Breathing LIFE Into Greener Businesses

L I F E I I I

Breathing LIFE into greener businesses

Demonstrating innovative approaches to improving the environmental performance of European businesses European Commission Environment Directorate-General

LIFE (“The Financial Instrument for the Environment”) is a programme launched by the European Commission and coordinated by the Environment Directorate-General (LIFE Unit - E.4).

The contents of the publication “Breathing LIFE into greener businesses: Demonstrating innovative approaches to improving the environmental performance of European businesses” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the institutions of the European Union.

Authors: Nora Schiessler, Tim Hudson, Ed Thorpe. Editorial department: Eamon O’Hara (Astrale GEIE-AEIDL). Managing editor: Philip Owen, European Commission, Environment DG, LIFE Unit – BU-9, 02/1, 200 rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels. LIFE Focus series coordination: Simon Goss (LIFE Communications Coordinator), Evelyne Jussiant (DG Environment Communica- tions Coordinator). Graphic design: Daniel Renders, Anita Cortés. The following people also worked on this issue: Remo Savoia, Igor Jelinski, Pekka Hänninen, Marion Pinatel, Agnese Roccato, Mariona Salvatella, Mathilde Snel, Audrey Thenard. Acknowledgements: Thanks to all LIFE project beneficiaries who contributed comments, photos and other useful material for this report. Photos: Cover: LIFE02 ENV/NL/000114, European Commission, LIFE06 ENV/D/000471-Thomas Mayer, Tim Hudson, Inside: From the respective projects unless otherwise specified – This issue of LIFE Focus is published in English with a print-run of 5,000 copies and is also available online.

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Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2008

ISBN 978-92-79-10656-9 ISSN 1725-5619 DOI: 10.2779/88514

Printed in Belgium

Ecolabel Flower Printed on recycled paper that has been awarded the EU Ecolabel for graphic paper (http://ec.europa.eu/ecolabel/) LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p.

Philip Owen

Europe’s businesses have a primary role to play in ensuring a sustainable future for the environment and the economy. This is not only because many business activities depend on the earth’s natural resources, but also because some of these activities can have serious negative impacts on both the long-term availability and future quality of global environmental resources. The European Union has adopted the concept of sustainable development to address the challenge of balancing economic growth with a high level of environmental protection. Sustainable development involves finding ways to limit pressures on the environment, while also allowing businesses to compete and prosper in the global market place and create new and better jobs. The idea was enshrined as one of the objectives of the Union in the Amsterdam Treaty, and has since been complemented by numerous pieces of environmental legislation on specific issues, as well as by the mainstreaming of environmental protection in other Community policies. There are clear signals that many industrial sectors are moving towards cleaner and more sustainable production processes to meet high European environmental requirements. For example, about half of the pollutants monitored by the European Pollutant Emission Register decreased by 10% from 2001 to 2004 and only one sixth of the pollutant emissions increased by 10%. Nor do environmental policies have to have a negative impact on business performance. They can actually play a guiding, and sometimes even a driving role in reducing costs and improving efficiency and performance. Environmental sustainability is increasingly recognised as a competitive advantage among European businesses. The eco-industry itself has become one of Europe’s strongest industrial sectors, enjoying a 5% annual growth rate, well above that of other economic sectors. Technology is a double-edged sword. Technological developments are responsible for the environmental challenges we face, but also can offer us the solutions to these problems. At the same time a sustainable and prosperous European economy depends on innovation and technology. Here, the European Commission’s LIFE (Financial Instrument for the Environment) programme has played an important role, demonstrating innovative approaches to improving the environmental performance of businesses and industry in Europe. To date, more than 480 projects co-financed by LIFE are business or industry related, addressing a variety of sectors and environmental challenges. Additional financial support for the development of innovative green technologies is now also available from the European Commission’s Competitive- ness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), which channels its assistance towards commercial and private sector businesses. This LIFE-Focus brochure supports the view of the EU Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, that “going green is a ‘win-win’ approach for both business and the environment.” Nineteen successful LIFE projects from 11 countries are showcased, representing a small but valuable selection of the numerous successful LIFE initiatives supporting companies to strengthen their environmental performance. Presented in sections that reflect Europe’s main industrial sectors, this publication presents good business practice, which can guide and inspire businesses across the EU. I hope that these practical examples will highlight the economic benefits available and motivate even more European companies to take the decision to enhance their green credentials. After all, eco-innovation can be good for business and good for the environment.

Philip Owen Head of Unit - LIFE Directorate-General for the Environment European Commission Foreword...... 1 Tourism...... 21 INOCAST: Casting green engine blocks (Germany)...... 38 Europe’s business Eco-Camps: Bringing “environment”...... 3 camping even closer to EDIT: Eco-design throughout nature (France)...... 22 the supply chain for new Greening EU businesses: vehicles (France)...... 39 Policy and legislation...... 4 Green Certificate: Eco-labelling for rural tourism LIFE: Supporting innovative providers (Latvia)...... 25 Clothing & design green business and industry industries...... 41 activities ...... 9 Sutoureelm: Computer- age way to sustainable Dyeing bath re-use: Cutting Basic industries...... 11 tourism (Germany)...... 26 through waste with a laser (Spain)...... 42 ECOSB: Reducing emissions Prowater: Re-using water from wood panel processing Food industries...... 27 in the textile wet processing (Luxembourg)...... 12 CLB: Environmentally industry (Italy)...... 44 friendly sugar removal in Clean-Deco: A shining potato processing Resitex: Helping make example of good practice (The Netherlands)...... 28 green fashionable every in green manufacturing year (Spain)...... 47 methods (Italy)...... 15 Retoxmet: Yeast-based pollution control (Hungary)....31 Greening Europe’s leather Zero Emission Lacquer: industry...... 48 Eco-friendly shock absorbers ENVACIO: Pollutant-free (The Netherlands)...... 17 rice packing (Spain)...... 32 Cool Tech: Lightening the Selection of other LIFE impact of metal lubricants Machine & system projects...... 53 (Sweden)...... 18 industries...... 33 List of available LIFE publications...... 57 New ESD: Cleaner and CO2Ref: Back to the future greener steel wire production for climate-friendly Information on LIFE ...... 58 technology (Italy)...... 19 refrigeration (Denmark)...... 34 Basta: Improving building IPP Tel: Telecom solutions standards (Sweden)...... 20 for a lifetime… and beyond (Greece)...... 37 LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p.

Europe’s business “environment”

In 2008, over 19 million enterprises were active within the EU-27 economy. These businesses have the potential to contribute to a prosperous and environmentally sustainable future for Europe. However, business activities and industrial processes can still exert considerable pressure on the environment, thereby also threatening Europe’s long-term economic and social welfare.

Europe’s economic prosperity and Recognising that good environmental future growth depend to a large extent performance can be good for eco- on natural resources and environment nomic competitiveness and profitabil- services, including: raw materials, such ity, European businesses have already as minerals, biomass and biological made considerable progress in reduc- resources; environmental media, such ing their environmental impact. This as air, water and soil; flow resources has been strongly supported by the such as wind, geothermal, tidal and fact that businesses were the first tar- solar energy; and landmass, that is get of EU environmental regulation. used either to produce food, materi- Photo: Tim Hudson als and energy, or as sinks that absorb Making business greener creates Furthermore, those businesses that emissions or waste. challenges and offers opportunities for market environmental technologies all EU industries. operate in an increasingly dynamic These natural resources and services High levels of environmental protec- sector. EU eco-industries have enjoyed are used by businesses to generate tion, sustainable resource use, eco- a healthy annual growth rate of around products and wealth. However, busi- nomic growth and social cohesion five percent since the mid-1990s ness activity can also exert pressures are considered mutually reinforcing and are now one of Europe’s biggest on the environment. The past 50 years policy goals by the EU. These aims industrial players. It is also important to have seen a rapid and extensive altera- are reflected in numerous pieces of remember that green industries have tion of ecosystems by humans, largely environmental legislation and policies, the potential to create new and better driven by the need to meet growing as well as in environmental consider- jobs that will offset job losses in more demands for food, fresh water, timber, ations integrated into all policy sec- traditional industries. fibre and fuel. Well-known environ- tors. Other policy instruments promote mental problems associated with this the development of environmentally The EU will continue its efforts to drive growth, such as deforestation, loss of friendly industrial activities. progress towards more sustainable biodiversity and soil degradation are industrial practices. Key aspects will now being joined by new problems … and opportunities include: linked to industrialisation, such as l practical and viable ways to make rising greenhouse gas emissions, air Achieving these goals will require new and better use of industrial and water pollution, expanding waste efforts from business, but greening the waste streams; volumes, desertification and chemical economy can also present companies l improving resource productivity, effi- pollution. Environmental degradation with opportunities to cut costs, exploit ciency and cost effectiveness; and depletion of natural resources will new markets or to achieve competi- l improving consumption patterns continue until practical solutions to tive advantage in existing markets. l enhancing the overall environmental these problems are developed. Current Not only is it usually more cost effec- performance of products throughout patterns of resource use are clearly not tive to avoid environmental problems their life cycle; sustainable, in Europe or globally. at source rather than try to remedy l increasing demand for environmen- them later, but companies that take tally sustainable products and pro- Challenges care of the environment often quickly duction technologies; recoup their initial investments; gains l promotion of eco-innovation and The great challenge for policymakers in energy efficiency and waste reduc- eco-technologies; is to facilitate and stimulate growth tion, for example, often translate into l accelerating the time taken to convert without damaging the environment. tangible operational savings. Addition- green technology research ideas into Sustainable patterns of economic and ally, companies that innovate to maxi- commercial business products; and industrial development are needed, mise the efficiency of their resource l making environmental concerns an based on new innovations that benefits consumption can also enhance their integral part of the production pro- both businesses and the environment. brand image in the marketplace. cesses for all products. Greening EU businesses: Policy and legislation

The European Union is aware that some business activities can create considerable pressures on the environment. Since 2001 the EU has prioritised strategic approaches that integrate environmental objectives into economic and social policies and programmes. Photo: European Commission Photo: European Integrating environmental considerations into other Community policies is key for the European Union

European legislation lays down rules concerns and sustainable develop- by the Commission in 2006, and in aimed at preventing pollution and ment into all policy sectors. This the proposal for a soil Framework repairing any damage that companies also includes basic principles of Directive, currently under discussion can cause to the environment. It also Community action on the environ- by the European Parliament and the contains measures aimed at promoting ment, in particular the precaution- European Council. the development of environmentally ary principle and the polluter pays friendly business activities. The EU’s principle, which are set out in Article Effluent emissions from specific indus- objective is to limit the risk of possi- 174 of the EC Treaty. trial and agricultural sectors, urban ble negative impacts that businesses waste water and dangerous sub- might have on the environment, while Specific environmental stances are all controlled by EU legis- at the same time not hampering their legislation lation that aims to minimise pollution development. This includes numerous and improve the quality of Europe’s corrective measures relating to specific Several individual pieces of legislation drinking water, rivers, lakes and environmental problems. cover business discharges into soil, seas. The overarching EU legisla- including rules on the biodegradability tion on water quality standards is the However, sufficient levels of environ- of detergents, persistent organic pol- Water Framework Directive, covering mental protection and the promotion lutants, nitrates and mercury. Specific both surface waters and groundwater. of sustainable development cannot sectors whose activities impact on Discharges into water from a number be achieved through environmental soil are also covered by other legis- of business sectors, particularly food regulations and policies alone. In lation, such as waste landfill, extrac- production, are also controlled under Article 6 of the treaty establishing tive industries and agriculture. Future EU rules on urban waste water. the European Community, the EU action to protect soil is laid out in the recognises the need to find solu- Communication ‘Towards a thematic Interim objectives for air pollution tions for integrating environmental strategy for soil protection’ adopted in the EU, plus appropriate meas- LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. ures to achieve them, are estab- ards. Under health and safety require- lished by the EU’s proposal for a ments, employers have the additional thematic strategy on air pollution. It responsibility to provide protection to is closely linked to the Directive on workers when noise is above a certain ambient air quality, which stresses level in their workplace. the importance of combating emissions of pollutants at source and European legislation sets out detailed identifying and implementing emis- rules on different aspects of waste sion reduction measures at local, and its management. Based on the national and Community level. To “producer responsibility” principle, reduce acidification, eutrophication businesses must ensure that the waste and tropospheric ozone formation, they produce or handle is treated in

the EU also sets limits on pollutant Photo: LIFE05 ENV/D/000197 an efficient, safe and environmentally emissions from large combustion EU legislation regulates the materials friendly way – and pay for the costs plants and the emissions of specific that can be used in electronic equipment of treatment. The waste Framework pollutants, such as: sulphur diox- Directive sets guidelines for waste ide; nitrogen oxide; particulate mat- Several pieces of legislation and ini- management in Member States, hav- ter and lead; volatile organic com- tiatives at Community level aim to ing a direct or indirect impact on all pounds; and ammonia. increase energy efficiency within other EU legislation related to waste. the EU. The manufacturing industry, Specific additional legislation cov-

The reduction of CO2 emissions is for example, is estimated to be able ers waste in the form of packaging, the aim of the EU’s emissions trad- to reduce its energy use by 25% and vehicles, batteries, oils, electrical and ing scheme (ETS). This is designed uniform standards have been set to electronic equipment, food, sewage to help the EU Member States meet improve the efficiency of commercial sludge, polychlorinated bi- and ter- their commitments under the interna- properties, particularly via their heat- phenyls (PCBs and PCTs), as well tional agreement on climate change ing and air-conditioning equipment. as hazardous waste. Legislation also - the Kyoto Protocol - in a cost-effec- covers recycling, landfill, incineration tive manner. It covers over 11 500 A single framework establishes maxi- and shipments of waste. energy-intensive installations across mum levels of noise by equipment the EU, including combustion plants, used outdoors – such as compres- Thematic strategies to prevent and oil refineries, coke ovens, and iron and sors, excavator-loaders, saws, mix- recycle waste and on the sustainable steel plants. Factories making cement, ers or lawnmowers – in construction use of natural resources adopted glass, lime, brick, ceramics, pulp and and other industries. Manufacturers in 2005 strengthen the life-cycle paper are also included within the have to ensure that the equipment approach and encourage businesses ETS. Discussions are ongoing about they produce complies with uni- to adopt more sustainable waste extending the scope of the ETS to form noise standards and label them management systems, reducing the include greenhouse gases (other than appropriately. Users must ensure amount of waste produced, minimis-

CO2) and all major industrial emitters. their equipment meets these stand- ing the environmental impact of waste and reducing the use of resources.

REACH aims to protect human health and the environment as well as enhance innovative capability in the EU chemicals industry The way that chemicals are controlled in the EU underwent a major change with the passing of the EU’s Regu- lation on the registration, evalua- tion, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) at the end of 2006. This Regulation puts an obli- gation on all companies that produce or use chemicals to ensure they are safe. The most dangerous chemicals will be phased out and replaced with safer alternatives. In effect, businesses must prove that substances they produce or use are safe – a change from the previous way chemicals were regulated, which put the burden of proof on the authorities. Furthermore, the Direc- tive on the control of major-acci- dent hazards involving dangerous substances aims at minimising the risk of industrial accidents and their consequences.

