WEB site and DBs for the adoption of IPP by SMEs

Integrated Product Policy (IPP):Integrated Product Policy (IPP):the new European policy for the environmental product management

The Integrated Product Policy is an integrated approach to environmental policies which seeks to improve environmental performances of products and services in a life cycle perspective.

IPP ambitions are:

• to reduce products environmental impacts for its origin by considering the environmental impacts all along the Life Cycle of the Product, from cradle to grave and by co-operating with all the stakeholders of the Product Supply Chain

• to foster the growth of green products and services markets by providing coherency with existing environmental requirements :

Environmental Product Declaration Ecolabels Green purchasing Ecotaxes Subsidies Education

Needs of SMEs to satisfyNeeds of SMEs to satisfy

Innovation& gradualapproach

IPPKnowledge

and specialised tools

Low cost solutions

The sectors studies performed by the preparatory action during the years 2001-2002 on 150 SMEs in 5 European countries revealed fundamental needs for the implantation of IPP within the organizations:

Environmental improvements should be introduced with innovation aspects through an integrated and gradual approach, at a low cost solution

SMEs need adapted knowledge, training and procedural tools to choose the most suitable solution

LCA data have to be available, pre-elaborated and provided with customised services

Characteristics of the eLCA projectCharacteristics of the eLCA project

Makes part of the “e-Content” program of the European Commission

Cross-sectorial project that involves SMEs, Public Information about IPP and Information & Communication Technologies

Its operative and final goal is the realization of a multilingual web portal in order to help the SMEs in the implantation of the IPP

Technical and economical testing of the web portal for 1 year in 2 sectors in order to improve it and create an entrepreneurial structure for its exploitation after the funding period

ICT

PYMESIPP eLCA

The main ambition of the eLCA project is to contribute to the implantation of the IPP in the SMES by:

developing a multilingual web portal where SMEs will find all the elements to think about and start IPP

creating co-operation projects between all the stakeholders involved in the Product Supply Chain of various industrial sectors (public bodies, business associations, firms, service providers,…)

combining public funding in order to provide free access to data and commercial agreements with experienced SMEs service providers in order to foster a market of on-line and off-line green services

Main Goals of the projectMain Goals of the project

Public and commercial agreements

Co-operation projects

Multilingual web portal

eLCA

Services and content of the future portal (1/3)Services and content of the future portal (1/3)

Five service’s classes, continuously upgraded and adapted to national or local characteristics:

General Information

Training packages

On-line support and consulting services

LCA databases

Specialised IPP softwares

Services and content of the future portal (2/3)Services and content of the future portal (2/3)

General support information to provide all the necessary information about IPP :

IPP and SMEs

Analysis & Design Methods (LCA, ecodesign, benchmarking)

Market tools (ecolabel, EPD, ecotaxes)

Environmental Management Systems (EMAS, ISO14000, e. reporting)

Supportive Instruments (incentives, standards & regulations)

Databases of downloadable documents, bibliography and events

Training packages to diffuse the IPP knowledge within the organization : On-line packages for self-training introductory courses Downloadable materials for off-line training such as presentations, evaluation tests, …

General services to provide alternatives and accompaniment services : Self assessment system for “non expert” users to suggest different paths in the portal

Access to on and off-line consultancy

“Ecoproducts Showroom”

General and specialised LCA Databases and Guidelines to identify and make available the relevant data

General Life Cycle Inventories databases

Specific databases and meta databases for six industrial sectors with economical and environmental relevance: hotels, wood/furniture, metal products, construction, electronics and electrical equipment, textile products.

Guidelines and case studies of best practices.

Specialised IPP softwares to choose the most suitable solutions:

Simplified LCA methodology, with related software tool and databases (eVerdEE)

Ecodesign software integrated with QFD parameters, to support the designer in the first phase of product development

Information system to integrate different software used by SMEs to manage relevant environmental data

Services and content of the future portal (3/3)Services and content of the future portal (3/3)

Dr. Sergio OliveroConsiel

via val Formazza, 1020157 Milano

ItalyTel +39 02 332081

Mobile +39 335 781 78 64E-mail: soliver@tin.it

Web site: www.allaxia.com

FREE PATH

GUIDED PATH

Firm data

Self-eval. System

Routes

contacts

LANGUAGE

COUNTRYTOOLSTOOLS

TRAININGTRAINING

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

General Service

Context IPP IPP & SMES

Supportive policies

Market Tools

Env. Man. Systems

Analysis e design MethodsLCAEcodesign

LCI Data BaseGeneralSector specific

Examples-other supportsGuidelinesCase studiesOn line cons

Inf. System to manage env. Data

ECO PRODUCTS SHOW ROOM

Expected results:Expected results: WEB site structure

 Main activities

Collection, scientific review, final version of contents (including country and lingual adaptation)Sector analyses (6 sectors) to produce sector specialised DBs, guidelines, etc.General DBsSpecialised IPP software tools for SMEs (review of eVerdEE methodology and development of QFD-Ecodesign and Information System)Testing of web site

Management of test phase and afterCreation of a WEB site management teamMonitoring of business modelPromotion of accompanying measuresMarketingAwareness (Coordination committees, Conference, etc.)HW/ SW Design, implementation, review

Maingoals

• WEB site Implementation and testing

• Development of a market of “green services”

• Exploitation of test phase and Partners agreement

• Awareness, dissemination and further development Plan

Technical activities Technical activities Managerial and entrepreneurial activities Awareness, dissemination

Managerial and entrepreneurial activities Awareness, dissemination

Main Main ActivitiesActivities

COLLABORATION WITH THE PROJECTCOLLABORATION WITH THE PROJECT

Principle of participative structure

Through this EC funded research project, we expect to create a stable and durable network of:

actors (experts, SMEs, public bodies, services providers, ...)

know-how (knowledge and tools)

opportunities (supply and demand of green services for the product improvement)

To achieve this, we have adopted a participative organization structure where local actors may have a specific role.

COLLABORATION WITH THE PROJECT:COLLABORATION WITH THE PROJECT:

Possibilities of collaboration with external actors

Organisation of a network of excellence

Creation of an Integrated Project Structure

Promotion of the application of results

Development of new related projects with new partners

Accompanying measures for sectorial projects, pilot initiatives and

training seminars

Synergies with national or sectorial programs

Adaptation of international contents for local conditions

Integration of local public contents in the portal

Sponsorship of the portal and of awareness events about IPP

Constitution of or participation in Sectors Panels

for the specification of LCA data

Development or sponsorship of guidelines of best practices

Supply of on/off-line green services through the portal

Organization of awareness or/and training seminars

Local public/ private

bodies: associations,

investigation centers,

consulting firms, ...

National Public

Authorities

eLCA

Consortium

COLLABORATION WITH THE PROJECTCOLLABORATION WITH THE PROJECTKey success factors of the project

Creation of a network of excellence:

• Involvement of two governments and of key experts in Europe • Synergies with other European and international projects • Integrated project structure, with strong efforts on management and coordination

of the tasks between the countries

Continuous analyse of the opportunities and barriers of the IPP market :

• Economical and technical viability study realised in en 2000-2002 (preparatory action)

• Market studies periodically upgraded, benchmarking of web-based innovative services, case studies in all the partners countries, ...

Proximity and adaptation of the proposed services:

• “Think global and act local”• Creation of a communication and promotion platform• Qualitative and free public information yet available in order to achieve

a relevant traffic level