PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Current production and consumption patterns are not sustainable and are contributing to climate change, the loss of natural resources, the extinction of species, and environmental damage caused by emissions. The Global Ecological Footprint tracks the area of biologically productive land and water required to provide the renewable resources that people use, including the space needed for infrastructure and vegetation to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). It shows that the global economy is having an increasingly greater impact on the environment. In 2007, this footprint exceeded the Earth’s biocapacity — the area actually available to produce renewable resources and absorb CO2 — by 50%, a doubling of the footprint in the last 50 years. At today’s level of consumption and production, we need 1.5 planets to be sustainable.
The need for sustainable consumption and production policies has been demonstrated from various perspectives at EU level. The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) was initiated with the aim of developing a harmonised European methodology for environmental footprint studies that can accommodate a wide range of relevant environmental performance criteria using a life cycle approach. A life cycle approach takes into consideration the spectrum of resource flows and environmental interventions associated with a product from a supply chain perspective. It includes all stages of a product’s life, from raw material acquisition to processing, distribution, use and end-of-life processes, and all relevant related environmental impacts, health effects, resource-related threats and burdens to society. This approach is also essential for revealing any potential trade-offs between different types of environmental impacts associated with specific policy and management decisions.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE PREFER project aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the European methodology for environmental footprint in different sectors using the cluster approach, in order to overcome the typical drawbacks affecting SMEs (lack of human and financial resources). It would develop and strengthen this approach based on shared resources. The project would provide an opportunity for innovative environmental governance on the possibility to facilitate knowledge-sharing and experience exchange among participants and encourage the application of the PEF methodology. At the cluster level, a set of instruments, tools and resources would be shared with local SMEs in order to support them in the application of the PEF methodology and to achieve improvements in environmental performance. The effectiveness and uniqueness of the project would lie in using the clustering methodology in an innovative way – i.e. to define and implement a policy and governance approach aimed at increasing the uptake PEF among SMEs.
RESULTS
The LIFE PREFER project team demonstrated the effectiveness of the European Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology in different sectors using the cluster approach, to overcome barriers affecting SMEs such as lack of human and financial resources.
The project’s approach uses the PEF methodology as a basis for policies and initiatives to improve resource efficiency and reduce a product’s environmental impact using a life cycle perspective. The project’s cluster approach fostered cooperation among SMEs, in order to share resources, create synergies and develop common tools. In particular, it reduced the barriers that SMEs may encounter implementing the PEF methodology, especially in terms of lack of human, technical and economic resources. The project team helped to disseminate the PEF in Italy, and in other European countries.
The PEF methodology was tested on 40 different products, classified into 13 categories, which represent the eight Italian clusters involved in the project (Pulp and paper district of Lucca, Tuscany's fashion cluster, Textile and clothing district of Lombardy, Shoe district of San Mauro Pascoli, Industrial tomato cluster of Northern Italy, The Asti DOCG district, Agriculture and food district of Nocera Gragnano, Wood cluster of Northern Lombardy).
A total of 38 pilot companies were involved during the project. Eight PEF Category Rules (PEFCRs) were developed and shared with three European cluster organisations in Spain and Romania. A project survey identified the main needs and barriers to PEF adoption. Based on survey results, five technical tools to support SMEs in PEF implementation were designed. In particular, the “PEF development tools” and the “Methodology to carry out the feasibility tests” introduce and suggest the approach to adopt PEF and to improve the environmental footprint of different products. 350 organisations were involved in PREFER training initiatives.
The Italian Ministry of Environment engaged the Coordinating Beneficiary in designing a voluntary scheme, called "Made Green in Italy" for the assessment and communication of PEF based on the project's method. The project team created a first draft of the "Made Green in Italy Regulation" and presented it to relevant stakeholders.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