Another important directive for Europe’s businesses concerns inte-

grated pollution prevention and Photo: LIFE06 ENV/IT/000241 control (IPPC). The IPPC Directive Green policy promotes the replacement of highly polluting and unhealthy production is a cornerstone of EU legislation methods with advanced ecologically sustainable technology addressing industrial installations and agricultural activities that are Promoting green policy hungry. It involves the many different classified as having a high pollution professionals working at each of these potential. The operators of these Encouraging environmentally stages, as well as consumers. businesses are legally obliged to friendly production, use and dis- hold a permit containing require- posal of products is a focus of the Part of IPP looks at ways in which the ments for the protection of air, water aforementioned EU policy initiatives. market can promote the adoption of and soil, waste minimisation, acci- Businesses have to comply with the greener products and services. One dent prevention and, if necessary, legal controls, but can also benefit aspect of this is encouraging green site clean-up. These requirements from opportunities present in several public procurement, in which public must be based on the principle of pieces of legislation and initiatives to purchasers set environmental criteria best available techniques (BAT) to promote green business operations. when buying products, services or ensure the businesses operate using works. Innovative and eco-efficient the cleanest technology possible. Integrated product policy (IPP) is companies are increasingly taking used to promote sustainable pro- advantage of the possibilities offered For electrical and electronic devices, duction and consumption by looking by green public procurement. the energy using products Directive to anticipate environmental threats sets rules on eco-design, while the as well as responding to their even- As part of the EU’s policy towards Directives for waste electrical and tual emergence. This requires con- encouraging voluntary action for the electronic equipment and restriction sideration of immediate and future environment, the Commission set of hazardous substances regulate environmental impact from each up the eco-management and audit the materials that can be used in of the stages of production, from scheme (EMAS). EMAS provides a electrical or electronic equipment the extraction of natural resources, management tool for companies and and how they are treated once they through product design, manufac- other organisations to help them evalu- become waste. The End-of-Life ture, assembly, marketing, distribu- ate, report and improve their environ- Vehicles Directive does the same tion, sale and use, to the product’s mental performance. Available for for scrap road vehicles. eventual disposal as waste. companies in industrial sectors to participate since 1995, it has been open IPP is therefore based on a life-cycle to all economic sectors since 2001. A approach to the environmental man- revision was proposed by the European agement of any given product. To Commission in July 2008 to increase minimise the negative environmental companies’ participation and reduce impacts of a product, all stages of its administrative burdens, particularly for life are examined and action taken small and medium enterprises (SMEs). where it is most effective. Integrating the concept into industrial processes The EU Eco-label is a voluntary aims to make products more environ- scheme designed to encourage busi- mentally friendly and less resource nesses to market and brand products

EU legislation and innovation support and services that are more environ- improved management of end-of-life mentally friendly. Companies are able vehicles to apply for the eco-label recognis- LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. ing the good environmental perform- and foster their uptake by consumers.” ment while contributing to competi- ance of their product or service. When A Communication on public procure- tiveness and economic growth. awarded, consumers are able to easily ment for a better environment seeks identify greener products by the uni- to promote the implementation of green versal brand label – a flower. It is fore- public procurement. There have seen to extend the scheme to cover a also been proposals for revision wider range of products and services. of the Eco-label and EMAS schemes and of the Direc- To complement these policy instru- tive on the eco-design of ments and provide measures where energy-using products. gaps exist, the European Commission These new proposals will be presented in July 2008 a series of pro- discussed by the European posals that aim to contribute to improv- Parliament and the Council ing the environmental performance of of the EU in the next months. products and increase the demand for more sustainable goods and produc- The 2004 Environmental Tech- tion technologies. An Action Plan on nologies Action Plan (ETAP) aims sustainable production and con- to remove financial, economic and sumption and sustainable industrial institutional obstacles to stimulate the The EU eco-label encourages busi- policy aims to “improve the energy and development and use of environmental nesses to improve their environmental environmental performance of products technologies protecting the environ- performance to boost their image

Integrating the environment

Key developments on the integration set out measures to be taken to implement the EU’s sustain- of the environment into other Com- able development strategy. The 6th EAP, adopted in 2002, munity policies include the Cardiff reaffirmed the importance of the principle of integration of Process, the EU Strategy for Sus- the environment into other EU polices. It laid the foundations tainable Development, and the 6th needed to create horizontal thematic strategies to develop Environmental Action Programme. positive synergies with the Lisbon Strategy’s growth and The Cardiff process, initiated as the employment objectives. The 6th EAP also established addi- result of Article 6 of the EC Treaty, was tional mechanisms to implement the Treaty provisions on the outcome of the Cardiff Summit of integration and to further develop indicators to monitor the June 1998, where EU Member States integration process. kicked off the development of strategies for industry, energy, economic and Without being an exhaustive list, the EU policies and initia- financial affairs, as well as six other tives set out above highlight the range of measures taken sectors, that all took specific account of environmental at EU level to safeguard the environment and to encourage considerations within their activities. - and where necessary enforce – the transition to a greener and cleaner business environment. Sustainable economic The strategy for sustainable development, adopted by growth in the EU clearly depends on the capacity of busi- the European Council during the Gothenburg Summit in nesses to effectively address environmental concerns and June 2001, prioritises environmental problems, such as cli- take advantage of environmental opportunities. The LIFE mate change, as more prominent responsibilities for Mem- programme and its successor LIFE+ are one tool among ber States. In consequence, an environmental dimension others to promote such sustainable business practices. was added to the Lisbon Strategy for economic and social renewal. This aimed to coordinate EU policies addressing In 2007 the European Union introduced LIFE+ with a remit the economy, environment and social problems within the that includes providing support for green technologies and context of sustainable development. All EU-adopted sec- increasing the uptake of environmental considerations in toral integration polices must now “have sustainable devel- business practices. Much of LIFE+ activity focuses on busi- opment as their core concern,” especially during review ness operations within the EU’s public sector. Private sector procedures. businesses are now able to receive dedicated support for environmental improvements via an eco-innovation strand The environment action programmes (EAP) define the pri- of the European Commission’s Competitiveness and Innova- orities and objectives of European environment policy and tion Framework Programme (CIP). LIFE: Supporting innovative green business and industry activities

The effective integration of sustainable development into industrial policy cannot be based on legislative requirements alone. Positive stimuli are also needed to encourage green business activities. The main drivers for a shift in corporate approaches are increasingly market-led or voluntary initiatives, of which many tangible and prudent examples exist.

Integrating environmental concerns into industrial policy is an important aim of the European Union and its Member States. Improved environmental performance evolves, however, not only from enforcement of respective EU or national regulations, but also from political and financial incentives for a behavioural change in the core operations of European companies.

The EU has instruments that foster such mindsets. These are designed to favour the development of envi- Photo: LIFE05 ENV/L/000047 ronmentally friendly economic LIFE has been a popular and beneficial green business instrument for EU manufacturers activities, support the competitiveness of businesses that meet envi- LIFE continues to make significant These include new business opportu- ronmental standards and provide contributions to the development and nities, stimulation of innovative think- assistance to companies working implementation of different initiatives ing, cost reductions and improved towards improving the environment. directed at improving environmental company image. Among these incentives is funding performance in a broad spectrum of from the European Commission’s business sectors. A specific objec- More than 480 projects related to LIFE programme, the EU’s financial tive of its LIFE Environment compo- greening business and industry per- instrument for the environment. nent focuses on co-financing pilot formance have been co-financed by and demonstration projects that help LIFE since 1992. This means that

LIFE supported the development of bridge gaps between the results of roughly one third of all LIFE Envi- green computers research and development and their ronment projects have dealt with large-scale commercial applica- industrial or economic activities and tion. For more details on Community numerous LIFE Third Country projects financing for innovative green tech- have also generated green business nologies and business from 2007 results. please see page 56. Project themes developed by LIFE

Photo: LIFE00 ENV/IRL/000764 One third of all LIFE Environ- beneficiaries have covered all of ment projects contribute to Europe’s key environmental chal- greening business lenges. Inter alia, these include: water protection; waste management; Over the past 17 years, the LIFE pro- reduction of air and noise pollution; gramme has demonstrated that com- clean technologies; soil protection; pliance with environmental legislation sustainable use of resources; and and better management of environ- reducing product-related environmental risks and impacts can go hand mental impacts through integrated in hand with many economic benefits. product policies. 0ERCENTAGEOFAGRICULTURE RELATED ,)&% %NVIROMENTPROJECTSPERTYPEOFBENEFICIAR

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Percentage of LIFE Environment projects dealing with industry & Figure 1: Percentage of LIFE Environmentbusiness projects issues dealing with industry & business issues

0ERCENTAGEOFAGRICULTURE RELATED0ERCENTAGEOFAGRICULTURE RELATED ,)&% %NVIROMENTPROJECTSPERTYPEOFBENEFICIAR,)&% %NVIROMENTPROJECTSPERTYPEOFBENEFICIAR %NTERPRISE%NTERPRISE ,OCALAUTHORITY,OCALAUTHORITY 5NIVERSITYANDRESEARCHINSTITUTION5NIVERSITYANDRESEARCHINSTITUTION Since 1992, more than 480 LIFE Environment projects related to greening industry and business performance have received funding. (Note that a cumulative budget covered 2000 and 2001.) 2EGIONALANDNATIONALAUTHORITY2EGIONALANDNATIONALAUTHORITY

)NTERGOVERNMENTALBODYANDDEVELOPMENTAGENCY)NTERGOVERNMENTALBODYANDDEVELOPMENTAGENCY LIFE has also addressed a broad vari- of the LIFE project approvals reveals medium-sized enterprises in fulfilling ety of industrial and business sectors, that SMEs are the most active in sup- their environmental obligations. The .'/ .'/ such as food processing, automobile porting green business developments figures show how LIFE has provided /THERS /THERS manufacturing, Percentage iron and steel of "Greening pro- (27%),business"-related closely followed LIFE byEnvironment interna- projanects important per type Communityof mecha- duction, wood-based industries, and tional enterprisesbeneficiary (26%). Universities nism for helping SMEs meet many leather and textile factories, to name and research institutions (15%) have different environmental compliance the most prominent. also been active participants in pro- requirements. gressing environmentally sound busi- During the different programme peri- ness practices, as have public sector Analysis of country data shows that Agriculture-relatedAgriculture-related LIFE-Environment LIFE-Environment projects projects by by approachapproach ods, LIFE’s support for these activities organisations such as local (8%) as most green business-related projects LIFE-EnvironmentLIFE-Environment projects projects by approach by approach has remained relatively stable with a well as regional and national authorities were implemented in Member States slight increase over the years. Yet it (5%). Public enterprises, professional with large industrial bases. Italy (84) can be noted that LIFE II (1996-1999) associations and large enterprises are and Spain (73) top the list, followed experienced a prominent peak with more or less equally represented (with by Germany (60), the Netherlands (53) nearly half of the 1997 LIFE Environ- around 4% each). and France (45). A balanced picture ment projects dealing with business emerges when we examine the pro- and industries. These figures not only highlight the portion of business-related LIFE Envi- private sector’s growing interest in ronment projects in Member States. 3-% ,OCAL ,ARGE -IXED Not surprisingly, private enterprises greening their businesses and in Nineteen countries have received/THERS LIFE 4ECHNOLOGIES4ECHNOLOGIES-ETHODSANDTOOLS-ETHODSANDTOOLS!WARENESSRAISING!WARENESSRAISING 4ECHNOLOGIES4ECHNOLOGIES-ETHODSANDTOOLS-ETHODSANDTOOLS!WARENESSRAISING!WARENESSRAISING AUTHORITY ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION 0ROFESSIONAL )NTERNATIONAL

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for projects dealing with business andRESEARCHINSTITUTIONS prospects, but also mirror a key EU proportion ranges between 22% and industry issues. A detailed examination commitment to support small and 37% of project approvals. PercentagePercentage of LIFE-Environment of LIFE-Environment projects projects focusing focusing on on agricultureagriculture IndustryIndustry & business & business related related Figure 2: LIFE Environment projects dealing LIFE-EnvironmentFigureLIFE-Environment 3: LIFE Environment projects projects by approach projects by approach LIFEwith LIFEEnvironment industry Environment & projectsbusiness projects byissues approach by by approach approach by approach 4ECHNOLOGIES4ECHNOLOGIES-ETHODSANDTOOLS-ETHODSANDTOOLS!WARENESSRAISING!WARENESSRAISING 4ECHNOLOGIES4ECHNOLOGIES-ETHODSANDTOOLS-ETHODSANDTOOLS!WARENESSRAISING!WARENESSRAISING

PercentagePercentage of LIFE of LIFEEnvironment Environment projects projects dealing dealing with industrywith industry & & businessbusiness issues issues

PercentagePercentage of "Greening of "Greening business"-related business"-related LIFE Environment LIFE Environment projects proj perects type per of type of beneficiarybeneficiary

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Percentage of "Greening business"-related LIFE Environment projects per type of Figure 4: Percentage of industry & business beneficiary -related LIFE Environment projects per type of beneficiary

3-% ,OCAL ,ARGE -IXED /THERS AUTHORITY ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION 0ROFESSIONAL )NTERNATIONAL 2EGIONALAND 5NIVERSITYAND 0UBLICENTERPRISE NATIONALAUTHORITY RESEARCHINSTITUTIONS

These figures confirm a Europe-wide noise pollution for example. These ronmental performance of businesses appreciation among companies and can be achieved through improve- and industries. Increasing awareness organisations of the importance of ments in working methods, but above and understanding, particularly of the improved environmental performance all, through the development of new economic benefits and cost savings and the usefulness of LIFE as an technologies. Therefore, while gener- of better eco-efficiency, is therefore instrument to achieve such goals. ally ‘only’ half of LIFE Environment also the aim of this LIFE Focus pub- projects deal with ‘hard’ technology, lication. Nineteen projects are being Improved performance in green busi- around 80% of all business-related showcased in detail, another ten are ness operations requires a change LIFE projects are technology focused. mentioned. The featured projects in behaviour and a commitment to have been implemented in eleven implement practical environmental Spreading good practice Member States. They are presented improvements, such as energy, water in sections that reflect Europe’s main and natural resource savings, waste The exchange of information and good industrial sectors which are: basic minimisation or reductions in air and practices is vital to improve the envi- industries; tourism; food and life sci- ence industries; machine and system industries; as well as clothing and LIFE projects have successfully demonstrated the cost savings of eco-efficiency design industries. – such as by re-integrating waste materials back into the production process

Many of the selected projects clearly underline the potential of the LIFE programme to foster ‘win-win’ results. Additional exciting projects dealing with ‘greening business’ are also Photo: LIFE00 ENV/E/000452 listed in the back of this publication (see page 53), whilst many more can be found on the LIFE website’s project database at: http://ec.europa.eu/life.

This classification bases on common industry challenges and similarities. See: Implementing the Community Lisbon Pro- gramme: A policy framework to strengthen EU manufacturing - towards a more integrated approach for industrial policy (COM(2005) 474 final) LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 11

Basic industries

Europe’s basic industries (metals, chemicals and timber) provide raw materials for a large proportion of all EU industries and the sector accounts for some 40% of EU manufacturing value added. As suppliers of such important business inputs, the basic industries are also a source of innovation for other sectors.

Some of the main environmental challenges for these largely intensive industries relate to energy use and pollution control. The REACH legislation is particularly relevant for Europe’s chemicals industry and other key green regulatory tools include legislation covering air emissions, water quality and waste management.

LIFE support has been used by many different basic industries to help demonstrate successful green business technologies such as measures to minimise pollution from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), new eco-friendly production processes, alternative manufacturing approaches that reduce toxic waste and innovative - often industry-led - self-regulatory procedures. Basic industries

ECOSB: Reducing emissions from wood-panel processing

A Luxembourg-based wood-processing company has successfully harnessed LIFE support to introduce new production technology that dramatically reduces emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds in order to improve the environmental efficiency of wood panel boards that are used extensively by Europe’s building industry.

Oriented strand boards (OSBs) com- prise wood-based panels, made from three layers of dried wood flakes which are glued and pressed together under intense heat. Commonly used by the building trades, OSB panels are lighter and stronger than ordinary wooden planks.

Conventional manufacturing processes for OSB panels create high levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions which are mainly attributed to the natural terpenes and waxes found in the soft wood raw materials. These VOCs pose a strong risk of odour polution, which can cause considerable environmental management challenges for OSB producers. Post-production, VOCs from timber products can also contribute to ‘Sick building syndrome’ whereby workers are made ill by their working environment, a factor that is thought to have a negative impact on Europe’s business operations.

Green business proposals

LIFE funds have been used to great effect by a Luxembourg-based wood processing company, Kronospan, to address this issue of VOC emissions Marko Becker from Kronospan points out the ECOSB final drying process from OSB panels. Kronospan is a family business with operations in Germany, Green business principles feature logical value to the greatest pos- Poland, the Czech Republic and Sanem strongly in the company’s opera- sible benefit of our customers and in southern Luxembourg. The company tions which are geared towards our environment.” Furthermore, he is over a century old and has built up a sustainability and innovation. Kro- goes on to emphasise that “renew- solid reputation as a supplier of qual- nospan’s Energy and Environment able raw materials form the basis of ity timber products for the construction Manager at the Luxembourg plant, our products. Our contribution to a and furniture industries. Its Sanem site Marko Becker, underlines these healthy environment includes deal- in the Grand Duchy covers 30 hectares aims by pointing out that “our goal ing with natural resources efficiently, and employs a workforce of over 300 here is to produce quality wood ensuring an optimal use of renewable from the surrounding rural areas. panel products with a high eco- energy feedstock and consistently LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 13

monitoring opportunities for improve- less air and provides a more stable l decrease thermal and electrical ments in our processes.” temperature within the heating cham- energy consumption by at least 10% ber, which then contributes to lower and 5% respectively. These strategic objectives were incor- carbon monoxide outputs during OSB porated within Kronospan’s LIFE project production. A monitoring programme was set up proposal which involved a partnership to track performance against these with Germany’s Fraunhofer-Institute for Another innovative element planned environmental targets and findings Wood Research – the Wilhelm-Klauditz- for the new environmentally friendly were planned to inform the LIFE Institut (FhG-WKI). This technical body ECOSB production line involved the project’s dissemination activities, as works with a variety of wood-process- introduction of a multi-fuel burner well as the company’s ongoing envi- ing systems and carries out applied that could recycle wood dust from the ronmental management objectives. environmental research. Luxembourg’s panel manufacturing process for use Resource Centre for Environmental as a fuel to heat the closed-loop dryer. Highly rated results Technologies also provided important The heat exchanger would minimise support and the combined forces from any loss of heat. Further efficiencies Kronospan is highly satisfied with these three sectoral specialists were were planned by incorporating new the results from its LIFE project brought together within LIFE’s 2005 wood flaker blades which could cut the which succeeded in achieving all ‘ECOSB’ project, which set out to timber at a larger angle and so facilitate of it objectives. The various testing design and implement a new environ- more cost-effective production. stages investigated different opera- mentally friendly production process for tional parameters and identified a set engineered wood-based panels. These proposals were expected to of operating procedures that provide substantially reduce VOC emissions the desired technical, economic and Innovative actions and have a positive impact on the environmental outcomes. whole life cycle of the product. Ambi- The LIFE partners’ new ‘ecoDry’ proc- tious targets were set to help ensure Quality of the OSB boards produced ess was to be based on an innovative optimal operational efficiencies for using ecoDry technology is rated as closed-loop system for drying the OSB the company and maximise value for excellent and the ecoDry system is raw material. This would allow wood money from the LIFE support. Early now used to manufacture all of Kro- particles to be dried prior to pressing, analysis indicated that the new closed- nospan’s different panel types at its using an integrated process that puri- loop system could aim to: Luxembourg plant. These come in a fied exhaust gases by incineration. Mr l reduce primary emissions of VOC by range of thicknesses that can be used Becker explains: “We wanted to modify 90% and the content of VOC in pan- in dry or humid conditions and have our conventional OSB production sys- els after the drying process by 75%; been designed for different markets

l 3 tems to enable it to capture VOC par- cut CO2 emissions per m of board including wall coverings, flooring, ticles in superheated steam as they by around 7%, equating to 10.3kg for structural supports and various ‘do- evaporate from the wood-flake-drying each m2; and it-yourself’ uses. process. The steam would be fed back into the dryer to secure a closed loop. ECOSB panels acknowledge LIFE’s support Additional steam from drying could then be channelled through a burning chamber where organic compounds become neutralised. This should reduce the need for cleaning atmospheric emis- Photo: Tim Hudson sions by an electro-static precipitator.”

