LCA and Procurement - esaiweb.org

1 LCA and Procurement ESAI/CIWM Training Workshop Jean Clarke Environment Inspectorate, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Context green Public Procurement (GPP) EU and National Policy GPP and LCA relationship What is LCA? Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a process of compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle. (European Commission JRC) Communication on Integrated Product Policy stated that LCAs represent the best framework for assessing the potential environmental impact of products currently available Life Cycle Based Policies Life cycle thinking is at the heart of much EU Policy Integrated Product Policy, Sustainable Consumption and Production Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan green Public Procurement , EU Ecolabel, EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, Ecodesign, Eco-innovation and the EU Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP).

2 Retail Forum Life Cycle Based Policies Waste Waste Life Cycle Thinking is now fundamental to the Waste Framework Directive as any departures from the waste hierarchy have to be justified by life cycle thinking Life Cycle Thinking is also central to the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste and the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe The Commission have developed guidance on LCA and its application ( #consultation_impact) GPP What it is? GPP is defined in the European Commission s communication Public Procurement for a better environment as a process whereby public authorities seek to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle when compared to goods, services and works with the same primary function that would otherwise be procured (European Commission, 2008). Advantages of GPP Source: UNEP 2011 Compliant with endorsed common core GPP criteria Percentage expressed in both number and value of green contracts compared to the overall number and value of contracts concluded in the sectors for which core GPP criteria have been identified WHAT DOES green MEAN?

3 Minimum technical specifications that all bids have to comply with May also be formulated as environmental award criteria without being mandatory A weighting of 15% or more could be considered significant green CRITERIA Commission has divided green criteria into core and comprehensive criteria These are used to define green Commission GPP toolkit Module 3 gives core and comprehensive criteria for the 10 product groups green CRITERIA Core criteria - address the most significant environmental impacts, and are designed to be used with minimum additional verification effort or cost increases Comprehensive criteria - are intended for use by authorities who seek to purchase the best environmental products available on the market, and may require additional administrative effort or imply a certain cost increase as compared to other products fulfilling the same function. green CRITERIA Source: GPP Toolkit Introducing green criteria in tender documents Subject Matter Technical Specifications Selection Criteria Award Criteria Contract Performance Clauses Requirements on products/services/works purchased Requirements on bidders Source: GPP toolkit The most direct, clear and transparent way to practice GPP is by specifying it at the beginning of the process, in the definition of the Subject Matter.

4 Subject Matter Be careful! Always ensure compliance with key principles, even in the Subject Matter: equal treatment and non-discrimination. Source: GPP Toolkit Technical Specifications Clear definitions All Technical Specifications must be sufficiently precise to allow potential suppliers to understand exactly what is required. It is not possible to simply demand that All offered products must have a low environmental impact - it must be clearly defined what low environmental impact means, for instance by using the standards or ecolabel criteria Source: GPP Toolkit Technical Specifications: Examples Certified Blue Angel paper Containing at least 80% of post-consumer waste content Totally chlorine free (TCF) paper Durability>100 years, according to ISO 9706 or DIN 6738 Source: GPP Toolkit Contracts can be awarded based on either: Lowest price OR: Most economically advantageous tender Other award criteria can be taken into account besides price.

5 Delivery date, technical merit or environmental characteristics, as long as they are: clearly mentioned in the tender related to the subject matter objectively quantifiable - verifiable weighted ( explaining how much importance is given to each award criterion) Award Criteria Source: GPP Toolkit green Criteria It is possible to introduce environmental criteria in tender documents if the following basic principles are taken into consideration: All environmental criteria are explicitly mentioned in the tender The wording of the criteria respects the general principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment The criteria relate to the subject matter of the contract Source: GPP Toolkit green 7 Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden, NL, and UK Are currently implementing more elements of GPP than other MSs Means they have consistently more tenders with green criteria BEST PERFORMING MSs 7th Environmental Action Plan The Commission will consider proposing sector-specific legislation to set mandatory green public Procurement requirements for additional product categories and the scope for periodic monitoring of Member States progress on the basis of adequate Member State data, while having regard for the need to minimise the level of administrative burden.

