environmentally superior products · grant support for esp scheme grant of up to 50% up to maximum...

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR PRODUCTS

Enterprise Ireland Support for SME’s

www.enterprise-ireland.com

INTRODUCTION

Grant support scheme for ESP projects

Aid to improving business environmental sustainability

Aimed at improving environmental / business performance of SME’s

Benefits to SME’s from exploiting market for ESP’s


ESP DRIVERS

Legal Drivers – EU Directives: Packaging and Packaging Waste,

ELV, WEEE, ROHS

Market Pressures – Improved Environmental Performance through

Supply Chain

Economic Factors – Increasing Waste Disposal Costs

Pressure from ‘green’ Consumer Market – Tesco going ‘green’

Increasing importance of

Product Certification initiatives

– Eco-labels


BENEFITS FROM ESP

Cost savings on waste disposal - €15 per tonne waste disposal levy

Market Advantages – Maintaining and developing existing, opening new, preferred supplier listing


ESP SCHEME

ESP scheme designed to support Irish companies respond to drivers and exploit business opportunities to gain competitive advantage


ESP SCHEME

Aim to assess ESP potential in existing or new

product range by reducing environmental impact

without compromising

product functionality,

quality, ability to manufacture or cost


TYPICAL ESP PROJECT

Typical elements of ESP feasibility assessment:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Simplified LCA conducted to identify and evaluate

main environmental issues and options to make

environmentally superior e.g. each stage of life cycle

of product can be examined:


Life Cycle Assessment

• Raw Materials

• Production

• Distribution/Transport

• Consumption

• End of Life


• Market Research

Review of market for product identifying:

• Target Market: home/export

• Competitors & competing products

• Demand & customer requirements

• Size & value of market for product

• Relevance of third party recognition schemes e.g. product eco-labelling schemes


• Technical FeasibilityProposed product changes assessed for ability to manufacture,

product specification, quality and functionality

• Legislative / Industry Requirements

Requirements of relevant legislation, industry, export market

requirements

• Cost Assessment

Proposed changes assessed in terms of associated costs or cost

benefits


ESP CASE STUDY EXAMPLES

• Pilot demonstration initiative run from 1999-2001 involving

range of SME’s in electronics, IT, construction, packaging,

waste, furniture and timber sectors.

Benefits:

• Commercial and environmental successes achieved.

• Companies found that by reducing environmental impact,

product functionality improved and was often cleaner,

quicker and cheaper to produce

• Benefits added to ‘environmentally superior’ nature of

product


ESP examples

MURCO Ltd. – Gas Sensors for commercial, domestic use

LCA of product to investigate compliance with WEEE and ROHS Directives for components of sensors. Successfully identified changes from lead based solder, changes to enclosures etc. in order to meet legal requirements.

Spring & Precision Tools – Manufacture of edge tools

Examination of process to replace edging process and steel raw materials with environmentally friendly alternatives and access market potential.


Grant Support for ESP Scheme

Grant of up to 50% up to maximum €31,740, ex VAT

Eligible expenditure:

- Salary/wages for staff engaged in study

- Fees to technical advisers consulted during study

- Travel / Subsistence costs

- Materials / Prototype related expenses

Contact: Declan White, Environmental Policy Unit

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01-8082480

Website: www.envirocentre.ie

or www.enterprise-ireland.com/esp

mailto:[email protected]


New Funding Scheme

Plans for new Environmental Sustainability Grant Incorporating integrated approach to environmental issues at business level.

Maintain existing support for ESP and EMS with increased funds.

Include new support for assessment of energy efficiency, carbon footprinting, eco-design, eco-labelling and other perceived environmental improvements

Suggestions from clients on where other supports could be targeted?


Advantages of ESP?

Gaining a Head start on the Opposition

http://www.shockinghumor.com/images/79/zebra on bike5C974.jpg

environmentally superior products · grant support for esp scheme grant of up to 50% up to maximum...

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