The use of steam to dry wood flakes was also expected to have a positive effect on reducing VOCs in the panels finished by ECOSB since the steam drying was predicted to act as a kind of distilling process, leaving the dried wood flakes with a greatly reduced VOC content. In addition, carbon diox- ide emissions would be cut since the closed-loop system involves burning Basic industries

Alexander Bircumshaw, the plant’s Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ment standards and the company OSB Production Line Manager, from energy consumption and VOC is keen to act as a catalyst to boost believes that his ecoDry system has emissions have been cut by 19% and the ecological performance of other already made a big difference to power inputs are down by 15%, from wood-panel producers. This proc- improving environmental standards in 751.5 kWh to 651 kWh. These ben- ess has been facilitated by an active Europe’s building industry. He says, efits are largely attributed to the heat LIFE dissemination strategy that has “Our new production process allows recovery made possible by the heat already succeeded in demonstrat- us to reduce emissions and also exchanger, which achieves a 12% ing the value of ecoDry systems for use quicker growing, younger wood reduction in energy used to heat the other wood-processing manufactur- which creates an important carbon dryer. The new flaker system requires ers, including a production line in sink opportunity for the construction 3% less wood consumption and elec- Germany that is currently converting sector.” tricity used to power the production to the VOC-limiting process. line was reduced by 27%, due to the The Sanem factory currently pro- more efficient closed-loop system. Kronospan’s Marko Becker is proud duces 160 000 m3 of the new ECOSB The LCA reveals that GHG emissions to state that “the closed-loop drying panels each year. These are actively over the entire production chain are system technology’s future is secure promoted by the company as a green down by 10%. A new type of less and the lessons we learned during our business product on the basis of the toxic glue has now also been intro- LIFE project have been extremely use- environmental benefits achieved by duced following the LIFE-financed ful. We are now investigating how our the LIFE-assisted ecoDry system. LCA findings. medium-density fibreboards might also benefit from the innovations All of the LIFE project’s main envi- These environmental gains translate introduced for OSB boards.” Such ronmental targets were either met or into tangible business benefits with developments could considerably exceeded and a Life-Cycle Analysis the company estimating that the new increase the scope of improvements (LCA) of the new panel-production low-impact, closed-loop OSB produc- introduced under the ECOSB project process concluded that the ECOSB tion system leads to a cost reduction and greatly enhance the long-term project helped reduce environmental of about 3.5% (in 2004 prices). This legacy from LIFE support for Euro- impacts by between 25% and 50% clear economic advantage has made pean wood-processing plants. at the Kronospan factory. VOC emis- a big difference and helped Kronospan The project team received a prestigious sions from the manufacturing proc- deal with the recent steep increases in FEDIL Environmental Award ess itself were reduced by up to 97% costs for timber raw materials. and emissions from the panels, after production, are down by 90%. Odour Green credentials emissions have been reduced by 40% and glue consumption also fell. All of the ECOSB panels are certified by the Programme for the Endorse- The new production processes use ment of Forest Certification schemes younger, quicker growing wood which (PEFC). Such internationally recog- improves environmental performance nised environmental standards were awarded as an assurance mechanism for ECOSB buyers that the panels are produced using methods that Project Number:

Photo: Tim Hudson promote sustainable management LIFE05 ENV/L/000047 of forests. Further acknowledgement Title: New and environmentally of the ECOSB project’s green cre- friendly OSB panels dentials came from the Employers’ Beneficiary: Federation of Luxembourg whose Kronospan Luxembourg S.A members selected Kronospan’s new Period: Jan-2005 to Dec-2007 closed-loop drying system as the Total Budget: e 1 875 000 winner of their Environmental Award LIFE Contribution: e 417 000 Scheme. (maximum) Website: www.city-board.info This prominent recognition reflects the commitment of Kronospan to Contact: Marko Becker innovate in environmental manage- Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 15

CLEAN DECO: A shining example of good practice in green manufacturing methods 2005-2006 BEST PROJECTS AWARD

Cleaner and more cost-effective alternatives to traditional galvanization manufacturing methods have been successfully demonstrated by an Italian LIFE project that tested new commercial applications for physical vapour deposition (PVD) techniques on tap decoration processes. By doing so, it identified innovative solutions that will help reduce pollution risks from alkaline and acid emissions in effluents and sludge.

PVD is a term covering a set of techniques that use a vacuum chamber to convert coating materials, such as titanium or chromium, into an ion vapour before coating surfaces with the vaporised material. The project beneficiary, based in Caselette, Turin, had the skills to apply PVD techniques through its specialist subsidiary Genta-Platit, which was able to offer thirty years’ experience and relevant ISO certification.

The LIFE project aimed to show that using PVD as a replacement for galvanization in decorative plating would generate both environmental benefits and be economically viable. A demonstration plant was financed with objectives to: l reduce chromium content in waste The new environmentally friendly PVD coating has a wide variety of applications water and in toxic sludge; l lessen the reliance on chromium ing colours were tested – gold, grey l raw material consumption decreased anhydride, a hazardous raw mate- and anthracite – with similar charac- by 80%;

rial; and teristics in terms of look and shine to l basic wastes reduced by 40%; l generate savings from more efficient galvanised coatings. Important ben- l chromium wastes eliminated alto- energy and water consumption. efits were discovered during the tests gether;

that showed positive results in terms l considerably lower liquid volumes In addition, Genta-Platit aimed to of the coated components’ durability; required for the processes; and show that PVD techniques could pro- PVD-coated taps were found to be four l use of hazardous chemicals greatly duce high-quality finishes that were times more resilient than galvanised reduced or even eliminated. comparable with galvanization. This equivalents. was expected to strengthen the com- After LIFE: New opportunities pany’s market position by attracting These durability benefits were aug- new opportunities for a variety of dif- mented by a range of cost advantages The success of these results boosted ferent products. that also reinforced the environmental Genta-Platit’s commitment to apply the sustainability of PVD technologies. PVD approach on a commercial scale Sustainability and durability Robust resource savings were noted using the LIFE-funded demonstra- during the LIFE project and important tion plant. Further tests were carried The CLEAN DECO project achieved all outcomes included the following effi- out on many kinds of metal objects, of these goals. Three decorative coat- ciency gains: extending PVD technology’s potential Basic industries

beyond the original tap market and into l protecting and styling luxury watches. a previously unforeseen set of market PVD coatings were selected by a segments where customer satisfaction well-known Milan jewellery retailer has been high with the overall product for use in a limited-edition series of quality. exclusive time-pieces.

l locks of different shapes and sizes A strong mix of new commercial oppor- were finished using PVD treat- tunities were identified during the four- ments. year period after LIFE and these have l designer cutlery was manufactured proved to be extremely fruitful, leading using PVD technologies developed to an increase in company turnover by the LIFE project. of some 10%. This achievement has l gaming machine components for helped the company to enlarge its cus- club-houses and casinos were tomer base and so fulfil its strategic treated using PVD coatings from objective for the LIFE project. Genta-Platit; and The pilot plant showed that PVD can be l several fashion accessory firms used at an industrial scale New applications for PVD coatings also purchased PVD applications have been established for an assort- for metallic products that included judges were keen to highlight CLEAN ment of different purposes that have buckles, zips and buttons. DECO’s strong demonstration value helped to diversify and enhance for tap producers and other compa- Genta-Platit’s operations. These Feedback from the fashion clients nies using traditional galvanic treat- include: indicates that even more opportuni- ment methods. l production of handles, handrails and ties exist for PVD technologies if a various other metal accessories for wider range of coloured coatings can PVD techniques have now been luxury motorboats. PVD coatings be developed. This goal forms part shown to provide cost-effective alter- were shown to provide excellent of the beneficiary’s ongoing product native solutions and offer significant protection against salinity and were development work which continues to environmental benefits from reduced sufficiently strong to cope with the explore new uses and markets for the volumes of chrome-based wastes. resistance requirements. eco-friendly alternative to traditional European Union legislation discour- l preparation of specialist treatments galvanization. aging use of dangerous substances, for metallic spectacle frames. Valua- such as chromium, is also expected ble contracts were secured with two New opportunities could eventually to increase the attractiveness of the of the world’s largest optical firms to lead to an industrial-scale plant and innovations developed during and use PVD technology during temper- LIFE’s support during the pilot stages after the LIFE-funded project, which ing of stamps for making frames and has been acknowledged by the ben- continues to deserve the attention it also for covering frames. eficiary as being a key factor in the receives as a shining example of good l coating air-supply valves for scuba- company’s growth. Other factors practice in clean and efficient indus- diving equipment. PVD treatments attributed to the successful shift into trial manufacturing techniques. were used to seal and secure the more environmentally sensitive pro- safety of under-water technical duction methods include the effective components. collaboration between partners and Project Number: LIFE00 ENV/IT/000213 PVD coatings offer high sub-contractors involved in the LIFE quality, more resilient project. Particularly important rela- Title: Development of clean coating finishes tionships were forged with other oper- technology pvd for decorative appli- ators in the galvanic sector, who have cations. also adopted PVD approaches as an Beneficiary: Trattamenti Termici alternative to galvanized chrome-plat- Ferioli & Gianotti S.p.A., Italy ing processes. Period: Sep 2001 to Aug 2004 Total Budget: e 4 873 000 Shining example LIFE Contribution: e 1 005 000 Website: Genta-Platit’s achievements were www.ferioliegianotti.it recognised when the project received Contact: Daniele Franchi an award in 2007 as one of the Best LIFE Environment Projects. The Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 17

Zero Emission Lacquer: Eco-friendly shock absorbers

LIFE support has been wisely applied by one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of vehicle shock absorbers during the conversion of production-line facilities from organic solvent-based materials to waterborne lacquers containing less than 1% volatile organic compounds.

KONI manufactures one million paint sprayers no longer needed to shock absorbers for the automo- wear masks for all activities. bile and railway industries each year from its Dutch factory located in Equally important, the quality of the Oud-Beijerland. This amounts to a new lacquer has been shown to be weekly production of approximately higher than the previous solvent-based 22 000 car and 2 000 railway damp- coating and Koni’s LIFE-financed ers. Virtually all of these are covered production line helped ensure that its with a coating to protect them from Oud-Beijerland factory was able to corrosion, but also to make them avoid relocation and so prevented the more attractive. These coatings had loss of many local jobs. previously been based on potentially harmful organic solvents, but new After-LIFE achievements national legislation associated with the EC’s Solvents Directive (Direc- Progress has been sustained at a LIFE helped transform Koni’s whole tive 1999/13/EC) saw the company steady pace during the five years after production line for shock absorbers adopt a state-of-the-art environmen- the LIFE project’s end. The zero emis- tally sensitive manufacturing system sions lacquer recipe has now been industrial sectors including trailer based on greener and cleaner water- refined by a new supplier, Mol Coat- manufacturing companies in Roma- borne coatings. ings, who has further improved the nia, Poland and the Netherlands. Fur- coating’s environmental footprint by ther interest is expected to be shown LIFE funds were used to help intro- removing zinc elements. Additional as stricter environmental regulations duce a new mechanised coating line benefits have been gained by the on organic solvents increase incen- to meet emission requirements and replacement of iron phosphate, a pol- tives for production-line conversions. reduce the odour nuisance for the lutant, from the shock absorbers’ pre- By August 2008, Koni’s LIFE-funded surrounding area. A special water- spraying phase. Storage of the lacquer plant had achieved estimated sav- based epoxy lacquer was developed has become more environmentally ings of €1 million and this was mak- for the company which contained sound by shifting from disposable 100 ing important contributions to cover virtually zero volatile organic com- litre plastic containers to re-useable the €2.5 million commitment that the pounds (VOCs). LIFE project opera- 500 litre rust-free containers. company invested in making their tions represented the first applica- production line greener. tion of such eco-friendly lacquers in An estimated 7 000 000 shock Europe’s metal products sector. absorbers have now been produced Project Number: using the zero emissions lacquer, LIFE00 ENV/NL/000794 The new coating plant began opera- which amounts to a total reduction of Title: Zero Emission Lacquer tions in late 2002 and within a year 328 097 kg of solvent use during had demonstrated its environmental the post-LIFE period to date. These Beneficiary: Koni B.V. benefits. These included: figures are due to expand rapidly as Period: Jul-2001 to Jul-2003 l 99.5% reduction of solvent emissions KONI uses the zero emissions lac- Total Budget: e 1 975 000 (from 46 871 to 251 kg/annum); quer in a new Chinese plant that will LIFE Contribution: e 308 000 l 100% reduction in complaints about produce 100 000 shock absorbers Website: factory odours from neighbours; annually. www.koni.com and Contact: Bert Overweg l greatly improved health and safety Interest in the zero emissions lac- Email: [email protected] conditions for employees since quer has also been shown from other Basic industries

Cool Tech: Lightening the impact of metal lubricants

Swedish metal working companies have benefited from an innovative LIFE project that demonstrated the cost effectiveness of alternative and environmentally sound coolant technologies capable of reducing CO2 emissions and recycling hazardous sludge elements.

Europe’s metal-working industries use 0.74 g/tonne. Confirmation of reduced a large amount of chemical lubricants sludge volumes has been provided by to cool metals and tools during working another industrial user of the Ambi® processes. Traditional oil-based lubri- Lube system, Sandvik Rotary Tools. cants emit high levels of CO2 when they This company produces hard-metal evaporate during industrial operations tools for the mining industry and reports and waste lubricants cause further that the volume of sludge from milling environmental problems. Recycling is or honing of hard-metal parts has been rendered difficult by a combination of radically cut. In 2008, only 65 m3 is strong preservatives that are required expected to be created, compared to to inhibit micro-organism growth and the 365 m3 of annual sludge produced the fine-metal particles that collect in by previous oil-based processes. used lubricants. Both these elements lead to the sludge being classified as LIFE legacies

hazardous waste. Photo: Pelle Lindberg LIFE enabled reduced pollution levels Aspects of the methodology and tech- Such concerns were recognised by a from aluminium-rolling processes nology have been patented by the Swedish development company that beneficiary. The business-greening applied for LIFE funds to demonstrate Development of the aluminium-rolling activities have been acknowledged alternative and environmentally sound technology continued on a commercial within the Swedish public sector as coolant technologies for metal work- basis after the LIFE support and some good practice by an award in 2002 for ing processes. The new green busi- applications have also been shown in best industrial innovation in the Väst- ness approach involved introducing a metal-milling processes. Further scope manland county. LIFE’s funding has method which cooled and lubricated exists to expand Ambi® Lube’s uptake been credited as being very impor- aluminium using vegetable oil and a since the new eco-friendly system tant in helping the project during its

CO2 mist. A micro-filtration system does not require any significant modi- initial set-up stages and the results was also integrated within the benefici- fications to conventional processing offer excellent demonstration value ary’s Ambi® Lube technology and this technologies. for other metal-working companies removed the need for preservatives. around Europe, as well as important Five years after the project’s end, indus- economic and environmental legacies Pilot plants were set up at large metal- trial users of the Ambi® Lube system, for the LIFE project partners. working industries owned by part- such as the SAPA Group in Finspång, ners in the LIFE project and overall remain highly satisfied with their new outcomes showed excellent results. LIFE-assisted metal-working methods. Project Number: LIFE00 ENV/S/000864 Ambi® Lube has been proven to reduce These are considered effective from a pollution levels by 90% in aluminium- productivity perspective and also cost Title: The new coolant technologies for metal working rolling processes working on ingots efficient, since the easy recovery of and the new technology also allows a waste aluminium helps to offset the Beneficiary: AB Chem Dimension 50% reduction of process chemicals. increasing cost of basic metal. Period: Jan-2001 to Dec-2003 Product quality remains high and metal Total Budget: e 1 200 000 particles from the process sludge can Environmental benefits have been LIFE Contribution: e 345 000 be recovered to help reduce costs carefully monitored at the SAPA Group Website: www.chemdimension.se associated with treating the hazard- plant and conclusions indicate that Contact: Birger von Essen ous waste, which represented €80 per CO2 emissions in the aluminium-rolling cubic meter in Sweden. line were reduced from 6.29 g/tonne to Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 19

New ESD: Cleaner and greener steel wire production technology

An Italian company has used LIFE assistance to develop a highly innovative clean technology that significantly reduces negative environmental impact from steel-wire-rod production using a combination of new descaling, drawing, lubrication and thermal treatment processes.

