ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT IN A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

Transcription

1 ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT IN A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

2 ECQ-EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE VOLUME 10 Series Editor: Arnold Tukker, TNO-STB, Delft, The Netherlands Editorial Advisory Board: Martin Charter, Centre for Sustainable Design, The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, Farnham. United Kingdom John Ehrenfeld, International Society for Industrial Ecology, New Haven, U.S.A. Gjalt Huppes, Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands Reid Lifset, Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, New Haven, U.S.A. Theo de Bruijn, Center for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy (CSTM), University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

3 A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Printed an acid-free paper Ali Rights Reserved 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 2002 Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover Ist edition 2002 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form Of by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose ofbeing entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.

4 Analytical Tools for Environmental Design and Management in a Systems Perspective The Combined Use of Analytical Tools Edited by Nicoline Wrisberg Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University (CML), Leiden, The Netherlands HeliasA. Udo de Haes Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University (CML), Leiden, The Netherlands Ursula Triebswetter Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Seville, Spain PeterEder Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Seville, Spain and Roland Clift Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, U.K. SPRINGER -SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V.

5 Table of contents Table of contents Preface... ix Foreword... xi Part I: Demand and supply of environmental information Chapter 1. Introduction Towards sustainability Chain analysis The book Part I Part II Chapter 2. Demands for environmental information Drivers for considering environmental aspects in business decision-making Response by industry Decision framework with its characteristics the decision framework obj ect of analysis spatial and temporal characteristics question types level of improvement importance of subsystem and complexity of system change aspiration of decision-maker level of chain control decision types decision steps cultural context Question types and examples strategic planning capital investments design and development communication and marketing operational management Concluding remarks Chapter 3. Supply of environmental information for decision support Framework Concepts Tools Technical elements Data about technical and environmental processes Chapter 4. Analytical tools Description of tools Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) v

6 Table of contents Material Input per Unit of Service (MIPS) Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) Material Flow Accounting (MFA) Cumulative Energy Requirements Analysis (CERA) Environmental Input-Output Analysis (env. IDA) analytical tools for eco-design Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Total cost accounting (TCA) Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Comparison of tools goal and scope types of application object of analysis system definition modes of analysis spatial characteristics temporal characteristics methodological steps types of environmental interventions position in cause-effect chain evaluation level of detail and type of data safeguard subjects formal recognition concluding remarks Strengths and weaknesses of the tools Combination of tools Concluding remarks Chapter 5. Linking supply and demand concerning environmental information Introduction Demand and supply in relation to decision object and spatial and temporal characteristics Demand and supply in relation to the different question types strategic plarming capital investrnenl design and development communication and marketing operational management Demand and supply in relation to the context characteristics Incorporating environmental information in business decision-making Customisation of tools Conclusions Chapter 6. Concluding remarks References vi

7 Table of contents Part II: Cases and Appendices A. Case Study: The supply, use and waste management chain of electronic consumer goods Al Aims of the electronic consumer goods case study A2 Description of the subject: electronic consumer goods A3 Demand side A4 Supply side A5 Linking demand and supply A6 Recommendations References B. Case Study: Towards reduced environmental burden of mobility: improving the automobile life cycle B1 Aims of the automobile case study B2 Description of the subject: the automobile sector B3 Demand side B4 Supply side B5 Linking demand and supply B6 Recommendations B7 Additional information References C. Case Study:The supply, use and waste management of domestic clothes washing Cl Aims of the domestic clothes washing case study C2 Description of the subject: provision of clean garments C3 Demand side C4 Supply side C5 Linking demand and supply C6 Recommendations References D: Full description of tools Dl Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) D2 Material Input Per unit of Service (MIPS) D3 Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) D4 Material Flow Accounting (MFA) D5 Cumulative Energy Requirement Analysis (CERA) D6 Environmental Input-Output Analysis (env. loa) D7 Analytical tools for eco-design (matrices and checklists) D8 Life Cycle Costing (LCC) D9 Total Cost Accounting (TCA) DI0 Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Dli Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) Dl2 Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) E: Inquiry on user preferences concerning analytical tools for environmental evaluations El Introduction vii

8 Table of contents E2 Response E3 Characteristics of the overall response population E4 Preferences of the overall response population E5 Relationships between type of decision situation (question type) and preferences for certain tool characteristics E6 Relationship between occupational position and question type E7 Relationship between occupational position and preferences for certain tool characteristics E8 Some more findings F: List of definitions G: Acronyms and abbreviations V111