6 Voluntary green purchaser networks should be developed. Increasing efforts to reach existing targets and reviewing approaches to green Public Procurement , including its scope, in order to increase its effectiveness. Establishing a voluntary green purchaser network for EU businesses green Tenders Implementation of GPP in Ireland National policy document green Tenders, An Action Plan for green Public Procurement National target of 50% GPP for Irish public bodies and agencies ( EU target) Eight priority product/service groups with 52 key actions for implementation Twelve overarching key actions Within Department New Waste Management Policy GPP is referenced with regard to reuse and recycling and under a separate heading. Outlines the following policy measures:- A Public sector Reuse Policy will be developed in consultation with the national Procurement service and other relevant bodies, to ensure that public sector organisations give full consideration to feasible reuse options before embarking on the purchase of new goods.

7 This reflects the very clear leadership role of the public sector in the development of a sustainable economy, as highlighted in Our sustainable future A framework for sustainable Development in Ireland and the green Tenders Action Plan on green Public Procurement . The Government will continue to support the use of recycled material through the green Public Procurement Action Plan, green Tenders, and relevant Departments and Agencies will cooperate to encourage the development of indigenous processing opportunities. Within Department Setting green criteria in tenders rx3 Prospective contractors are asked to demonstrate their corporate environmental commitment which should include, a copy of their environmental policy, and evidence of any accredited EMS if in place; a health and safety statement and evidence of health and safety performance. These should be included as an appendix to the tender proposal.

8 As part of the green Procurement objectives of rx3 the successful tenderer will take steps to reduce the environmental impact resulting in the performance of this contract. The response to tender will demonstrate how this will be achieved using an approved approach/ methodology. Within Department Award criteria [scored from 100 marks weighted as indicated]: (a) Proposed cost of providing service and number of days assigned (30) (b) Knowledge and understanding of the subject (20) (c) Approach and methodology (20) (d) Qualifications, experience and skills of assigned personnel (20) (e) The management and service structure proposed (5) (f) Corporate Environmental Commitment / green Procurement (5) Department Sponsored Initiatives National Waste Prevention Programme ( ) green Business Programme green Hospitality Programme Local Authority Prevention Network green Healthcare Programme Food Waste Programme green Retail Programme Packaging Waste Prevention Programme Smile Waste Exchange, Cleaner Greener Production Programme ( ) Resources efficiency programme for hotels, catering companies & restaurants - Free consultancy - Resources use mapping (waste, water, & energy) - Assessment & report ( low hanging fruit )

9 - Follow up - Award scheme >200 members (>9% of Irish hotels) >6000t waste reduction >312 million litres water saved >30M kWh energy saved > saved annually by members Department Sponsored Initiatives National Waste Prevention Programme ( ) green Business Programme green Hospitality Programme Local Authority Prevention Network green Healthcare Programme Food Waste Programme green Retail Programme Packaging Waste Prevention Programme Smile Waste Exchange, Cleaner Greener Production Programme ( ) Resources efficiency programme for business (Commercial, SMEs, Institutional, Industry) - Free consultancy - Resources use mapping (waste, water, & energy) - Assessment & report ( low hanging fruit ) - Follow up - Interactive web resource - Workshops / seminars > 1M savings to business in 2010 - Case studies available on the website Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP) Grant scheme to encourage organisations to research and implement cleaner greener production/service provision practices.

10 The objective was to achieve a balance between economic activity and protection of the environment. 7M investment, 90 organisations to date (>50% manufacturing) See also EPA report Innovation for a green Economy at: ,26326, Department Sponsored Initiatives - rx3 Objectives Increase recycling levels Improve quality of recyclables Fully harness existing outlets for recycled materials Identify and develop new, reliable, and stable markets for recycled materials from waste in Ireland Contribute to sustainable resource management Department Sponsored Initiatives - rx3 Outputs to date - examples National Compost Quality Standard and Quality Assurance Scheme Two Year Report on Crop Trials demonstrating use of compose and digestate in agricultural uses A Detailed Chemical and Nutrient Characterisation of Compost and Digestate including comparative releases of Nitrogen and Phosphorus A Life Cycle Assessment of a Standard Irish Composting Process and Agricultural Use of Compost Market Report on Irish Organic Waste Management and Compost Use Irish Plastics Waste Arising Study Assessment of Recovered Paper Supply Chain in Ireland Best Practice Guide for the Recovered Paper Supply Chain Implementation Quick Wins Only procure 100% recycled paper.