Steel wire is used by a wide variety nologies that were combined within a of different European products rang- pilot plant based on: an innovative and ing from office furniture to reinforced acid-free mechanical dry descaling concrete. The process involved in wire treatment; an energy-efficient thermal- production has traditionally involved treatment process that works in a con- a number of negative environmen- trolled atmosphere; and a pioneering tal impacts. Large amounts of toxic drawing system using polycrystalline chemicals and energy are used to diamond dies and re-usable sodium produce the wires during a procedure lubricants. known as ‘drawing’. This involves repeatedly stretching the heated metal These alternative approaches were through progressively smaller holes in carefully studied and thoroughly tested Demonstrating environmentally sustain- ‘draw plates’ and soaking the steel in during the LIFE project. Highly success- able steel-wire drawing acid baths to prevent scaling. ful results were produced and the ESD prototype’s performance figures sur- capacity, since the ESD technology Hazardous wastes from these proc- passed anticipated outcomes. Water uses less factory floor space; fewer esses include dangerous waste water consumption was reduced by 99.87% production wastes; and important laced with industrial lubricants and acid and acids were totally eliminated. This improvements to the employees’ sludge, both of which can present seri- eradicated emissions of toxic-noxious working environment. ous health and safety risks for Europe’s gases and removed all risks from han- wire-production workforce. These con- dling or transporting harmful sludge All of these outcomes have been cerns were recognised by one of Italy’s wastes. Recycling allowed unit con- widely promoted by Metallurgica largest producers of steel wires, Met- sumption of lubricant to be reduced Abruzzese S.P.A during the LIFE allurgica Abruzzese S.p.A. Staff were by over 39%, compared to traditional project’s dissemination activities and keen to identify alternative manufactur- methods. Energy savings were also siz- company representatives are confi- ing systems that used cleaner, greener able with the new thermal technology dent that their innovative ESD tech- drawing techniques and resulted in reducing power consumption by 59% nology offers valuable environmental improved energy efficiency for the during cold galvanizing and 35% dur- and economic benefits for other steel company. A LIFE Environment project ing hot galvanizing. wire producers across the EU. was developed to design and demonstrate new eco-sustainable drawing Production performances were good (ESD) techniques and results from the with the LIFE prototype demonstrat- Project Number: ESD prototype have been extremely ing that ESD technology can provide LIFE04 ENV/IT/000598 impressive. an average production capacity of 1 Title: New ESD (eco-sustainable tonne each hour. This equates to a drawing) Alternative approaches standard annual production – apply- Beneficiary: ing three shifts – of 5 520 tonnes and Metallurgica Abruzzese S.p.A The LIFE project focused on a radical the beneficiary estimates that the Period: Nov-2004 to Oct-2007 redesign of the entire wire-drawing prototype could increase this to 7 176 Total Budget: e 3 848 000 process that targeted the main envi- tonnes. LIFE Contribution: ronmental problems and established e 965 000 (maximum) an innovative set of manufacturing Other positive results noted by the Website: www.cavatorta.it techniques with excellent transferability beneficiary include: better manage- Contact: Dr Giovanni Cavatorta for other EU wire producers. LIFE funds ment of zinc thickness on semi-fin- were used to introduce three new tech- ished products; improved production Email: [email protected] BASTA: Improving building

standards 2007-2008 BEST PROJECTS AWARD

The construction industry has been using thousands of products containing substances which can be a direct danger to the environment or cause illness to those who come into contact with them. A Swedish LIFE project has found an effective way to address these dangers.

No builder wants to construct buildings containing materials that will cause illness or environmental damage. But very often these effects can emerge later on, after construction, when it becomes the responsibility of the building’s users to identify the source of problems and to deal with them.

Of the 45 000-plus substances used in the European construction sector,

about 35% contain components that Photo: Tim Hudson can be classified dangerous at some The BASTA database lists products meeting safety criteria for the construction sector level. Dangers might include compounds that are carcinogenic, muta- dangerous substances in these mate- By the end of the project, 49 manufac- genic, allergenic, bio-accumulative, rials that cannot be exceeded. turers and suppliers had recognised toxic or harmful to ozone. The 11 mil- the commercial advantages of the sys- lion people who work in Europe’s build- The beneficiary then established a cen- tem and signed agreements allowing ing industry face such hazards daily, tral database with a constantly updated them to register products. At the same and these substances can have a long register of products that meet the crite- stage there were 1 100 certified-safe life-span, creating long-term impacts. ria and are therefore safe to use. This products on the BASTA database. database is made freely available on New EU laws on chemicals, the the BASTA website for reference and The scheme’s future shall be ensured REACH regulations, came into force use by the whole industry. by charging suppliers an annual fee last year and will help address some of €1 000 to join. Although the early of the problems. However, practical This system changes the philosophy take-up was small, industry organisa- challenges still remain with regard to of the previous listing systems, which tions have taken over the running of the achieving the regulation’s aims. have all attempted to list dangerous scheme and the hope is that its geo- materials and stop their use. A major graphical coverage will spread, as well Re-thinking the system problem with such phasing-out lists is as provide a model for other industries. that they come with an inferred impli- The BASTA LIFE project, which involved cation that if a product is not on the list Project Number: four of Sweden’s largest construction it is safe to use. LIFE03 ENV/S/000594 companies and a national federation, Title: Phasing Out Very Dangerous showed how it can be done. Their inno- Another novel element of the system is Substances from the Construction vative approach applied a system that that to be registered in the database, a Industry rethinks the way that controls have tra- product is self-certified by the manu- Beneficiary: ditionally been initiated and applied. facturers or suppliers as meeting the NCC Construction Sverige AB criteria. Integrity of the self-certification Period: Sep-2003 to Aug-2006 First, the project got the entire national process is ensured by concentrating Total Budget: e 1 488 000 sector – including suppliers, manufac- strict controls on suppliers before they LIFE Contribution: e 741 000 turers, builders, developers and prop- are allowed to take part and therefore Website: www.bastaonline.se erty owners – to agree criteria that all register products. This whole process products used in the industry must is then subject to an audit system, Contact: Lars Jarnhammar meet. They set levels for the use of again on the supplier. Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 21

Tourism

Europe’s tourist industry can boast six of the world’s top ten holiday destinations and the sector covers a large variety of attractions, quality services and businesses in all Member States. Tourism is recognised as a crucial economic-development tool for many European regions and sustainable tourism approaches are required to manage social and environmental impacts from tourism-related business activities.

Eco-systems, biodiversity, landscapes and other natural resources and heritage can be threatened by uncontrolled tourism and the European Commission has issued a Communication to address these points in its Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism. This balances objectives from the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs and the Gothenburg Strategy for environmental sustainability.

LIFE-supported projects have also made important progress in demonstrating effective ways to balance economic, social and environmental factors through a host of different tourism actions dealing with EMAS certification and Eco-labels for tourism businesses, eco-friendly green hotel services, environmental restoration, novel biodegradable materials for tourist use and development of eco-tourism regions. Tourism

Eco-camps: Bringing camping even closer to nature

The French Eco-camps project demonstrated how an effective life-cycle approach to the design of campsites and installations can reduce their environmental impact, whilst simultaneously improving the competitivity of this important tourist industry. This LIFE project showed how regional authorities can lead the way in promoting environmentally sustainable business development.

Sustainable camping means considering the environment at the design stage

The natural environment is one of the building waste involved in the con- François Deluga, responsible for tour- key attractions of Aquitaine and tour- struction of these facilities causes ism policies in the regional govern- ism is a crucial part of its economy. major pollution. ment, explained that the Eco-camps This region of southwest France has LIFE project aimed to be “almost the 718 campsites and 93 619 pitches, The regional authority of Aquitaine very definition of sustainable develop- which provided 13 million accommo- therefore decided to find ways to ment,” showing how a sector of the dation nights in 2001. increase awareness amongst its economy can take the environment campsite managers of the environ- to its heart and make it a driver of its However, campsites are increasingly mental and economic benefits of development. offering a wide range of services and improved environmental perform- facilities, including catering, swim- ance, including around manage- High Environmental Quality ming pools, nightclubs and water ment of water, energy and waste. for campsites games areas. The running of these The approach adopted was to installations consumes energy and implement a demonstration tool to The LIFE project was based on the water and disturbs ecosystems and tackle environmental issues at the High Environmental Quality approach habitats. Furthermore, the transpor- design stage of campsite buildings (HQE in French), which aims to reduce tation of materials and production of and facilities. the environmental impact of a building LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 23 or installation during the design phase will access groundwater for water- by wooden fencing to allow simple by considering 14 elements, covering ing, to supply its feature lakes and waste separation for tourists whilst eco-design, eco-management, health - depending on water quality testing limiting the visual impact. Taps were and comfort. A batch of indicators is - its swimming pool and washrooms. also located by the bins to allow for used to evaluate the performance Appropriate chemical-free water-treat- regular washing to prevent hygiene level of an installation for each of the ment systems were also introduced to and odour issues. As Nicolas Mari- 14 categories. make re-use of swimming pool water dat, manager of the Les Pins site possible. The total water savings for points out, it is also important not to Three information days were held the five participating campsites are waste this water: “Before, we didn’t for 93 regional campsite managers estimated to be 5 000m3 of drinking have a system in place, but thanks to to present the objectives of the Eco- water per year. the project, we now collect and send camps project. It was clear that, whilst the water to a treatment station.” participants were aware about envi- A key dimension of reducing energy ronmental concerns and the need to, consumption was to design instal- The LIFE project promoted the use of for example, recycle and save elec- lations so as to reduce their energy more environmentally friendly mate- tricity, they did not have the practical needs, for example by insulating build- rials, particularly wood - a natural, knowledge and latest technological ings, allowing the entry of natural light, attractive and renewable construction information on how to implement a installing geothermal air-conditioning material - from sustainable forests. comprehensive eco-design and man- systems and using lighting systems Each site was helped to identify the agement approach. triggered by lack of natural light. To wood that would best suit its purpose, promote energy efficiency, ‘green for example as a building or a pool-side Four campsites which were plan- roofs’ were introduced onto certain terrace. Local forests were preferred ning development projects and a fifth buildings including the restaurant at the to limit transport costs and pollution. totally new campsite development Chevreuils campsite. Danielle Garcia- Finally, environmentally friendly wood were selected to follow the project Goueythieu, site manager, explained treatments were favoured and the use methodology. Each campsite was that “Sedum plants on the roof insulate of glue in assembly strictly limited. supported by a consultant who guided the building keeping it cool in summer them through the HQE approach. The and warming it in winter. Additionally, The total environmental benefit of the consultant helped the managers eval- the plants require very little looking measures recommended by the Eco- uate the environmental impact of their after or watering.” The second dimen- camps project - as measured in terms plans, identify areas of weakness and sion was to use renewable energy of CO2 emissions - is estimated at 40 select specific measures to improve sources such as solar panels to limit tonnes less CO2 generation per year. performance. the use of mains supply. Eco-design for chalets and Michel Zugaramurdi, manager of The methodology informed the mobile homes the participating Col d’Ibardin site in development of optimised waste Urrugne, highlighted that “the reflec- collection areas according to the Two companies, Dassé Constructeur tion carried out with the support of the size of each campsite. Single waste and O’Hara, who already showed Eco-camps LIFE project at the design collection areas for rubbish lorries to themselves to be dynamic in their stage helped us to redefine our devel- pick up from were installed to mini- environmental approaches to the opment project taking better account mise their on-site circulation. Bins production of chalets and portable of environmental concerns. It also were provided in areas surrounded homes were selected to take forward provided reliable analysis on which to base decisions.” Green campsite design To save drinking water, the project promoted both reducing consumption and accessing alternative water sources. Measures included water- free urinals, smaller WC flushing res- ervoirs and the use of pushbutton taps. Campsites introduced rainwater collection systems for appropriate uses such as watering plants. The new campsite at Bordeaux-Bruges Tourism

ist department, highlights that “Eco- camps is set within a continuous approach of the regional government: it is not just an isolated project.” Meet- ings have already taken place to build on the experiences of the project, focusing on the use of the HQE approach for campsites to obtain the European eco-label.

Beau Rivage was among the five campsites selected to implement the approach of Another message of the project is High Environmental Quality (HQE) that whilst many eco-design measures require an initial financial invest- the Eco-camps methodology to pro- was reduced by 41% and the frame is ment, they also provide savings from duce new design concepts for these now made of 95% certified wood. the reduced energy and water costs. types of tourist lodgings. The project evaluations estimate Sustainability and that investment in the solar-powered Life-cycle analysis was used to con- continuation of approach water-heating systems will be offset sider the impact of a construction on over between six and nine years by people’s health from the extraction of One of big achievements of the LIFE the cost savings. A similar timeframe raw materials, assembly and transpor- project is the creation of a modi- is predicted for offsetting the costs of tation, use and end-of-life. It looked fied HQE specifically four campsites. introducing water saving measures at at elements including the energy Jérôme Thévenon, President of the the Beau-Rivages and Col d’Ibardin consumption involved, the potential Aquitaine regional federation of camp- campsites. release of dangerous chemicals and sites (FRAHPA), observed that the HQE the impact on water usage. approach had provided an efficient With regards to the spreading of this framework to tackle environmental message, Mr Beaussoubre takes Having first worked with the project questions in campsite design. “The encouragement from the experiences team to carry out a life-cycle study experience also showed us that cer- of the project. “One of the best aspects of one of its chalet models, Dassé tain criteria are more important than of our LIFE project was the continued Constructeur then developed a new others for campsites. The Eco-camps commitment of the campsite manag- eco-design. It reduced the use of project allowed us to learn and adapt ers to the process of eco-design.” This toxic products in the assembly proc- the approach to this context.” seems to reveal an increasing appre- ess, replaced imported with local ciation of the mutual environmental wood and significantly improved the The LIFE project also produced written and economic benefits to be obtained insulation of its chalets. It introduced advice in French to support implemen- from eco-design, which should see it energy- and water-efficient appliances tation of the charter on natural risks increasingly taken up in the future. and systems throughout the chalet. - such as storms and flooding - from The estimated savings were 45% of the European Federation of Campsite water consumption, 28% less energy Organisations, which is an important Project Number: by electrical appliances and 60% less project output. LIFE04 ENV/FR/000321 energy for heating. Title: Eco-design and eco-engi- It is now hoped that more campsites neering of buildings, amenities and O’Hara developed a new concept will be inspired by the Eco-camps accommodations in campsites of portable summerhouse based on experience and use this adapted HQE Beneficiary: improved integration with its natural approach to ensure that any develop- Aquitaine regional authority surroundings. This was conceived both ments being made to their installations Period: Nov-2004 to Dec-2007 to improve the holiday experience and will be done in an environmentally Total Budget: e 809 000 (maximum) reduce the amount of material needed, friendly way – thereby making this LIFE Contribution: e 402 000 including by removing unnecessary business sector greener and more equipment. Lighting is controlled by sustainable. Website: http://ecocamps.aquitaine.fr the key to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and sun shields over The Aquitaine regional government Contact: Laurent Beaussoubre the windows regulate the temperature remains committed to this work. Email: inside. The use of glue in assembly Laurent Beaussoubre, from the tour- [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 25

Green Certificate: Eco-labelling for rural tourism providers BEST PROJECTS2004-2005 AWARD

The Latvian ‘Green Certificate’ LIFE project aimed to promote carefully considered, balanced and sustainable rural tourism, rather than trying to restrict the future development of tourism, as is sometimes the case in other geographical areas.

