Product carbon footprinting: Background, development and application Dr Graham Sinden Carbon...
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Product carbon footprinting: Background, development and application Dr Graham Sinden Carbon Footprinting and Agriculture Seminar Australian High Commission, March 2009
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Transcript of Product carbon footprinting: Background, development and application Dr Graham Sinden Carbon...
Product carbon footprinting:Background, development and application
Dr Graham SindenCarbon Footprinting and Agriculture Seminar Australian High Commission, March 2009
Agenda
Global emissions and emissions assessment
PAS2050: Development
Consumer understanding and communication
Next steps: International
Global GHG emissions and emissions assessment
Current international discussion centres around a production view of emissions– Global emissions are sum of emissions produced by all countries– The Kyoto Protocol focuses on emissions produced inside national borders– In Europe, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme seeks to cap the production of
CO2 emissions within Europe– similar for JVETs in Japan, and CPRS in Australia
By establishing a “cost of carbon” on GHG emissions arising from production within a country:
– Consumption of domestic production will have a cost of carbon included– Consumption of foreign production will not be affected by a carbon cost
However, a “cost of carbon” may also result in perverse outcomes:– The relocation of emissions intensive industries outside of carbon-valuation zones
such as the EU ETS ( “leakage”)– Relocation of industry may have competitive, economic and security impacts
– Total global emissions may increase– Poorer regulation in leakage countries; and– Potential overall increase in consumption through lower prices in importing countries
– Leakage may result in the appearance of GHG emission reductions
Production, consumption and emissions assessment in the UK
When measured on a domestic production basis, UK emissions appear to have fallen– However, on a domestic consumption basis, emissions have risen
Domestic production emissions (12% drop)
Net imported CO2 emissions
Source: Helm, Smale & Phillips (2007) – Too good to be true; the UK’s climate change record
Total UK emissions have risen 19% since 1990.
Emissions assessment and supply chain carbon footprinting (I)
Emissions have the same impact on the atmosphere, irrespective of country of origin– However, a production view of GHG emissions can be very deceptive
for both net producer, and net consumer, countries
Supply chain carbon footprinting addresses this issue– Whole of life cycle assessment– All emissions, irrespective of
– Country of origin– Country of use– Country of end-of-life
Supply chains are complex, and the products arising from them are often the result of inputs from many countries.– Supply chain carbon assessment takes a consumption view of
emissions, including emissions from the whole life cycle.
6Emissions assessment and supply chain carbon footprinting (II)
Innocent Smoothies
Establishing an internationally agreed supply chain carbon footprinting approach will support effective decision-making
regarding emissions assessment and reduction.
Agenda
Global emissions and emissions assessment
PAS2050: Development
Consumer understanding and communication
Next steps: International
Standards setting Company engagement
PAS2050Code of Good Practice
Further internationalisation work
How we are going about it
Product footprinting CertificationReduction planningCommunication (including Carbon Reduction Label)
Carbon Trust Insights Carbon Label Company
What is PAS 2050?