9 Preface Preface This book is the result of the Concerted Action, CHAINET, commissioned by the EU Environment and Climate programme (ENV 4-CT ) during the period December 1997 to December The aim of this Concerted Action was to set up a network linking environmental stakeholders in three fields of human activity (referred to as 'cases'), with experts on different environmental analytical tools, and to interactively write a book on the use of these different tools. The book provides a toolbox for chain analysis or, put in other terms, for "life cycle management", and links demand for environmental information with supply of relevant data. In addition the book gives information on the application of the toolbox in three different cases, indicating specific directions for design and development. The three cases concern the supply, use and waste management chain for automobiles, for electronic consumer goods, and for domestic clothes washing. The CHAlNET tasks have been achieved through the organisation of meetings (preparatory meetings, network meetings and workshops), the establishment of a homepage on the internet and the production of reports in collaboration with CHAINET members. The contact with the EU took place in the person of Dr JUrgen Busing. The Editorial Board has been responsible for the planning and guidance ofthe whole process. The Programme has been co-ordinated by the Centre of Environmental Science (CML), Leiden University, with Dr Nicoline Wrisberg as the main person responsible. The programme was chaired by Prof Helias A. Udo de Haes, also from CML. The working groups were chaired by Dr Bernd Bilitewski together with Michael Kundt (automobiles), Rene Kleijn together with Marieke Gorree (electronic consumer goods), and Roland Clift (domestic clothes washing) who have had the responsibility for the case-related workshop programme and the case reports. After an inaugural meeting, held in Windsor, Great Britain, on 26 May 1998, preparatory groups, one for each of the cases, provided initial proposals for the structuring of the cases and a list of relevant "public domain" information. Working groups were set up for each of the cases to discuss the demand for environmental information and the use of tools in the cases of two workshops. The first workshop was held in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands, October 28-30, 1998, with the objective to specify the need for environmental information in the three cases; starting with identifying stakeholders and their information needs. The second workshop was held in Seville, Spain, March 25-26, 1999, with the objective to specify the appropriate tools and combination of tools for the cases and to discuss, in a more general way, interaction of analytical tools and the decision procedures in which they can be applied. A concluding review meeting was held in Dresden, October 14-15, 1999, where the final draft report was discussed. This book is based on the outcome ofthese meetings and workshops. Furthermore, the working groups have been consulted to contribute, discuss and provide feedback to the draft case reports. Moreover, CHAINET members have contributed with CHAINEWEB papers on the use of analytical tools. These papers have been put on to the homepage and have as far as possible been incorporated into the book. Nicoline Wrisberg, Helias A. Udo de Haes, Ursula Triebswetter, Peter Eder, Roland Clift ix

10 Editorial board Editorial board Prof. Bernd Bilitewski, Fakultat fur Forst-, Geo- und Hydrowissenschaften, Institut fur Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten, Technische Universitat Dresden, Germany Dr Stefan Bringezu, Wuppertal Institut fur Klima, Umwelt und Energie, Abt. Stoff strome und Strukturwandel, Germany Prof. Finn Bro-Rasmussen, Technical University of Denmark, Environmental Science and Ecology, Denmark Prof. Roland Clift, University of Surrey, Director of Centre for Environmental Strategy, United Kingdom Dr Rolf Frischknecht, ESU Services, Switzerland Prof. Paul Ekins, Keele University, Department of Environmental Social Sciences, United Kingdom Dr Per Sorup, Joint Research Centre ofthe European Commission, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies Prof. Helias A. Udo de Haes, Leiden University, Centre of Environmental Science, The Netherlands (chairman) x

11 Foreword Foreword Claude Fussier Director Stakeholders Relations, World Business Council for Sustainable Development Vice President, Dow Europe I am wary of heavy books on environmental management. Many are published, few are read, and still fewer make a difference, But this work should prove me wrong. Yet the odds were stacked against it: produced by a committee of experts under the auspices of the Research Directorate of the European Commission it would be complete, detailed and accurate. But it would have little to attract a readership of busy practitioners and business people. Professor Udo Helias de Haes obviously steered the CHAINET process around such pitfalls to produce an impressive practical compendium of all the environmental and sustainability management tools you ever wondered about. And more. All are brought into the user's perspective. Their linkages, strengths and limitations are clarified. A number of case studies show how they were efficiently used. This is the work of experts at their best, networking across the sectors of academia, business and public authorities. This work also pays tribute to the progress of European institutes and business as they design a course towards better environmental management and sustainable development. The change is profound. The simplistic perspective of emission sources control is replaced by a comprehensive system approach. It integrates the complete material throughput and activity chains that supply our quality oflife. The following chapters inventory the conceptual models that help us to analyse, explain and manage our throughput systems for sustainability. There is no lack of models and tools. They are robust and tested. But take-up is slow and most sustainability indicators continue to point in the wrong direction. We are now better at describing and understanding the problems but we have yet to succeed in solving them. If it is not the shortage of tools and intelligence it must be a lack of heart, creativity and vision. Only a minority of enterprises and institutions are leading the change. They have embraced a new paradigm - environmental degradation, social exclusion are failures to manage the system efficiently. One cannot succeed in the long run while the environment gets worse and society fails. The enterprise that invests in ecoefficiency and human capital will produce long-term shareholder value. This logic of investment in innovation and productivity pays off. Recent studies of market capitalisation by Dow Jones, and of competitiveness of nations by Professors Michael Porter and Dan Esty show that the tightest environmental practices correlate reliably with the highest competitiveness and financial success. A majority of enterprises however has missed the news. Their model is still the classic cost optimisation - environmental measures and precautionary approaches are a cost, not a productive investment. A good manager must optimise this cost while maintaining the license to operate. The lower the local compliance regime the lower the cost. Trade-off and just-compliance managers will of course one day have to quit or adjust and measure up to the combined pressure of society, shareholders and the competitive strength ofthose who have anticipated the course of events and invested Xl

12 Foreword in sustainability. In the meanwhile their mindset shapes the prevailing patterns of growth and enviromnental pressures. It comes down indeed to vision, creativity and heart. The rest, the roadmap to enviromnental excellence and sustainability, is in this book. xii