Uncontrolled tourism can have a pean eco-labels. They established eco- number of negative impacts on the labelling procedures and then applied environment. It can lead to an over- their eco-label to a number of rural exploitation of natural resources and tourism providers. These were mainly generate significant increases in vol- small businesses offering accommoda- umes of waste. It can also create tion. A ‘Green Holidays’ brand was also irreversible changes to the landscape developed and promoted through the and the historical and cultural herit- project website and publications (tour age of regions. On the plus side, tour- maps and guides, accommodation ism generates income and new jobs. catalogues and brochures). While Latvia has no history of mass tourism, its development, particularly Together, the Green Certificate and in rural areas, needs to be encouraged Green Holidays gained positive public- in a sustainable way that will, hope- ity and recognition among consumers fully, also stimulate growth of the rural and rural tourism providers in Latvia. economy. Involvement and interest from the supply side, as well as from the demand The project team successfully devel- The LIFE project was led by the Latvian side, created favourable conditions oped the ‘Green Certificate’ label and the ‘Green Holiday’ brand Tourism Association “Lauku celotâjs”. for further eco-labelling activities and Its main objective was to alter people’s development of ‘green’ rural products. attitude towards tourism – changing and benefits involved in sustainable post-Soviet consumers and tourist- The Green Certificate has joined VISIT tourism management models for Nat- providers into eco-friendly tourists and/ – (the European Association of Eco- ura 2000 sites. Activities will focus on or entrepreneurs willing to contribute to labels – where it contributes its expe- designing practical and pragmatic sustainable development. This would rience and expertise on small-scale tourism support approaches that be achieved by the development and rural accommodation certification. The balance environmental, social and implementation of a national eco-label project has benchmarked the Green economic factors to highlight green – the ‘Green Certificate’. Certificate criteria in co-operation tourism’s potential as a sustainable with the European Centre for Ecologi- economic driver for Natura 2000 areas Other objectives were to: protect cal and Agricultural Tourism (ECEAT), in Latvia. Latvia’s wealth of ecosystems and using their environmental criteria. This maintain its biological diversity; pre- means an establishment carrying the serve the country’s landscapes and Green Certificate eco-label will also be Project Number: LIFE00 ENV/LV/000959 cultural and historical heritage; control able to use the ECEAT logo as a com- and prevent pollution and other envi- mon brand for ecological accommoda- Title: Development of criteria for the Green Certificate ronmental disturbances; and improve tion in Europe. the quality of life of those living in rural Beneficiary: Latvian Country Tourism Association communities. Following completion of the project, the eco-labelling activities have continued Period: Oct-2001 to Sep-2004 Based on recognised and the beneficiary has also success- Total Budget: e 311 000 eco-labels fully secured LIFE+ funds for a new ini- LIFE Contribution: e 149 000 tiative that will start in 2009. This latest Website: www.eco.celotajs.lv The project team developed the Green project will build on outcomes from the Contact: Asnate Ziemele Certificate label with national criteria, Green Certificate work and add value [email protected] based on the most recognised Euro- to it by demonstrating the techniques Email: Tourism

Sutoureelm: Computer-age way to sustainable tourism

To be environmentally sustainable, hotels and other tourism businesses need to understand the risks their activities pose, then identify feasible ways to reduce or prevent these impacts. This German LIFE project demonstrated how an innovative computer tool can help achieve this aim.

Sustainable tourism is a key challenge The system provides answers to ques- Europe. Seven companies - six hotels for all European destinations. The tions such as: and one caterer - became EMAS cer- industry is of huge economic value, but l How good is the environmental per- tified and 69 companies achieved an often carries significant environmental formance of my business compared eco-label, either at national level or the cost through consumption of non- to others? (Benchmarking) ‘European Flower’ awarded to greener renewable energy, emission of gasses l Do my environmental activities meet products and services. Target savings and pollutants, negative impacts from the expectations of my customers? in energy, water and waste had been transport and noise, and increased (Do they meet requirements of national set at 10% for users of the system. pressure on sewage systems. or EU eco-labelling schemes) This average was met and sometimes

l Is investment in equipment and proc- exceeded by users during the project. Owners and managers of hotels, res- ess change affordable? (Cost-benefit taurants, camp sites and other tourism calculation) Success will eventually be judged by the businesses often have only a limited l Where can I find more in-depth infor- number of tourist enterprises using the understanding of the environmental mation? (Addresses and contacts) system, but it has already succeeded in effects from their activities or of meas- l And: How can I improve my overall demonstrating how the system can be ures that could counteract the dam- environmental performance system- used to encourage synergies between age. They may be aware that the qual- atically and continuously? the EMAS approach, focusing on envi- ity of their offering to guests is affected ronmental management processes, by the surrounding environment; but EMAS compliance and eco-labels which emphasise the under pressure from time and costs, fulfilment of environmental criteria. many may not be willing to take nec- The tools provide users with specific essary action unless they have access recommendations on how to comply The project highlights the possible to solid information and easy-to-follow with EMAS, the Eco-Management and benefits of exchange of best-practice recommendations. Audit Scheme established by Euro- information in this sector, particularly pean regulation. This recognises and for small and medium enterprises. Fur- This LIFE project used a multi-lan- rewards organisations which voluntarily thermore, the results of the project can guage computer software tool and go beyond minimum legal compliance be easily and effectively transferred audit system to demonstrate how the and continuously improve environmen- across tourist sectors and countries. situation can be addressed. Developed tal performance. by the beneficiary, a German university, the tools allow stakeholders to obtain By the end of the project the software Project Number: specific recommendations for action had been translated and applied in four LIFE04 ENV/DE/000055 and achieve a systematic approach to languages: German, French, English and Title: Supporting Tourism environmental management. Greek - Spanish and Italian versions are Enterprises for Eco-Labelling and also under preparation. A website had Environmental Management been set up in five languages - adding Beneficiary: University of Stuttgart Italian - and a download link for the Sut- Period: Jan-2004 to Mar-2007 our software will be provided. Total Budget: e 744 000 LIFE Contribution: e 350 000 The system was used in environmental (maximum) audits of 22 tourist businesses around Website: http://sutour.ier.uni-stuttgart.de Sutoureelm tools show tourist busines- Contact: Dr. Sven Eckardt ses how to achieve optimum environmental performance in four languages Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 27

Food industries

Europe’s food and drink industry includes some 280 000 companies which support 4 million jobs. The sector covers a diverse range of different products which contribute to its estimated annual turnover of over €800 billion. It is recognised as one of Europe’s most important and dynamic industrial sectors which enjoys a strong export base and has experienced steady growth in recent years.

SMEs dominate the food industry which is regulated by a range of environmental and health-related controls that influence business competitiveness, growth and employment performance. The IPPC Directive plays an important role in supporting sustainable food production systems, as do the packaging and waste directives.

LIFE projects have been used by food processors and manufacturers to demonstrate a broad mix of innovative approaches for greening their business operations. These include recycling of food packaging, re-use of waste waters, improving energy efficiency, composting agro-industrial waste and applying Life-Cycle Assessment as a support tool for making green business decisions. Food Industries

CLB: Environmentally friendly sugar removal in potato processing

This Dutch LIFE project demonstrated a closed-loop blanching technology for the potato-processing industry that uses new selective de-sugaring technology to avoid the loss of valuable potato mass, re-use water and reduce energy consumption.

The beneficiary, Aviko, processed 1.7 million tonnes of potatoes in its 12 production units in 2008.

Founded in 1962 in the Netherlands, the potatoes. High levels of glucose water are required to replace the Aviko is the world’s fourth largest and fructose during frying result in saturated water used by the blanch- potato-processing company. Each chips that are too dark in colour ing process. year, it uses upwards of 1.7 billion which is not attractive to custom- l the waste water contains high levels tonnes of potatoes, across 12 dif- ers. The hot water blanching process of potato mass that requires treat- ferent factories, to produce 750 000 overcomes this problem by leaching ment before the effluent can be dis- tonnes of high quality golden chips out the sugars. charged into surface waters. and other potato products. l the water needs to be heated to While removing the sugars can pre- about 70°C, but the energy is usu- Production processes involve wash- vent the unwanted browning, tradi- ally lost since the waste water is not ing, peeling and cutting the potatoes. tional blanching methods have sev- recycled within the blancher. The golden colour of deep-frozen or eral disadvantages, including: chilled specialty products - such as l valuable substances such as miner- Increasing process efficiency chips - requires an additional step, als, amino acids, anti-oxidants and namely blanching. This process vitamins are also extracted from Avoiding these known disadvan- involves immersing the peeled and the potatoes during the hot water tages was the main objective of a cut potatoes in hot water to reduce blanching process. LIFE project implemented between the amount of natural sugars within l relatively large volumes of ‘fresh’ 2005 and 2007 by Aviko in its Dutch LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 29 premises at Steenderen. An addi- balance and resulted in an increased tional driving force behind the amount of that substance leach- project was the results from a yield ing from the potatoes into the hot analysis conducted by the company water. about a decade ago. “In most of the potato-processing industries, 30- Confirmation of this discovery 40% of the costs are due to the pur- allowed the Aviko team to establish a chase of raw material. An improved system to control which substances raw-material-yield efficiency is they wanted to leach from the pota- therefore of major importance for toes. Reducing the concentration of the wellbeing of a company,” con- sugars in the hot water should mean cluded Dr. Derk Somsen, Head of they could increase the amount of Aviko’s Process Research & Tech- sugars leached from the potatoes. nology Department. Comparison of Their theory was tested using a the actual production yield and the batch fermentor to remove sugars maximum production yield showed from the hot water after it had been strong potential for improvement, used in the blancher. The same hot such as the possibility to mini- water, now with a lower sugar con- mise the unwanted mass losses at centration, was then pumped back LIFE supported the testing of the proto- source. into the blancher and the difference type processes in sugar concentrations between the The LIFE project idea originated in water and the potatoes successfully the classic components of a tradi- the R&D department, which started drove the leaching process. tional blanching system, including investigating ways to retain the an input system, in which the potato valuable substances, such as vita- The LIFE prototype strips are transported towards a very mins, while still reducing the sugars. small blancher that heats up the pota- This work focused on the blanching “As the CLB is a very innovative toes to inactivate surface enzymes. process and the solution proposed technology concept and of strate- (2) The second part includes the was a new Closed-Loop Blanching gic importance for our company, equipment needed for the CLB proc- (CLB) technology, which applied we quickly went for patenting it, to ess, i.e. a long blancher that can an innovative approach to achieve ensure a better protection of this extract potato sugars using the batch selective leaching of the sugars valuable knowledge,” stressed Mr fermentor unit. After the de-sugaring during blanching in a closed-loop Somsen. “However, we still needed of the blanching water, the water is system. to test the effectiveness of the theory pumped back into the long blancher. in practice. Here, LIFE co-funding The critical factor for the CLB system was an important tool.” “We could have used the CLB proto- involved balancing the concentra- type on any of our Aviko production tion levels of all components – ions, Tests trials under the LIFE CLB project lines, and we chose to implement it at enzymes, amino acids and organic were started in October 2005. The the factory producing chilled French acids – in the blanching water. Stud- prototype consisted of a non-com- fries.” explains Caspar Maan, Senior ies showed that the valuable prod- mercial, semi-industrial scale instal- Process Engineer, responsible for ucts did not leach out from the pota- lation with a capacity of 150-250kg the implementation of the prototype. toes into the hot water of potatoes per “This was mainly due to reasons of if the hot water was hour. Two differ- space. The ‘baby’ blancher fitted already saturated ent parts of the best there.” The CLB prototype was with a constant installations installed alongside the factory’s nor- concentration can be distin- mal blancher, which processes 20 of similar sub- guished: tonnes of potatoes each hour. stances. Reduc- (1) The first ing the con- part contains The simultaneous use of both blanch- centration of a ers in parallel enabled the project particular sub- team to test under real conditions stance in the hot The final product the effectiveness of the new process. water therefore is attractive to The location, within a fully operational changed the overall consumers factory environment, allowed close Food Industries

in a vessel that collects the filtered the products produced with the tradi- water and an additional two-way filter tional blanching process with regard after the vacuum filter. The vacuum fil- to taste, smell and colour. ter was later replaced by a self-cleaning filter, which was cheaper to install Going large-scale and operate. Such findings offer important oppor- “It is our job to work within a result- tunities for Europe’s food processing oriented approach. Nevertheless, we factories, since the technology can be experienced that it is far more difficult adapted for use in all potato process- to achieve results sometimes during companies, as well as other food ing development work than during production systems that use blanch- research,” said Mr Maan. “Available ing procedures. Further opportuni- space to install test installations for ties are available to harness the CLB example can create a real headache. approach to introduce additional But if we find a workable and efficient nutrients and extract other undesir- solution, such as the CLB concept, able elements. we are then of course very happy with the results.” Aviko is also currently considering plans for the first full-scale CLB Christian Knoef and Caspar Maan are Environmental benefits installation. An analysis of the likely proud of the LIFE project’s achievements investment costs is being carried The project’s patented CLB technique out and a decision by the compa- monitoring and meant that any pro- did indeed achieve remarkable eco- ny’s board of directors is foreseen for ductivity problems could be identified nomic and environmental results while August 2009. If an agreement can be early and resolved. “Lab-scale testing being tested under LIFE, including: reached, the new blanching technol- would not have been useful enough, l savings of 3.6% of raw material, ogy will be tested at full scale from since potato processing is a continu- equalling 43 tonnes; 2010 onwards. ous process,” highlights Derk Som- l reduction of 240 litres of freshwater sen. “All the more, we were happy to extraction per tonne of potatoes; “Profitability, high quality products see that no major changes were nec- l prevention of waste water and cor- and sustainability are not contra- essary while moving from sketch to responding treatment requirements dictory concepts,” concludes Derk pilot-scale.” Christiaan Knoef, Proc- for 240 litres of water per tonne of Somsen. “We are very proud to have ess Engineer, continued: “Fine-tun- potatoes; shown with our LIFE project that an ing, measuring and some adjustments l energy consumption down by a total improved yield, additional profit and were all we needed to do to make the of 94MJ/tonne of potatoes. A sav- reduced costs go hand in hand with system work well.” ing of 53.4-73.6 MJ/tonne is due to meeting environmental concerns.” the elimination of the need to heat These adjustments included the inclu- freshwater to the necessary blanch- sion of an additional electrical heater ing temperature – from 12°C up to Project Number: 65-85°C – and a saving of 20-40 MJ/ LIFE05 ENV/NL/000035 tonne of potatoes is achieved during The success of the prototype could Title: Demonstration of a closed lead to full-scale implementation combined drying and frying; and loop blanching system for the potato l emission reductions totalling 5.4kg processing industry

of CO2 and 4.6g of NOx per tonne Beneficiary: Aviko B.V. of processed potatoes. 5.3kg CO 2 Period: Jan-2005 to Dec-2007 and 3.1g NO less are the result of x Total Budget: e 1 008 000 the energy savings achieved and a

reduction of 0.121kg CO and 1.5g LIFE Contribution: 2 e 302 000 (maximum) NOx is due to savings in transport thanks to reduced truck movements Website: www.cosun.nl/nl/406/415/1858/ as a result of raw material savings. default.aspx Contact: Dr. Derk J. Somsen According to the beneficiary, the CLB potato products are also better than Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 31

RETOXMET: Yeast-based pollution control

The Hungarian RETOXMET LIFE project successfully demonstrated the re-use of highly polluting food industry wastes to produce cost-effective yeast-based bio-conversion materials capable of cleaning drinking or waste water from dangerous contaminants.

Current technology involved in cleaning heavy-metal pollutants from waste- Hungary’s industrial waste waters relies water samples. on resource-intensive techniques that experience disadvantages and prob- To replicate the laboratory experiments lems associated with high energy and in semi-industrial-scale conditions, chemical demand, incomplete extrac- a demonstration plant was set up in tion and creation of hazardous wastes. Tatabánya, where local food and metal plating companies agreed to partici- Using yeast-based bioconversion An alternative solution was found within pate in the LIFE demonstration trials. materials the food industry by VIRECO, a Buda- The trials proved very successful and pest-based company specialising in all of the yeast species used were their new technology provides a real- manufacturing yeasts for nutritional shown to produce biomaterial that istic cost alternative to conventional products. LIFE support helped demon- succeeded in accumulating heavy treatment options. Written dec- strate the potential of a new, environ- metals. The biosorbent produced with larations of intent have been 07-200 mentally friendly and cost-efficient, inte- the yeast proved to be particularly pro- received from 19 different 0 8 2 grated pollution control method based ductive at concentrating the pollutants, organisations and inter- T on natural yeasts. VIRECO’s Managing making it easier to extract them from est continues to grow. S

Director, Dr György Radnai, explains, the treated water. E B

“We thought that if yeast can bind Sustainability of the E

together nutritional compounds that are Four different RETOXMET demonstra- LIFE project outcomes S

T F good for our health then maybe it could tion runs were carried out on various is being guaranteed by O be used to bind pollutants, too.” effluents, including waste water from a the project partners’ commit- metal-galvanising factory and contami- ment to their technology’s uptake The RETOXMET approach was “an nated groundwater. Analysis showed on a commercial scale. Proposals are ideal solution since it reduces the pollu- that the new biosorbent material was being developed for further collaboration risks from food-industry wastes by able to extract heavy metals including tion with the galvanising factory that converting them into a yeast product zinc, nickel, cadmium, lead, chrome, provided waste water material for the capable of cleaning waste waters con- manganese, iron and copper. Purifica- RETOXMET demonstration runs. taining toxic heavy metals,” explained tion tests on drinking water also suc- Dr Gábor Vereczkey, from the Central ceeded in removing arsenic and boron Project Number: Food Research Institute. pollutants, being especially relevant LIFE04 ENV/HU/000374 for Hungary’s rural communities where Title: Removal of toxic heavy metals LIFE project plan polluted drinking water continues to from waste water by special yeast represent a real health hazard. produced by bioconversion on food Seven yeast phyla were selected for by-products - an integrated solution for waste water treatment the LIFE project. Three phyla capable RETOXMET’s potential of decomposing dairy wastes were Beneficiary: TIARA Co. Ltd. chosen and four others were to be The project showed that the Period: Oct-2004 to June-2007 tested on starchy sediments. Labora- RETOXMET technology was highly Total Budget: e 1 144 000 tory-based experiments identified opti- effective at purifying polluted water LIFE Contribution: mal conditions for yeast reproduction sources. The technology’s optimum e 565 000 (maximum) in these species and all were shown to economic potential could be achieved Website: www.retoxmet.hu provide consistently positive results in in a purpose-built operational plant Contact: Dr György Radnai the fermentation of food by-products with a fermentation capacity of 160 m3. to produce a biomaterial that absorbed The RETOXMET team is confident that Email: [email protected] Food Industries

ENVACIO: Pollutant-free rice packing

The LIFE Environment project of a Spanish rice producing co-operative demonstrated the commercial viability of a new pollutant-free food-processing technology by applying eco-friendly vacuum-packing facilities as an alternative to toxic fumigants.

