The environmental impact of products How to fight

The environmental impact of products How to fight climate change through changed production and consumption Oliver Wolf Joint Research Centre (JRC) IPTS - Institute for Prospective Technological Studies Seville - Spain http: //ipts. jrc. europa. eu/ http: //www. jrc. europa. eu/

Consumption (here: Food)

Production Processing Resources Packaging Distribution Emissions Food Consumption Waste/Recycling Climate Change

Suitable tool to analyse environmental impact of production and consumption is the environmentally extended input output analysis: Example with irrelevant figures: for illustrative purposes only!

Production Consumption Example with irrelevant figures: for illustrative purposes only! Energy Emissions

Different studies analysed environmental impacts of products with regards to consumption. The contribution of food consumption figures amongst the highest impacts in terms of GWP (Global Warming Potential). 31% Figures taken from JRC IPTS EIPRO study 18. 5% 23. 6%

What are potential improvement options? 1) Change production patterns 2) Change consumption patterns

Resources Production Emissions Processing Resources Emissions Packaging Resources Emissions Distribution Resources Emissions Food Consumption Resources Emissions Waste/Recycling Resources Emissions Identify main environmental impacts

Resources Production Emissions Processing Resources Emissions Packaging Resources Identify main environmental impacts What are the environmental Distribution improvement options? Emissions Resources Emissions Food Consumption Resources Emissions Waste/Recycling Resources Emissions

1. Leave the production – consumption system unchanged, but improve individual steps - Changed input materials - Optimisation of production steps - Improved logistics Example food: • Improvement in growing crops for feed (soil contamination) • Improved protein feeding of pigs and cows • Methane reducing diets for cattle • Optimised manure management • Home delivery of groceries • More A++ fridges • Household meal planning 20% - 30% of food are wasted! Reduction of meat waste by 12% (=2 -3% of all meat prod. ) would reduce all environmental impacts by around 2 -3. 5%

2. Change the production – consumption system - Different products covering the same demand - Changed consumption patterns Example food: • Changed diets If beef and pork are the main causes for negative environmental impacts in food consumption, how would reduced consumption of meat impact on the environment?

2. Change the production – consumption system - Different products covering the same demand - Changed consumption patterns Example food: • Changed diets A reduced consumption of meat (-50%) reduces the overall environmental impacts by just 1 -2%.

Policy action to influence consumption – production structures: • Ecodesign • Ecolabel • GPP • Energy label Production • Information campaigns • Incentive setting • Voluntary agreements Production Consumption

Policy action to influence consumption – production structures: • Ecodesign European Commission Studies • Ecolabel on Environmental Impacts of Products Production and Improvement Potentials • GPP feed into these instruments • Energy label Cars • Information campaigns Housing • Incentive setting Food • Voluntary agreements Textiles Etc. Production Consumption

Conclusion: Consumption and production impact on environment is accessible to analysis 2 ways: Consumption and production patterns can be optimised or changed Policy instruments are available: Ecodesign, ecolabel, GPP etc. However: cause effect relations are complex. No easy answers to difficult questions

Thank you!