Transcript Extended Eco-design Directive - EESC European Economic and

Sustainable Consumption &
Production: the EU Action Plan
Herbert Aichinger
Public Hearing on SCP - EESC
Brussels, 10 December 2008
Climate change
 Greenhouse gas
emissions 2.5 – 3
fold increase by 2050
 > 50% Reduction
needed
Biodiversity and natural resources
 Natural resource
extraction up to 5 times
by 2050.
 Ecological footprint in
developed world 2.5 – 5.0
earths
 Extinction of species
from 50 to 1000 times
faster than natural
processes.
Threats to Human Health
Threats to Biodiversity
Climate Change
Pollution
Green House
Gasses
Economic growth
Prices do not
reflect costs
Degradation
air, water, soil…
Depletion
Resources
Unsustainable
Production &
Consumption
Biased
Information
Fixed
behaviour
of consumers
Unbalanced
Markets
Population growth
Spending power
Market
Distortions
Challenges
 Reduce environmental stress in growing
economy
 Towards an energy and resource efficient
economy - “Do More with Less”
 Increase coherence of existing
instruments
The EC Response:
Sustainable Consumption and
Production Action Plan
“Addressing social and economic development
within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and
decoupling economic growth from environmental
degradation.”
Adopted on 16 July 2008
The SCP Action Plan Approach
 Continuously improve products
environmental performance over life-cycle
 Stimulate demand
for better products and production technologies
 Empower better choices
for retailers and consumers
In an Integrated and Strengthened
Framework
SCP Action Plan: Core Elements
1. Better Products
2. Smarter Consumption
3. Leaner Production
4. Action at global level
Better Products
 Approach:

Exclude “bad” performance

Promote “good” performance

Continuous Improvement
 Key Legislation:

Extended Eco-design Directive

Revised Energy Labelling Directive

Revised Eco-label Regulation
The Legislative Cornerstone:
Extended Eco-design Directive
 Scope: All energy-using & energy-related
products (in the future: all products?)
 Minimum requirements in I.M. (mandatory)
 Benchmarks of environmental performance
(voluntary)
 Periodical update of requirements and
benchmarks
Continuous Improvement
Minimum
requirement
Bad
Environmental
Performance
Benchmark
Acceptable
Good
Smarter Consumption
Incentives
Performance levels to provide consistent
framework across EU
 Member State incentives
 Good product eligible to tax rebates
 Mandatory Green Public Procurement
 Not procure below set benchmark
Eco-label
Voluntary
10
Labelling
Directive
« Label of excellence »
9
A+++
8
A++
EU GPP
Ecodesign:
Voluntary benchmarks
7
A+
6
A
5
B
4
C
EU GPP
3
D
Prohibition to
procure
2
G
Compulsory CE mark
Ecodesign
Mandatory exclusion
from markets
Stimulate market
for better
products ensuring
adequate
competition
1
Product Category
Incentives
Smarter Consumption
 Establishing a Retail Forum to

Promote sustainable products

Reduce environmental footprint of retail sector

Green the supply chains

Share best practices
Not an Exclusive club:
Wider participation encouraged
Actions at Global Level
 Promote good practice: SCP Action Plan
as input to UN Marrakech process
 Promote international trade in
environmentally friendly goods and
services
Overview



Published:

Proposal for extended Ecodesign Directive

Proposal for revised Energy Labelling Directive

Proposal for revised Ecolabel Regulation

Proposal for revised EMAS Regulation

Communication on Green Public Procurement
Further actions later in 2009

Environmental Technology Verification Scheme

Retailer Forum
Review of Actions: 2012

Extend Ecodesign & Labelling directives
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Consumption and
Production
Thank you !
www.ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/escp_en.hm