Situated 200km south of Barcelona, Demonstration value Spain’s Ebre Delta is an important biodiversity resource hosting a wide About 800 farmers and food produc- range of wildlife species, including ers participated in the LIFE project flamingos and eagles. The delta also using the new packing facilities. The supports a large number of commer- beneficiary noted an important atti- cial rice producers, which presented tude change among contributing environmental threats to Ebre’s wild- farmers who are now more aware of life through the use of chemical pes- the benefits from involvement in a ticides during rice packing. The LIFE ‘green project’ that promotes their role project ENVACIO sought to help local in supporting sustainable agriculture. farmers find better alternatives. As a post-project follow-up study The project was managed by a co- showed in July 2008, the system Vacuum packing rice operative, Cámara Arrossera del operates continuously, producing has reduced pesticide Montsia y Seccion de Credito SCCL, 1 200 packets of rice daily for sale to pollution risks to the Ebre Delta which includes some 4 500 members supermarkets and restaurants. The and has a long tradition of working vacuum-packing production line has to cheaper production costs. This closely with the Ebre environment dat- sufficient capacity to deal with all of waste-minimising innovation is antici- ing back to 1927. Members of the ben- the processed rice available for com- pated to further improve the com- eficiary were aware that the fumigant mercial use by the beneficiary. mercial viability of vacuum-packed methyl bromide (MB), used to protect rice and strengthen the LIFE project’s rice from insects, was being banned Demand for the vacuum-packed rice demonstration value for other EU food due to its ozone-depleting properties has remained stable during the three producers, including grain suppliers, and so LIFE assistance was sought to years after LIFE. Analysis of the prod- as a cost effective and environmen- develop a greener option for the co- uct’s commercial properties indicates tally sound alternative to pesticide- operative’s rice packing business. a longer shelf-life potential than rice based preservation processes. treated with chemicals. Strong com- Vacuum-packing technology was petition remains from production Project Number: identified as a cost-effective alterna- lines using the more cost-effective LIFE02 ENV/E/000255 tive to MB with significant local and phosphine fumigants but these are Title: Demonstration title of the global environmental benefits in terms also considered hazardous and pest progressive elimination of Methyl of reduced pesticide pollution risks for resistance to this chemical has already Bromide in the processed rice fumi- the delta and improved macro-level been observed in various places. gation, due to the substitution of the atmospheric impacts. A demonstration vacuum packed rice, minimised the environmental impact and the emis- plant was established to test and high- The beneficiary aims to exploit these sion of gases into the atmosphere light the potential of this new approach drawbacks of phosphine packing to eco-friendly food processing. No and take full advantage of their LIFE- Beneficiary: Cámara Arrossera del Montsia y Seccion de Credito SCCL such system had been used before funded production facilities’ green and LIFE-financed results showed that credentials. In 2008, these continue Period: Oct-2002 to Sep-2005 vacuum packing was both technically to be actively promoted as an integral Total Budget: e 1 571 000 and economically viable as well as part of the co-operative’s business LIFE Contribution: e 623 000 environmentally friendly. Other benefits strategy and deployed to help main- Website: include lower health and safety risks tain their market share in rice sales, www.lacamara.es/life/index.htm for rice-packing workers from effects which they intend to boost by intro- Contact: Juan Espelta Puell arising from the use and handling of ducing a new form of packaging that Email: [email protected] chemical products. does not use cardboard and will lead LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 33

Machine & system industries

Europe’s machine and systems industries incorporate businesses within the information and communications technology (ICT) sector as well as both electrical and mechanical engineering companies. These industries continue to experience high growth rates and invest significantly in R&D work, which has helped them expand to enjoy about one third of the EU’s manufacturing value added.

Key environmental legislation that applies to these industries includes: the RoHS Directive, that restricts use of certain hazardous substances in electrical equipment; the WEEE Directive, that regulates collection, recovery, re-use and recycling of waste from electrical and electronic equipment; and the Energy-using Products Directive, that sets eco-design requirements for energy-using products.

Many LIFE projects have been active in theses areas, producing results that demonstrate important innovations to help strengthen the machine and systems industries’ green credentials. These include work on Integrated Product Policy in telecoms, low impact engine components, eco-friendly refrigeration systems and integration of environmental issues in supply chains for vehicle manufacturers. Machine & system industries

CO2Ref: Back to the future for climate-friendly refrigeration

This Danish LIFE project successfully demonstrated how greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption from supermarket refrigeration systems can be dramatically reduced in the future – by looking back and adapting what was once a common technology in the distant past, the use of CO2 as a refrigerant.

Increasing demand for cooling and freezing facilities in supermarkets is a growing threat in the battle against climate-change. Current best practice encourages installation of centralised refrigeration systems as the most effective way of trying to reduce energy consumption. But these systems mostly rely on use of the heavy greenhouse gases hydrofluorocar- bons (HFCs) as their refrigerant.

This LIFE project was innovative in investigating the use of carbon diox- ide (CO2) as a more environmentally friendly alternative to HFCs - then finding and trialling a way to introduce it in a prototype centralised supermarket system.

CO Ref technology is now in use in 26 systems in Danish supermarkets CO2 has a global warming potential 2 two to three thousand times smaller than HFCs and is not unknown as house gases. The Kyoto Protocol Research and Development Man- a refrigerant. On the contrary, from bans them in new installations from ager at Knudsen Køling, the benefi- 1850 to 1930 it had been widely used 2010 and a total ban throughout the ciary of this project and a leader in in all kinds of refrigerant systems, as EU will be implemented by 2015. supermarket refrigeration systems had hydrocarbons and ammonia. in Denmark. “Since the mid-90s we These were forced out of the mar- Leading the world to a solution knew we needed to find a suitable ket during the 1930s by the chlo- and cost-efficient replacement for rofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro- Denmark, where this project was run, CFCs. When Denmark also decided chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) gases has been at the forefront in promot- – as the first country in the world - because these had lower toxicity, ing use of climate-friendly refriger- to drastically phase out refrigerants were non-flammable and worked at ants. In 1996, it decided to shift its with global warming potential with a lower pressures. industry’s main focus from HFCs to general ban on HFCs in new instal- natural refrigerants. A dual approach lations from January 1st 2007, all our About half a century later however, of high taxes and a complete phase- efforts were targeted on R&D.” CFCs and HCFCs were linked to the out of HFC refrigerants succeeded hole in the ozone layer and the Mon- in achieving a quick technology shift The hunt for climate-friendly alter- treal Protocol enforced their phase- within the country. natives led them to consider three out from 1989. They were substituted natural refrigerants as possible by HFC gases, but these also turned “These clear political signals in Den- alternatives to the synthetic ones: out to be problematic. Despite con- mark were an important catalyst 1) Hydrocarbons, such as propane taining chlorine, they are based on for action by its refrigeration indus- or isobutene, but they are highly fluorine, making HFCs potent green- try,” remembers Finn Christensen, inflammable; 2) Ammonia, which is LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 35 also inflammable as well as being toxic; 3) CO2, which is non- or low toxic and non-inflammable. So CO2 was chosen.

The problem is that CO2 is a high- pressure refrigerant and requires a very special, redesigned technology. In the years leading up to this project breakthrough, the company gradu- ally developed and launched on to the market several different systems using collected and cleaned CO2 in the refrigeration process. Originally they had to use it as a linked system alongside HFC technology, but finally succeeded in finding the right partners and components to allow The CO2 based technology requires special components, such as gas coolers them to design a test system that did not require any synthetic refrigerant Giving developments a new pressure compressor. Other compo- in the process. lease of LIFE nents include high temperature heat exchanger and expansion valves, a

Other projects had also been run The CO2Ref LIFE project system separator, gas bypass and medium investigating use of CO2 and these works by using high pressure to temperature expansion valves. had resulted in development of compress the CO2 to 90- bar, 130°C, ‘cascade systems’, where the gas where it does not condense but is This system was first tested as a is compressed with a low-pressure cooled as a gas, passed through a laboratory prototype by the partner compressor and another refrigerant pressure reduction valve and circu- DTI, to probe reliability and perform- is used to cool it and cause it to liq- lated as a liquid towards the refrig- ance of the components and their uefy. The problem with this solution eration cabinets. In a closed loop, it interaction. Issues such as higher is that it is expensive. Systems with is then passed back to the two Bock energy consumption and noise were this technology are not economic for high-pressure compressors for the revealed. Valuable data was also smaller supermarkets. cycle to start again. provided for the particular problem of high-pressure control. These The main obstacle to further devel- The LIFE supported system is issues were addressed, leading to opment was the compressor – the designed to be as reliable and func- the production of a new generation core constituent of the new technol- tional as conventional systems, uses of controllers that were then used in a ogy. Knudsen Køling, worked with the same or even less energy and prototype commercial system. the German Bock Kältemaschinen requires no more servicing than the GmbH, who were able to provide old-style alternatives. It is the first The prototype was installed in March the compressor technology needed CO2 system to use the concept of 2007 at a Rema 1000 supermarket in for use in a stand-alone CO2 system. a booster - commonly used with Esbjerg, on the west coast of Den- These two companies, together with other refrigerants - which reduces mark. The full system involved cold the Danish Technological Institute the number of heat exchanges and storage rooms within the building and (DTI) and Danfoss, one of the world’s therefore the system’s energy con- refrigeration cabinets on the shop largest refrigeration companies, then sumption as well as giving a safe oil floor. The compressor was set up in a applied for LIFE funding to develop return. The booster is built with a gas combined machine and stock room. what is termed a transcritical sys- bypass to ensure a low pressure in tem – referring to the low critical the distribution system. Gas from a Results of the new system show temperature of CO2 with 31°C, that low pressure compressor is mixed that the final design has achieved is an obtainable condensation tem- with gas from the gas bypass as well an energy consumption about 4% perature – that would answer the as a medium temperature evapora- lower than that of a conventional technical challenges and bring envi- tors. When the gas is flashed, a small HFC or CO2 cascade system. Stud- ronmental gain while being commer- amount of liquid is formed, that is then ies also indicate that the new system cially attractive. used to cool the gas exiting the low has halved the contribution to global Machine & system industries

warming of the reference HFC system. The global warming impact in this system comes from the generation of the electric energy needed to run the system.

Furthermore, indications are that service costs may be 15% lower than for the conventional systems, mainly because of the inexpensive refrigerant. In Denmark, the system is cost-neutral compared to other systems, because of the effects of taxation and national regulations on the capital costs. In other countries, initial costs would be likely to be

10-20% higher than for a conven- Finn Christensen presents the CO2Ref compressor system installed in a Roskilde tional system. But as the technol- supermarket ogy matures, the prices of the more expensive specialised components LIFE co-funding helped to support cooling islands and multidecks, each will also decline. the beneficiary be at the forefront guaranteeing the respective required of new technical developments. The temperatures and without the emis- Now the market choice partners Danfoss and Bock also prof- sions generated by other systems. ited from the experiences to develop Crucially, the project has been a their respective markets, such as for Thomas Munch Nielsen, MD at commercial as well as technical suc- refrigeration-related equipment and Knudsen Køling, concludes that cess with its results being welcomed medium-sized compressors. “The the project “not only helped us to by manufacturers of refrigeration LIFE project was a great experience,” meet the legal requirements and systems and clients alike. The ben- adds Mr Christensen. “Co-operation protect the environment, but it has eficiary has been excited about the with the partners was extraordinary, also been a great commercial suc- expansion of the product thanks to everybody was very dedicated. We cess. That is fantastic.” These ben- the project. “We have and always had are still working together as a result efits have already been noticed by complete solutions for a whole super- - and not only because we continue the beneficiary’s competitors. Other market,” says Finn Christensen, who to sell components from these part- companies are also starting to offer co-initiated the LIFE project, “but now ners.” systems based on a return to the use our clients not only get their cabinets of CO2 as refrigerant. As Mr Chris- from us, but also an environmentally By July 2008, a total of 26 CO2Ref tensen points out, “CO2 is for them, friendly refrigeration system.” systems were in operation, including as for us, the best solution.” 155 transcritical compressors with 3.0 MW cooling capacity and 80 Knudson Køling has improved its envi- subcritical compressors with 900kW ronmental and business performance Project Number: freezing capacity. Another seven LIFE05 ENV/DK/000156 systems have already been ordered Title: Development and demonstra-

and will be in operation by the end tion of a prototype transcritical CO2 of the year. refrigeration system Beneficiary: Knudsen Køling The most recent client is a brand Total Budget: e 556 000 new supermarket in the university LIFE Contribution: area of Roskilde, which has installed e 167 000 (maximum) the CO Ref technology. Hidden in 2 Period: Oct-2005 to Oct-2007 the compressor room, a 2x4m2 com- Website: http://knudsenkoling.itide. pressor system stands ready to cool dk/Default.asp?Id=880 all the shop’s beverages, dairy prod- Contact: Finn Christensen ucts, fruits and vegetables. Insulated piping systems connect the different Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 37

IPP TEL: Telecom solutions for a lifetime … and beyond

This Greek LIFE project succeeded in redesigning and manufacturing a modem device using whole-of-life environmental considerations. This represented a groundbreaking implementation of the EU’s preferred Integrated Product Policy and helped define new eco-label criteria for the telecommunications sector.

EU policy recognises that making or stored properly for future disposal products truly eco-friendly requires by other Greek recycling companies. a fully integrated approach by looking at the environmental aspects of Using all aspects of the project’s work, a product during its whole life cycle. a list of potential eco-label criteria - This is known as Integrated Product sorted by step within the product’s Policy (IPP) and means tackling envi- life cycle - was drawn up for ISDN ronmental problems before they arise modems and fixed telephone devices. by designing innovative solutions and The resulting data has been submit- giving consumers the ability to make ted by the Greek Ministry of Environ- environmentally informed choices. ment for assessment and also to the IPP TEL developed eco-design of telecommunication devices EU Eco-label Board for consideration The EU has sought to promote this as a future standard. approach to restrict use of hazardous associated with the release of heavy substances in electric and electronic metals - e.g. lead - and acidifica- Sustainability should be guaranteed as equipment and promote sound man- tion. An analysis was carried out for the project is of inherent interest to the agement of their waste by encourag- eventual disassembly and compo- beneficiary and regular production of ing producers to consider all aspects nent re-use as well as the recycling eco-designed modems is already well of a product’s life cycle from design potential of alternative materials. The underway. Market research under- to disposal. netMod device selected for redesign taken by the project team indicates provided the basis for the redesign that consumers are generally willing The LIFE project IPP TEL was the of the production cycle and the pilot to choose eco-designed products first full-scale application of IPP in programme. where they know them to be available Greece and was groundbreaking in and if they are no more expensive the European telecommunications After a small-scale test production of than conventional ones. This should sector. It worked on all aspects of the re-designed modems, the project encourage manufacturers to build on the production, use and disposal of moved to full manufacturing and a the project’s achievements. a modem device (netMod) and of a few thousand eco-designed modems fixed telephone (IRIS 6001) to develop were produced using the new proc- a detailed end-of-life management esses. These included the use of strategy reducing their environmental alternative manufacturing equipment Project Number: impact, whilst maintaining their eco- to enable use of lead-free solders. LIFE04 ENV/GR/000138 nomic efficiency. Title: Integrated Product Policy in The project also investigated end- the Telecommunication Sector Full life-cycle management of-life management techniques for Beneficiary: INTRACOM S.A. a wider range of devices to provide TELECOM SOLUTIONS Led by the largest multinational insight to help future eco-design Total Budget: e 1 287 000 provider of telecommunications decisions and waste management. A LIFE Contribution: e 356 000 products, solutions and services in number of computer towers and tel- (maximum) Greece, INTRACOM TELECOM, the ephone sets as well as modems (200 Period: Oct-2004 to Sep-2007 project used Life-Cycle Analysis to each) were disassembled and sepa- Website: www.ipp-tel.gr identify the major environmental risks rated into hazardous and non-hazard- Contact: Ms. Dimitra Pli from conventional manufacturing ous materials. The parts and materials of the two devices. These risks are were then recycled wherever possible Email: [email protected] Machine & system industries

INOCAST: Casting green

engine blocks 2007-2008 BEST PROJECTS AWARD

The effectiveness of a less polluting alternative to the cold-box technique for casting aluminium for engine blocks has been demonstrated by Nemak Dillingen GmbH in Germany, who used its LIFE Environment INOCAST project to develop an innovative core production and casting unit using the ‘inorganic warm box’ (AWB) method.