PAS 2050: Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services
Provides an agreed method of assessing product GHG emissions– Common approach to supply chain carbon assessment– Links to existing (ISO14040-44, 14064 & 14025) standards
PAS 2050 is co-sponsored by the Carbon Trust and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) – BSI is the project manager– A Steering Group and workgroups have been established– The Carbon Trust is the Technical Author– The Carbon Trust and Defra have joint sign-off
The Carbon Trust is supporting additional activities– Code of Good Practice for Product GHG Emissions and Reduction claims– Guidance on implementing PAS 2050
PAS2050 consultation activity
First draft method launched in March 2007
Relationship with Defra and BSI to develop PAS 2050 established in June 2007
Independent Steering Group established
Series of workgroups established (e.g. data, agriculture, serices, etc)
Key stakeholder and review panel consultation:– September-October ’07: 1st Consultation
– Around 180 participants (academic, business, government, NGO, etc)– International engagement
– February-March ’08: 2nd Consultation– Around 980 participants (Similar spread of sectors)– Greater international engagement– Includes key experts
Additional consultation activity, including:– Workgroups– Pilot partners– Ad-hoc interaction
PAS2050 consultation activity: Pilot partner programme
Three rounds of pilot partners announced– Currently working with around 25 companies
Working with companies that represent a wide range of products– Trialling the implementation of the draft PAS2050 method– Provide feedback on practicality of implementing PAS2050
Some companies will trial a carbon label– Already in the marketplace for selected products
12Consultation plus pilot project countries
Reduction & CommunicationGuidance
Development of Code of Best Practice for Reduction and Communication – Developed to promote further consistency in carbon footprinting– Details reporting requirements and viable claims– Requirements for demonstrating reduction over time, including banking
What does a meaningful carbon footprint reduction look like?– Absolute targets: XgCO2e or X%– Business systems & management
How should the information be communicated?– Where?: On pack, point of sale, website, annual report, other…– What?: Current footprint, historical reduction, intent to reduce, other…– How?: numbers, rounded numbers, traffic lights, A-G, …
Guidance for PAS implementation– Aimed at the non-expert; Facilitates implementation of the PAS
Standards and supporting information
BSI PAS2050: Product carbon footprint measurement standard
Carbon Trust Code of Good Practice for Product GHG Emission and Reduction Claims: Guidance for communicating carbon footprint results, and for setting and assessing GHG reductions over time
Business Opportunity: Highlights our experience with carbon footprinting, including case studies.
PAS Guide: Implementation of PAS 2050, written for non-experts
Agenda
Global emissions and emissions assessment
PAS2050: Development
Consumer understanding and communication
Next steps: International
Demand for better information on companies’ environmental behaviour is high – Over 75% agreed with the statement ‘if I had more information about companies’ social,
environmental and ethical behaviour this would influence my decisions about what I buy’ Ipsos Mori, nVision. Base: 1057 people aged 16+ in the UK, 2007
Consumers remain sceptical of green claims currently being made business– Nearly 60% say claims by manufacturers and retailers are either ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’
credible. YouGov “L.E.K. Consulting Carbon Footprint Report 2007”, 2,039 UK consumers
71% of consumers would value an independent assessment of a companies low carbon footprint claims
– GfK NOP Oct 2006. Base: all adults aged 16+
67% say they are more likely to buy a product which has a low carbon footprint
– GfK NOP Oct 2006. Base: all adults aged 16+
What are consumers expecting companies to do?
The Carbon Reduction Label
We have committedto reduce this
Carbon Footprint
The Carbon Footprint of this product is XXX per
[functional unit]. This is the total carbon dioxide (CO2)
and other greenhouse gasses emitted during its life, including production,
use and disposal
This compares to the Carbon Footprint of Tesco
Non-Concentrated Biological Powder which is
98g per wash
You can reduce this Carbon Footprint by washing at
30oC
Core Modules Optional Modules
1) The Logo
2) The Number
3) The Carbon Trust
4) The Reduction Commitment
a) Carbon Footprint Explanation
c) Product Comparisons
b) Customer Action
The label appeared first on three products
Who? What? Where?
Cheese & Onion Crisps
Botanics & Ingredients Shampoo
Mango & Passion-fruit Smoothie
On pack
Point-of-sale
Website
Evolving communication
Following Walkers, Boots & Innocent Drinks…
Tesco using the label on 20 own-brand products across:
– Orange juice
– Potatoes
– Washing detergents
– Light bulbs
Other partners committed to trialling the label in future
– Morphy Richards
– Mey Selections
– Continental Clothing
– Halifax
– Others to follow in UK and elsewhere …
Applied in many different industries
Agenda
Global emissions and emissions assessment
PAS2050: Development
Consumer understanding and communication
Next steps: International
International standard development: Timing
Differing time scales create the opportunity to ensure comparability– PAS 2050 published, and its review will co-inside with the completion of the World
Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WRI/WBCSD) work
ISO process has the opportunity to incorporate the experience of both the PAS 2050 and WRI/WBCSD development processes, and the experience of companies implementing PAS 2050 in practice, in its drafting of a new standard.
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
PAS 2050
WRI/WBCSD
ISO
ReviewNeed to ensure that there is consistency between the different initiatives.
