Objectives

The purpose of the project is to study the viability of a web site with an online Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) service for small and medium-size enterprises (SME). The web site will also contain information about LCA in general, legislation, training, etc., and will address consultancies as intermediaries between experts and companies.

The main objectives of the project are:

to analyse the availability and structure of public and private information for conducting LCA in different EU countries;
to identify the best form of database management, considering new forms of public/private collaborations;
to study the technical and economic viability of the web site to conduct LCA in SMEs; and
to implement a prototype for testing the web site through a sample of SMEs.

Related Information

Further information:

Visit eLCA official website

Objectives

The COST 530 Action, coordinated in Spain by Randa Group, has been approved by the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom,.

Its main target is: "improving the knowledge about the manufacturing processes environmental impacts, reduce the environmental impacts and costs, and taking decisions based in knowledge"

The objective will be reached by promoting LCA Methodology in manufacturing industries. This is why it is important to increase the knowledge of LCA inventories in important processes. In addition, the models of these processes designed by industries and the specific software operational tools are necessary to make the information avaible to the people in charge of the companies. The coordination of research and technical efforts from European scientists and industry is essential for the achievement of the project objectives.

For further information, visit the COST project official website.

Objectives

The objectives of this research project are: to identify Environmental Product Information Schemes (EPIS) and assure that these are an efficient and effective tool in different situations; to study previous experiences with EPIS by EU Member States and the relation of these systems with business strategies, integrated product policies and market conditions; to define strategies that relate EPIS to other integrated product policies methods; to explore how and under which conditions the EPIS can be used as a base in order to support sustainable consumption models; to create/incentivate green markets, to support the innovation and green products/services development; to reinforce the connection and synergy between different sectors; to increase and carry out the initiatives of interested parties, while harmonizing environmental initiatives, policies and commitments.

Related Information

For further information, visit the DEEP project official website.

Objectives

The main objective of the Thematic Network of Practical Recommendations for Sustainable Construction (PRESCO) is to define a code of practices for sustainable construction at the European level. This code will contain a scientifically accepted guide for sustainable construction. The continuous increase of environmental problems in urbanism and construction, both at the local and global level, make it necessary to develop a guide for European countries. The PRESCO project will not only concentrate on sustainable construction technologies, but it will also consider older and obsolete technologies.

A second objective of the network is to facilitate the experience exchange and knowledge transfer based on the use of LCA methodologies in the construction design process. The PRESCO project will attempt to offer advice about design tools to assist in the improvement of construction systems.

Information, along with internal and external communication channels, will be available in order to accelerate and promote the achieved project objectives.

Objectives

The main objective of this project is to define tools that allow European industry to improve its ecoefficiency. The project is focused on the development of tools for the evaluation of impacts of industrial chemical compounds on human health and ecosystems in the framework of LCA.

The project includes practical studies in different industrial sectors, such as cosmetics, automotives, detergents and paper. By means of the practical studies, recommendations will be given to industries on the application of existing methodologies to evaluate toxicological and ecotoxicological impacts. At the same time, consensus and improvement of characterisation methods of these impacts will be sought in the framework of LCA. Another innovative aspect of the project is the development of an internet-based system, which will allow practitioners to easily access the data necessary to calculate the impacts of chemical compound risks .

In the framework of the project, a viability study will also be conducted to evaluate the introduction of LCA into the regulation of chemical compounds.

Related Information

This project has been financed by the "Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia", as part of the "Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica 2004-2007".
 

For further information, visit the DEEP project official website.

Objectives

Waste water treatment in Europe results in huge amounts of sewage sludge, which is subject to various different types of management. The production of sewage sludge and its management problems are expected to increase in the future. A rational management option is the use of sludge as agricultural fertilizer, which takes into account soil nutrient deficits. However, sewage sludge can contain organic pollutants that are hazardous to humans and the environment; therefore, detoxification of sludge is essential mixing it with agricultural soil. Thus, the main aim of the project is to develop sludge decontamination systems based on biotechnology.

The environmental risks presented by the use of non-treated sewage sludge as fertilizer will also be evaluated. The environmental impacts of use of the newly developed detoxification technologies will be quantified using LCA. Additionally, the economic consequences associated with the implementation of these technologies will be assessed. Randa Group will be leading these activities.

Related Information

For further information, visit the BIOWASTE official website.

Objectives

The objectives of the study are to provide the Commission with:

- information on the life-cycle impacts of PVC from production of chlorine to disposal;
- a comprehensive catalogue of all existing life cycle assessments and equivalent evaluations of both PVC and products made from the principal competing materials;
- a critical analysis of the results of these assessments/evaluations including an assessment of the validity of the underlying assumptions, particular attention to be given to assessments/evaluations whose results differ significantly from those other assessments/evaluations conducted on identical or similar products;
- an overview of existing information on economic and social implications (cost, performance, effects on SMEs, jobs) of a potential policy approach to encourage substitution of PVC in particular applications, with a summary of key findings;
- an assessment of any gaps in the availability of reliable data and analysis together with an indication of the most effective means to fill them.

Related Information

Further information on the following Commission’s website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/studies/pvc/lca_study.htm