At the heart of every motor vehicle is Excellent results an engine block, which is usually made from cast iron or aluminium. Some 98% The beneficiary set up a full-scale pilot of all cylinder heads and 50% of engine core production and casting unit to test blocks in Europe are currently made and develop the warm-box technology of aluminium, which reduces engine free of organic binders. More than 300 weight and improves efficiency. engine blocks were produced using the new technique. However, the standard Core Package Casting (CPS) process for aluminium “Due to the elimination of combustion engine blocks, referred to as the cold- of the organic binder, a substantial box technique, releases substantial reduction of emissions during the cast-

quantities of toxic fumes into the air, ing and de-coring process is achieved,” Photo: Thomas Mayer including aromatic amines, furan, ben- explains process engineer, Dr. Ingo INOCAST produced engine block casts zopyrene and other organic materials. Prass. If the new technology was used with an inorganic warm box The binder used to create the sand for the complete production, Nemak mould for the casting also releases Dillingen would be able to reduce inor- organic compounds, such as phenol ganic components by 93-99% and the the traditional method. A curing time resins and amines, into the atmosphere typical foundry emissions of phenols, of 70 seconds was achieved, impor- when it is burned off the cast at the formaldehyde, naphtha, methanol and tant for integration of the process into end. What is more, the cold box proc- amines to below measurable concen- automated assembly lines. ess uses significant energy resources trations. The firm proved that pollution and generates substantial quantities can be avoided by removing the need The INOCAST project proved that the of waste, including water, filters, sand to use isocyanide-mixture containing AWB technology is reliable and ready and sulphuric acid. diphenylmethane and aromatic hydro- for market, a crucial step in winning carbon and a catalytic converter made acceptance from the automotive indus- The alternative process, AWB, uses up mainly of ethyldimethylamine. try and promoting private investment in a new, inorganic binder together with the development of the process. Quarzsand to build core moulds for The technology also promises to cut the production of the engine blocks. energy consumption by 37% overall Project Number: These moulds can be mechanically and dust pollution by 80% compared LIFE05 ENV/D/000185 de-cored, which does not release with the traditional casting technique. Title: Demonstration of environmen- any toxic fumes into the air. However, Levels of waste materials, such as tally friendly aluminium engine Core because of a lack of prototypes for burned sand, organic filters, phenol Package Casting (CPS) using an quality testing, automobile manufac- resin solution, sodium hydroxide and inorganic binder. turers had refused to use blocks cast sulphuric acid can be reduced to nil. Beneficiary: Nemak Dillingen GmbH using AWB. The LIFE-supported INO- Total Budget: e 4 762 000 CAST project, which ran from January From pilot plant to mass market LIFE Contribution: e 1 405 000 2005 to July 2007, therefore sought to Period: Jan-2005 to Jul-2007 demonstrate both the technical effec- Technical results of the cast prod- Website: www.nemak.com/ tiveness of the new process and the ucts were also excellent. Laboratory socialresponsibility/inocast environmental advantages it offered in analysis showed no deficiencies of the Contact: Joachim Kahn terms of reduced energy consumption, castings produced using AWB when emissions, deposits and waste water. compared with those produced using Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 39

EDIT: Eco-design throughout the supply chain for new vehicles

The French LIFE project EDIT created tools to promote and facilitate eco-design of new motor vehicles. It provided easy access to the information needed by manufacturers and clients all along the chain of production to ensure that environmental factors are fully taken into account in the process of developing vehicles, without compromising on quality or cost.

End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) in Europe standards, they brought together a represent a major environmental representative panel of 20 compa- challenge. Around nine million vehi- nies involved at different stages of cles reach the end of their function- the vehicle production process. ing life each year, causing about 1 000kg of waste each. About one They reflected on their working third of this waste ends up in land- methods and discussed a common fills. To tackle this problem, the EU’s position on the sharing of material- ELV Directive aims to extend recy- substance information of parts with cling and thus reduce landfill dump- vehicle manufacturers. This is signifi- ing to 5% by 2015. cant in ensuring that the composition of a part can be traced throughout The ability to recycle vehicle parts is the life cycle of the vehicle, without significantly increased by the imple- the know-how of the supplier being mentation of eco-design from the compromised. It enables informed very conception of a new vehicle. end-of-life solutions to be planned. By planning for the whole life cycle of the vehicle, eco-design ensures The project successfully developed Photo: Ecodesign that environmental impact can be four integrated eco-design tools minimised, whilst maintaining per- for members at all levels of the car Eco-design tools enable planned end- of-life solutions formance and quality standards, and industry supply chain to consult. The without increasing costs. tools cover material, substance and end-of-life issues and provide all the analysis of a vehicle part so that they The complexity of vehicle production information they need to comply with know exactly what is in it. is such that constructors assemble the ELV Directive. more than 5 000 parts, of which These integrated tools allow sup- 80% come from external suppliers. SIGMA is a complete reference library pliers and manufacturers to include This creates an additional challenge of (dangerous) substances whose environmental as well as technical as it means that implementing eco- use is regulated in Europe. OMEGA is specifications in the design phase of design requires the participation of a database of specifications for recy- their product. These tools for apply- carmakers, parts manufacturers and cling or re-use of end-of-life vehicle ing the eco-design concept were raw material suppliers. parts, including on issues of com- successfully tested and validated by patibility and separability of plastics. the project team. Creating tools to inform GAMMA is a database of worldwide eco-design regulations and the specific require- Spreading the news ments of car manufacturers on the To meet these challenges, the French utilisation of dangerous substances. To ensure that the tools developed plastic converters’ association Finally, APM is a platform allowing by the project were taken on board worked to engage the whole vehi- suppliers and clients to exchange and used by manufacturers, the cle supply chain in improving their important information for the devel- project provided training to com- eco-design performance through opment of an environmentally and panies: over 150 during the project the LIFE project EDIT. Basing their economically successful final prod- and another 250 since the project’s work on EMAS, ISO 14 001 and the uct. For example, manufacturers end. The on-site training started by emerging ISO 14 062 on eco-design can request a material-substance presenting the environmental and Machine & system industries

political importance of eco-design. It went on to show participants how to use the tools to better inform planning and design processes to meet the required environmental standards.

It was aimed at various levels within companies working in the vehicle supply chain, including management, research teams, buyers, and environmental and quality controllers. It sought to instil a sense of ownership of the EDIT tools so that they would be integrated into existing practices.

Although only three companies fully integrated the eco-design tools within their organisation during the Photo: Ecodesign course of the project, the training The upgraded software tools “X-Mat” and “X-change” are based on the EDIT LIFE tools was important in raising awareness of the eco-design concept and where the necessary support infor- Four suppliers participating at the reference for the implementation of mation could be found. The Renault project - Po, Faurecia, Inergy and eco-design in four industrial sectors Institute agreed to be a partner in the Delphi - have each now developed in France: mechanics; electric and promotion of the training. a specific part that is less pollut- electrical equipment; plastics; and ing or more easily recyclable than motor vehicles. Vincent Hauville from This work is valuable as part of a previous models. Renault has now Ecodis is proud that “we were almost longer process of changing mentali- included 15kg of recycled material in alone in developing the eco-design ties and attitudes within the sector to the design of its new model, Modus. concept. At the time, few people include improved environmental per- These are concrete improvements believed in it; now it is the norm.” formance - throughout the life cycle in the design of vehicles that will - within the key design concepts of a reduce their environmental impact In 2007, an independent society, vehicle. EDIT organised conferences over the long term. SAS ECOMUNDO, was created to with leading actors in the field and commercialise the EDIT-based prod- published numerous articles in rele- With support of EU research funding, ucts and training. Based on the high vant industry magazines to increase the beneficiary launched a follow-up value of the products and the level of their awareness-raising work. project, ECODIS. This aimed to pro- demand, the aim is to achieve a turn- mote the transferability of the project over of one million Euro by 2009. Ongoing progress after LIFE into other sectors and products, including packaging, electronics and Following the project, partner com- hazardous wastes, which are facing Project Number: panies submitted updated environ- similar regulatory pressures to the LIFE00 ENV/F/000593 mental performance reports. These car industry. It is working to upgrade Title: Eco Design Interactive Tools. found that the dangerous heavy the software used and strengthen the Beneficiary: FPA − Federation metal lead had been removed from content. Through this, the EDIT tool Plasturgie Activities most products and that more recy- SIGMA has become “X-Mat” and the Total Budget: e 2 502 000 cled materials were being used in the exchange software “X-change”. LIFE Contribution: e 747 000 production of vehicles. The recycla- Period: Jan-2001 to Dec-2004 bility of new vehicles was strongly About four years after the project’s www.ecodis.org improved, often through the use of end, 25 big companies such as Website: mono-materials and the identification Renault, Po and Airbus are using the Contact: Vincent Hauville of oil-drain and separation points for EDIT/ECODIS tools. These have also Email: the different materials. been selected as the official national [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 41

Clothing & design industries

Europe’s clothing and design sector comprises diverse companies producing every- thing from high fashion garments to furniture and footwear. A broad spectrum of different business processes and production systems operate within this sector, which is characterised by a mix of labour-intensive industrial activities and highly automated technology-based enterprises.

The manufacture of textiles, clothing, fur and leather goods uses many natural resources and can pose considerable environmental problems vis-à-vis pollution risks and waste treatment requirements. The main piece of legislation at EU level affecting these industries is the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive, which targets business activities such as pre-treatment or dyeing of fibres and textiles. Implementation of IPPC-related technologies have been shown to assist modernisation processes within companies and create considerably less pollution. This in turn creates savings through reduced treatment costs. Other key legislation affecting the clothing and design industries include REACH and the Water Framework Directive.

An interesting collection of LIFE projects have helped businesses attain and surpass the required standards via technology that demonstrates new green approaches such as: improving water management systems and sustainable consumption guidance for textile producers; reducing chemical wastes from dyeing processes; and establishing different Best Available Technologies (BATs) for tannery-related activities. Clothing & design industries

Dyeing bath re-use: Cutting through waste with a laser

Textile finishing is notorious for the environmental problems caused by its dyeing processes, in particular high water consumption and discharge of pollutants. This Spanish LIFE project used laser technology to enable the reutilisation of residual dye baths and thus reduce consumption and waste.

It has long been a challenge for the A key solution to these problems is the preventing contamination at source textile industry to manage its dye- re-utilisation of residual dye baths, thus and saving scarce resources – partic- ing processes effectively to achieve reducing demand on water supply and ularly water – following their idea that consistency of colour and quality, to achieving big savings in the cost and knowledge on the chemical reactions control costs and in recent years to try environmental impact of waste water in the dyeing process enables the re- to minimise environmental impacts. and its treatment. The problem has use of residual dyeing baths. Characteristically, the principal prob- always been that existing technology lems are very heavy water usage and could not provide sufficiently effective Two dyeing systems were investigated high levels of pollutants produced measurement and control of dye con- during the project: cotton (cellulose) from large numbers of residual dye tent. This meant that it was impossible fibres with direct colourants and pol- baths. to adapt and re-use the residue of one yester with disperse colourants. The dyeing process in another batch while technique involved using a RAMAN The increasing requirement of environ- meeting the industry’s demands for laser spectroscope to determine pre- mental law to minimise these effects exact colour match and standards of cisely the volume, content and con- poses acute problems for the mainly colour-fastness. centrations of every one of the col- small to medium-sized enterprises ourants and other residual chemicals that make up most of Europe’s tex- Performance benefits from left in a dye bath once a first dye had tile finishing sector. These businesses laser technology been performed. find it difficult to remain competitive while meeting the costs of investing in The beneficiary in this LIFE project, the A more conventional UV-VIS spectro- and maintaining effluent-purification Polytechnic University of Catalonia, scope was tried but found to be too plants. This has resulted in stagnation and its manufacturing partner, found imprecise when more than one colour within the industry, reduced employ- a way of using laser technology to was used. The laser spectroscope ment, and many of the businesses meet these demands. They achieved could measure and identify a process disappearing altogether. spectacular environmental benefits by liquid’s contents precisely.

High technology solutions enable the re-use of residual dye baths Using the data from the laser spectroscope, a software system was able to calculate the required quantities of pigment and water to be added to the residual bath to maintain the desired ratios. It could then be prepared for re-use in the next dyeing process instead of the whole contents being discharged as waste. This technology thus enabled the creation of an exact match with a previously used colour in an extremely efficient way.

Furthermore, extended testing to emulate manufacturing processes showed that repeated re-use of dye baths in this way has no adverse effect on quality and effectiveness of LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 43

found to be more costly and time-con- suming than envisaged. Nevertheless, it was established that this analysis needs only to be carried out at the start and finish of a dyeing process to achieve the necessary results. The original idea may become more feasible in the future.

Since the project ended, its technology has been exported and is currently used very successfully at textile mills in Brazil and Peru. Tests have also been The accuracy of the measurements ensures the re-used dye provides consistent carried out on more fabrics and types colour quality of colourants, with promising results. Success has also been achieved using dye or on ability to reproduce colour treatment facilities and the natural reactant dyes. to required levels of match. The study waterways, because 100% purifi- found that 24 successive re-uses of cation is difficult. The hope now is that the concept of dye-bath residue could be achieved closed-cycle technology can be taken with this process while maintaining Figures for the polyester dyeing forward another stage by extending the the required quality of product. Cor- process with disperse colourants use of spectroscopic analysis into other rect dyeing performance improved were even more impressive. From commercial processes where water is from 80% to 98%. an equivalent amount of dyeing, the used and discharged and where the reductions achieved were nearly possibility of re-use has not yet been Environmental benefits 90% of sulphates, ammonium and considered. Likely sectors are food dispersants, and 21.5m2 of water. - particularly processing of dairy prod- The savings achieved equated to Most of the colourant is exhausted ucts - wood, paints and varnishes and 72% of the water, moisturiser and by both dyeing processes, meaning other areas of the chemical industry. sulphates, and just under 10% of a 5% saving. Energy consumption The project team has great ambitions the colourants. In real terms, based was reduced in both processes by for the laser technology on dyeing typical industrial average between 20-25%, since reheating the batches of 100 kg of cotton yarn with baths was avoided. direct colourants in one initial use and 24 re-uses of a dye bath using a Recovering the cost three-colour dye – i.e. a total of 2 500 kg of material – the following benefits After such promising results, the major were achieved: outstanding concern is cost-benefit. l Prevention of 18m3 of chemical- The laser spectroscope currently costs loaded waste-water discharge - and between e 80 000 and e 100 000. It is the concomitant water consumption. newly developed and at the moment Project Number: l Avoidance of emission of 7kg of sol- has a limited range of applications. LIFE03 ENV/E/000166 uble, non-biodegradable colourants However, the beneficiary thinks that Title: Direct Reutilization of Dye and related waste sludge. rapid advances in the technology will Baths and Self-Monitoring of the Process “on line”. l Reduction by 360 kg of sodium chlo- lead to equally rapid price reductions ride or sulphate discharge. These and that the cost could reduce to as Beneficiary: wastes are not eliminated by tradi- little as e 15 000. This would make the Polytechnic University of Catalonia tional treatment systems because of investment easily recoverable in two Total Budget: e 702 000 their solubility and contribute signifi- to three years on a wholly commercial LIFE Contribution: e 267 000 cantly to the salinisation of water. basis, without taking the environmental Period: Sep-2003 to Aug-2005 l Avoidance of the discharge of 18 kg gain into account. Website: www.upc.es/ctt of surfactant – moisturising - products. Although these substances The project’s original idea was for con- Contact: Prof. José Valldeperas Morell can be biodegradable, they contrib- tinuous on-line detection and analysis ute to formation of foams, both in of dye-bath contents, but this was Email: [email protected] Clothing & design industries

PROWATER: Re-using water in the textile wet processing industry

This Italian LIFE project demonstrated at pre-industrial scale the technical and economic viability of an innovative recycling system for textile effluents.

