LCA TO GO

Boosting Life Cycle Assessment Use in European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Serving Needs of Innovative Key Sectors with Smart Methods and Tools

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'LCA to go' develops sectoral methods and tools for bio-based plastics, industrial machinery, electronics, renewable energy, sensors and smart textiles. These sectors have been chosen, as the manufacturers show a high interest in making clear the environmental benefits of their products to customers ('Green industries') and in prioritizing so they can reduce their environmental impacts. This is particularly the case for SMEs. Free webtools ('apps') will serve dedicated needs of these sectors, addressing the specifics of the technologies and implementing parameterised models, such as calculators for energy-break-even-point of photovoltaics, Product Carbon Footprints (PCF) based on technology parameters of printed circuit boards, and Key Environmental Performance Indicators (KEPIs) for smart textiles. Selected Product Category Rules will be developed to provide a robust LCA guidance for SMEs. Practically, the project website will provide an exchange of scientifically validated data templates, to assist SMEs to pass the right questions to their suppliers. Carbon Footprints are a perfect entry point for SMEs to LCA strategies. Thus, implementation of an SME-compatible PCF methodology is a key element of the project. The approaches will be tested in 7 sectoral case studies, involving suppliers, end-product manufacturers and engineering companies. Inter-linkages between the sectors (on a technical and data level) will be thoroughly addressed. A broad dissemination campaign includes a mentoring programme for 100 SMEs, which will act as showcases for others, boosting use of LCA approaches among European SMEs at large. RTD and dissemination activities will be complemented by policy recommendations and liaison with standardisation activities. The web-tools, being compatible with ILCD data and other external sources, will be made available as open source software, to be adapted to other sectors. The project will have a direct impact on sectors representing nearly 500,000 SMEs.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Science has significantly advanced tools for improving the environmental performance of products. One of the most innovative tools is the life-cycle assessment (LCA), but many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain reluctant to use them.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

This was the conclusion of a survey conducted among SMEs in the European market by the EU-funded 'LCA TO GO' project. The reasons for this include the costs and expertise required to run the LCA studies. However, the project aims to tackle these issues and devise methods and tools for sectors such as bio-based plastics, industrial machinery, electronics, renewable energy, sensors and smart textiles. These sectors were chosen since manufacturers showed a keen interest in demonstrating to SMEs how they can reduce their environmental impact.

With access to free web tools, SMEs will be able to see how their needs can be met and make full use of the technology available to them. These include key environmental performance indicators (KEPIs) for smart textiles and a product carbon footprint (PCF) based on technology parameters of printed circuit boards. Building on the findings from the survey, customised approaches by sector are under way. For example, in smart textiles, developers, designers and business executives of SMEs can take advantage of a two-step approach based on ready-made LCA data and a fast-track LCA approach. This will allow the calculation of the environmental performance of materials, at the energy and life-cycle stages.

These approaches are regarded as the perfect entry point for SMEs to LCA strategies, so devising a compatible tool for SMEs will be a key element. These will be tested in seven case studies involving suppliers, end-product manufacturers and engineering companies.

The campaign will include a mentoring programme involving 100 SMEs, and is expected to have a direct impact on sectors representing nearly 500 000 SMEs.

Overall, LCA TO GO has many facets that benefit SMEs, like the free in-house web tools that provide precise information to match ongoing needs. These tools are expected to boost business-to-business communication and improve the environmental performance of SMEs' products, which will in turn increase European competitiveness. In addition, by driving this innovation in environmentally superior products, their impact is expected to have an effect on existing European polices and strategies.