Workshop on Ecodesign and Resource Efficiency

Start/Stop Date:
26 Nov 2010
Organiser:
Aalborg University and Lund University
Venue:
Eigtveds Pakkhus, Asiatisk Plads 2G, Copenhagen, Denmark
Focus Areas:
Ecodesign and Resource Efficiency
Type of Event:
Conference


There is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat climate change. In IPPC’s “best case scenario” the temperature rise will be kept within 2 degrees Celsius the next 40 years. This however demands a widespread market introduction of more resource efficient products, clean technologies, and renewable energy technologies.

Another urgent theme is how the limited resources of the Earth can be utilized in a sustainable way in the future. The population is expected to grow to more than 10 billion in the next 50 years, while huge increases in consumption is expected in China, India, Brazil and other emerging economies. Consequently, resource efficiency is not just a concept discussed in academic circles but is now on the agenda of many governments and corporations.

This workshop focuses on how existing EU Directives and policies can contribute to increased resource efficiency in the European Union, with special focus on the Ecodesign Directive. The workshop will provide recommendations for strengthening the application of the different product‐oriented policy instruments.

Around 80% of the life cycle environmental impacts of a product are determined in the design phase. With the adoption of the Ecodesign Directive in 2005, the EU has created a platform for the regulation of life cycle impacts for energy‐using products. In 2009, the directive was expanded to cover energy related products – at first involving 51 product groups.

However, the experiences so far point towards that many environmental parameters tend to be neglected in the process as the Implementing Measures tend to focus on energy efficiency in the use phase. Furthermore, a major challenge when setting requirements is to incorporate new technologies as well as changes in consumer and market trends.

For these reasons, the workshop will initiate discussions on resource efficiency in a broad sense as the focal point for creating sustainable consumption and production. More specifically, the purpose of the workshop is to evaluate and assess:

  1. The strengths and limitations with the Ecodesign Directive so far
  2. The connections between the Ecodesign Directive and other eco‐design directives (most notably the RoHS and WEEE Directives)
  3. The synergies between different IPP instruments – can the linkages be strengthened?
  4. The possibility to make the Ecodesign Directive and other existing instruments more effective in addressing resource efficiency and other environmental parameters (such as toxicity)

The workshop will result in recommendations for topics that should be taken into account during the revision of the Ecodesign Directive, which is planned for 2012.

Besides presentations, then the workshop will also have four different tracks/groups that will give special attention to:

  • Resource Effectiveness and Recycling (Sustainable Materials Management)  
  • Synergy between different product‐oriented policy instruments  
  • Technology development and the role of Standardisation  
  • Relation to other product regulations (especially RoHS and REACH)


Each group will have a facilitator and the group will have to summarize its findings regarding:

  • 3 most important limitations with the EuP directive (within the theme of the track)  
  • 3 most important recommendations for the revision of the EuP directive in 2012


The conference will be of interest to:

  • Officials responsible for the product regulation and sustainable production and
  • consumption initiatives;  
  • Representatives from industries involved in the manufacture, supply and retail of
  • electricity using and energy related products;   
  • Policy‐makers from the public and NGO sectors specialising in resource and energy topics;   
  • Consultants and private sector companies in the fields of eco‐design; and  
  • Representatives from verification and certification companies.


Important dates and information:

  • Participation is free, but registration is necessary. 
  • Register by sending an email to rda@plan.aau.dk no later than November 1st 2010. Remember to list name, e‐mail and organisation and which track you wish to participate in.
  • A no‐show fee of 50€ applies if you withdraw your registration later than November 18th.    
  • The number of participants is limited, so please register as soon as possible to ensure your participation.

Workshop programme

Read more on the workshop’s homepage: www.resourceefficiency.aau.dk