cycle, multi-criteria and continuous improvement principles and was intended to lead to an Eco-design management system applicable to other products such as packaging, electric-electronic, construction and demolition waste. Beyond design, manufacture, testing and validating the instruments, the most challenging objective of EDIT program was to encourage 300 tier suppliers, mainly small and medium-sized companies, through training and action sessions, to integrate tools within their organisations and decision-making processes. This would imply changes to management team culture and attitudes so as to improve the environmental performances of their products. The EDIT program was organised into four modules: - Tool development, including databases to deal with material, substance and ‘end of life’ issues, ‘part mapping’ software to evaluate links between components, material compatibility and the capacity to disassemble and separate; - Methodology, essentially drawn from EMAS, ISO 14 001 and emerging ISO 14 062 on eco-design standards; - Training of 300 tier suppliers; - Communication and awareness-raising in the car industry, but also in other industrial sectors since the tools and methodology were intended to be transferable.
RESULTS
The project achieved its objectives. The tools developed for the car industry meet the requirements set by Directive 2000/53/CE of 18/09/2000. The new tools developed include databases to deal with material, substance and ‘end of life’ issues, ‘part mapping’ software to evaluate links between components, material compatibility and the capacity to disassemble and separate. New methodology was also developed and made operational, essentially being drawn from EMAS, ISO 14 001 and the emerging ISO 14 062 on eco-design standards. As for training 300 tier suppliers, the project only trained 150, mostly larger companies. Furthermore, changes to management team culture and attitudes were so far only initiated in three companies (Plastic Omnium, Faurecia and Delphi). The communication and public awareness goals within the car industry, but also in other industrial sectors, were achieved with numerous articles in relevant industry magazines. The tools and methodology developed by the project are attractive to other industrial sectors that face or will face similar legislative requirements.The project achieved its objectives. The tools developed for the car industry meet the requirements set by Directive 2000/53/CE of 18/09/2000. The new tools developed include databases to deal with material, substance and ‘end of life’ issues, ‘part mapping’ software to evaluate links between components, material compatibility and the capacity to disassemble and separate. New methodology was also developed and made operational, essentially being drawn from EMAS, ISO 14 001 and the emerging ISO 14 062 on eco-design standards. As for training 300 tier suppliers, the project only trained 150, mostly larger companies. Furthermore, changes to management team culture and attitudes were so far only initiated in three companies (Plastic Omnium, Faurecia and Delphi). The communication and public awareness goals within the car industry, but also in other industrial sectors, were achieved with numerous articles in relevant industry magazines. The tools and methodology developed by the project are attractive to other industrial sectors that face or will face similar legislative requirements.