For the MA-VI dyeing mill in Prato, saving water is good for the environment and essential for saving costs

Since the 13th Century Prato has A key “textile” issue is the huge Ivo Vignali, who has managed his fam- been well known for its textile indus- amount of water used, particularly by ily’s dyeing mill MA-VI for more than try. The Tuscan city is not only home the textile wet processing industry, 40 years. “It was therefore the right to 180 000 inhabitants but also to sev- which represents the majority of the moment for us to participate in the eral thousand companies deal- sector located in Prato. “Wet treat- LIFE project of Tecnotessile and test ST OF T ing with textiles. However, ment” processes use large volumes of new recycling approaches.” BE H while in 2000 there were water which are normally discharged E still about 8 000 textile as polluted waste water. To produce ‘Next Technology Tecnotessile’, a

B companies, in 2008 1 kg of finished product, the textile Prato-based research centre and con- E

S only around 3 800 are wet industry needs 200-500 litres of sultancy jointly founded in 1972 by the T

2 left: International low- fresh water. With treatment systems Ministry of University and Research

0 wage competition and that allow partial or total reuse of their and industries working in the textile and 4 0 - 2 increasing energy costs own effluents, textile industries could textile machineries sector, had always are creating high pres- do much to ease the demands on prioritised water quality issues. sures and local textile businesses water supplies, for their own and the are keen to identify possibilities to environment’s benefit. Following an extensive period of stud- enhance cost effectiveness and ies, the Tecnotessile team applied in thereby their competiveness on the “The textile industry in Prato is very 2003 for LIFE funding to demonstrate European and international market. sensitive to the water issue” stresses a new technology that would improve LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 45 water reuse systems in the wet textile “The main innovative part of our processing sector, thereby reducing project was the combination of cross- fresh water consumption and pollut- flow and ozonation. The tangential ant discharge. “Without the EC co- membrane filtration reduces fouling funding the implementation of the pilot phenomena and is able to remove oil plants would not have been possible,” emulsions, colloidal silica, proteins, states Federico Tognotti, the technical bacterial and viral hazards, while ozo- project manager from Tecnotessile. nation completes the removal of the coloured substances and surfactants” The process explains Ingrid Ciabatti, member of the core LIFE team at Tecnotessile. The PROWATER concept is based “On this basis, and following case-by- on an effluent recycling system case studies, we were able to show composed of a sequence of treat- that the PROWATER concept can be ments that are particularly suitable for effectively adapted to different textile removing certain pollutants or classes wet industries.” of undesirable compounds. The treatment processes involved are: The proposed purification systems l Homogenisation of the wastewaters were tested with large-scale pro- to be treated with the help of a bal- totypes - having a high automation ance tank; degree and in-let flow rates ranging l Clarification (coagulation + lamel- from 5 to 10m3/h – installed in-situ by lar sedimentation or coagulation four end-users with different types of + flotation) and filtration with sand textile wet processes: MA-VI (dyeing allowing a solid-liquid separation to mill), LIT (washing mill), Vignalli (fin- reduce the organic pollution load; ishing mill) and Fin-Mode (dyeing and The PROWATER technology was tested l Cross-flow filtration with flat mem- finishing mill). by four end-users, including a dyeing mill branes for the removal of suspended solids and turbidity; and In strong collaboration with plant sup- l Advanced chemical oxidation with pliers and technology providers, the ing the experimental research stud- ozone, allowing the oxidation of the PROWATER process parameters were ies. These included: the adaptation residual dyestuffs and a disinfection optimised for each section of the proof coagulant agent doses (that were of the water. totypes. This was important to meet slightly higher than on lab-scale to the requirements of the processes but guarantee high product quality), the The project used a large balance tank also for the companies’ textile techni- need to limit fouling of the ultra-fil- to treat waste water cians, who require high standards in tration membranes by ensuring their terms of water quality. regeneration by the use of washing solutions and the installation of a large Clarification, ultrafiltration and ozo- equalisation tank to reduce the flota- nation were used in series for three tion of flocks in the lamellar settler of the companies (FIN, MA-VI, VIG), used at the VIG project site. and clarification, ozonation and ultrafiltration for the fourth one (LIT). Fur- Black and white ther variations included: the use of an ultrafiltration membrane working A large number of repeat tests were under pressure instead of under vac- carried out at each of the four proto- uum at the FIN site; and the use of an types. These demonstrated that the electronic control system by MA-VI, PROWATER technology consistently assessing the quality of wastewater achieved highly satisfactory results, and enabling the optimisation of the particularly for high pollution removal treatment process by selecting efflu- efficiencies: Sixty-two percent of total ents with low pollution load. surfactants were removed by the treatment process against a target of The project team encountered and 50%. Ninety-eight percent of colour overcame a number of problems dur- was removed which was significantly Clothing & design industries

different optimisations needed at each the project could be brought to a site (thanks to the electronic effluent successful conclusion,” adds Maria control, MA-VI could reduce its costs Paola Breghi, from ENEA – respon- to 0.78e/m3). While the operating costs sible for the project’s dissemination of a system using a chemical-physical activities. treatment and a biological process for purification of textile effluents are about On-going efforts continue with LIT, 2e/m3, that system allows only limited the industrial laundry company, cur- wastewater reuse. rently considering building a PRO- White and black: the difference between WATER plant on industrial scale. treated and untreated effluents. A plant implementing the PROWATER Partial reuse of cleaned wastewater technologies can recover the invest- and the resultant independence from higher than the 85% target, and this ment costs after roughly five years. fresh and waste water prices fluctua- “even impressed the textile workers” This compares well to nine years for tions is a real option for LIT, which is according to Federico Tognotti. All the a plant working on an aerobic biologi- located in a relatively isolated area. other results were perfectly in line with cal process followed by filtration on the original targets: 60% removal of traditional membranes. MA-VI aims to continue working with chemical oxygen demand (COD); 92% the pilot-plant for another year, in turbidity removal; and 95% removal of Despite these findings, and although order to carry out further tests with total suspended solids (TSS). These 78 Italian firms as well as several the electronic system for effluent are important achievements, since companies from Spain, France and selection and to make the PROWA- these pollutants seriously compro- Turkey have shown clear interest in TER approach even more cost effec- mise water reuse. the project, the LIFE team had hoped tive. After that test-run, Mr Vignali is for a much stronger, concrete interest considering moving to the industrial- Other tests to assess the suitability of from textile or other companies in the scale phase. A handbook produced waste water recycling demonstrated implementation of their approach on by the project team will further help effectively that the quality of the puri- industrial scale. to guide industries interested in fied wastewater allows for partial reuse implementing the developed tech- within different textile wet processes, As pointed out by Alessio Bitozzi from nology at full industrial scale. including fabrics’ softening and some the LIFE partner Unione Industriale washing processes. The LIFE project Pratese, possible reasons for this The project team hopes to continue showed that by mixing this recycled reluctance to invest might include the developing the PROWATER concept liquid with purified effluents, fresh general uncertainty that the textile water consumption could be reduced industries suffer since 2001 due to the by 40% on an industrial scale. In some situation of the global economy.” The finishing and washing processes this sticking point for the textile compa- increased to 100%. Assuming a partial nies is to consider wastewater treat- reuse of 40% by 500 textile industries ment as part of the production unit with a total effluent production of 1 that needs to be perfectly integrated 000 m3/day, the PROWATER experts within the process. Then, they will see estimate that their innovative treatment that they can profit from the consider- Project Number: system could result in a saving of 44 able cost savings of the PROWATER LIFE04 ENV/IT/000583 million/m3 of fresh water a year. approach,” stresses Tognotti. Title: Sustainable water management in the textile wet industry Economic feasibility Life after LIFE through an innovative treatment process for waste water re-use

The project team further demonstrated “The PROWATER concept proved to Beneficiary: Tecnotessile – Società Nazionale di Ricerca Tecnologica r.l. that the new purification and reuse sys- be technically successful” concludes tem is cost-effective and competitive Ingrid Ciabatti, “but it is important to Total Budget: e 2 195 000 with commercial purification processes verify and optimise the approach on LIFE Contribution: e 1 059 000 and possible alternative solutions. pilot-scale since there is no unique Period: Oct-2004 to Feb-2007 Operating costs of the system for solution.” Website: www.tecnotex.it/prowater each end-user at the four project pro- Contact: Solitario Nesti totypes are judged to range between “It was thanks to the great technical 0.78 and 2.37 e/m3, depending on the experience of the whole team that Email: [email protected] LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 47

Resitex: Helping make green fashionable every year

Europe’s many small and medium-sized textile businesses have to be quick to adapt to the changing demands of fashion. But they have been slower to move to environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. This LIFE project from Spain showed them how it can be done.

Huge volumes of waste water are 1. Good management practices – discharged by Europe’s textile manu- including advice on training, use of facturing industry. The chemical load chemicals and colour management, this carries is the sector’s major envi- for example highlighting water sav- ronmental concern, but there are also ings to be made by moving from many other issues such as energy con- light to dark colours during a pro- sumption, gas emissions, solid wastes duction cycle. and odours. 2. Selection and substitution of chemicals – for instance replacing toxic Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) surfactants with bio-degradable Resitex showed the textile finishing sec- may play a leading role in the fashion ones, or using anti-foaming agents tor how to reduce its levels of pollution world, but often lack the capacity to free from mineral oils. be at the forefront of environmental 3. Minimisation of resources and recy- Resitex procedure is the most advan- performance. They can find it hard to cling opportunities – such as recov- tageous waste-management option, invest in the research and development ery and re-use of printing pastes or applicable to any company and Euro- necessary to identify environmentally rinsing water, and use of biological pean textile sub-sector. Since the friendly technologies or lack aware- sludge on agricultural land. project’s end, we have not only been ness of the existing possibilities. 4. Equipment and new technologies contacted by Spanish clothing firms – highlighting such areas as digital and European research centres, but In Spain, more than 70% of textile printing, automated chemical dis- also by a Brazilian chemical company SMEs had no plan for waste reduction pensing, and ozone systems for interested in the process.” or waste management. The project waste water colour removal. therefore worked to identify and vali- The beneficiary’s successes were rec- date a catalogue of specific ways in The identification and dissemination ognised in 2008, when Resitex received which waste can be managed and of these best practices will enable a Regional Government award as Best reduced in the textile-finishing sector. Europe’s textile SMEs to reduce their European Project of the Valencian This sector includes printing and dye- waste. This in turn should help them Community. ing and is where scope for environ- comply with growing environmental mental savings was greatest. requirements while keeping costs Project Number: down. This will be increasingly impor- LIFE05 ENV/E/000285 Guide for action tant as the sector faces greater com- Title: Alternatives for waste vol- petition from producers in China and ume reduction in the textile sector Work to gather the information was India. through the application of minimisa- carried out by AITEX, a non-profit tion measures in the process and in Spanish beneficiary, and ten compa- Furthermore, whilst the Resitex project the consumption nies in Spain and Portugal. The infor- focused on the textile-finishing sector, Beneficiary: AITEX - Asociación de mation was then classified and used its results are applicable to the whole Investigación de la Industria Textil to compile and produce a document industry including spinning, weaving Total Budget: e 375 000 “Procedure for Waste Management in and clothing. They are also transfer- LIFE Contribution: the Textile Sector» as a reference point able across Europe, although solutions e 187 000 (maximum) providing practical and specific advice will not always be the same. Period: Dec-2005 to Dec-2007 on reducing waste and saving costs. Website: www.aitex.es/resitex “We are very glad with the project’s Contact: Rosa López Advice in the guide is divided into four achievements,” says Korina Molla categories: Latorre from AITEX. “For us, the Email: [email protected] Clothing & design industries

Greening Europe’s leather industry

The EU is the world’s largest supplier of leather. However, the tanning industry in Europe experiences intense international competition and at the same time faces considerable environmental challenges. Most of the raw hide weight converts to waste during the tanning process and every tonne of raw hide produces an average of 500 kg of sludge from effluent treatment. The adoption of cost-effective clean technologies is essential for the European leather industry. LIFE support has been well used by a broad mix of different beneficiaries to improve the green credentials of Europe’s tanning industry.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, con- sectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh Photo: LIFE04 ENV/E/000237 LIFE has supported the greening of the tannery sector in Europe – and in neighbouring countries

Leather tanning - the process of con- l solid wastes that derive from flesh- Environmental legislation verting raw hides into leather - is a ing, splitting and shaving. A further resource-intensive industry using large potential source of solid waste is the The main environmental legislation amounts of raw materials and capital. sludge from effluent treatment plants; directly affecting the EU leather tan- The industry also involves serious however, many of these wastes may ning industry is the IPPC Directive pollution risks and EU tanners’ envi- be sold and used as raw materials in on integrated pollution prevention ronmental protection costs can be as other industry sectors. and control. It represents a corner- high as 5% of their turnover. stone of EU environmental legislation addressing industrial installations with LIFE funding has enabled cutting-edge Tanneries’ environmental impacts high pollution potential. Significantly, laboratory trials originate from liquid, solid and gase- “The tanning of hides and skins” is ous waste streams and from the con- listed in Annex 1 of the directive as an sumption of raw materials such as raw activity for which integrated preven- hides, energy, chemicals and water. tion and control of pollution has to be Key negative impacts occur from: achieved.

l hazardous releases to waste water that stem from wet processing and Photo: LIFE04 ENV/E/000237 The directive requires that all tan- the post-tanning operations. neries, where the treatment capacity

l air emissions that arise mostly dur- exceeds 12 tonnes of finished prod- ing dry-finishing processes but can ucts per day, operate according to an also be released from all other parts integrated permit containing operat- of the tannery. ing conditions based on ‘best avail- LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 49 able techniques’ (BATs). A general BAT definition is provided in Article 2 of the directive and the Commission has also published more detailed BAT requirements for tanneries in a dedicated set of reference documents, known as ‘BREF’.

The current BREF for the tanning industry - Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for the Tanning of Hides and Skins - was adopted in February 2003 following an extensive consultation between stakeholders. In 2007 the European IPPC

Bureau initiated a review of the BREF Photo: LIFE02 ENV/E/000236 for the tanning industry with aims to One project demonstrated the recycling of natural sheepskin fat generated by issue a revised BREF in 2010. degreasing operations

Other important EU legislation of water and chemical reagents that chromium content of sludge, thereby includes the Water Framework Direc- consequently produce large volumes decreasing sludge-management tive (WFD) and REACH. The former of potentially hazardous effluent. East- costs, and overall effluent salinity was obliges leather sector businesses to ern Spain’s Technological Institute cut by 18% which greatly improved take measures to reduce water pol- of Footwear and Related Industries waste-water treatment efficiencies. lution and the latter remains highly (INESCOP) recognised these problems relevant since leather industries are and established the LIFE project Tan- Water quality featured prominently important downstream users of many nery Waste Water Recycling in Leather in another important Spanish LIFE different chemical preparations. Industries (LIFE00 ENV/E/000498) to project that targeted the Alicante demonstrate a technology for recycling region’s La Serrata industrial estate, LIFE support portfolio waste water from tanning baths. A pilot where 40% of national leather produc- plant was built to treat and re-use up to tion takes place. The private sector LIFE has supported the greening of the 25 m3 of tanning bath fluid waste each beneficiary, AQUAGEST Levante, S. tannery sector in Europe by co-funding day. Results offered strong transfer- A., launched its LIFE project Develop- the development and demonstration ability with leather quality remaining ment of a new salt water purification of many different projects highlighting good from a 97% decrease in water system in the tanning sector for re-use the emergence of cleaner technologies use. The LIFE project also demon- (LIFE02 ENV/E/000216) with objec- linked with waste-water management strated lower demands for reactive tives to establish a new treatment or integrated prevention and control of agents, using 55% less sodium chlo- process that increased the quality of pollution associated with implementa- ride and 14% fewer chromium salts. waste-water effluents by removing tion of the IPPC Directive. This led to a 27% reduction in the organic and mineral pollutants. The

This portfolio of LIFE assistance now Grape seed residue from the Spanish wine sector was used as a more environmentally represents a cluster of expertise in friendly tanning compound sustainable tannery management where a large library of good practice has been accumulated. The following projects offer particularly strong demonstration value, highlighting pertinent examples of best practice in the green- Photo: LIFE04 ENV/E/000237 ing of Europe’s leather industry.

Spanish expertise

Like all other EU countries, Spain’s tanneries consume vast quantities Clothing & design industries

improved by the Spanish Leather Research Centre’s LIFE project DEGREASING (LIFE02 ENV/E/00019) that adopted a holistic approach to improve the environmental sensitiv- ity of tanning elements used during sheepskin degreasing. Special attention was paid to replacing polluting chemicals, such as ethoxylated non- ylphenols, with a new surfactant that provided the leather sector with an inventive tool to fulfil WFD requirements concerning the List of Priority Substances that need to be reduced. Furthermore, the new surfactant was shown to be recyclable and the resulting separated fat can be recovered for sale as an industrial by-product.

Tanning elements also formed the focus of a forest conservation project that explored the use of wine grape seed waste as alternative tanning

Photo: LIFE02 ENV/NL/000114 compounds to replace traditional tan- Taneftreat significantly improved the existing best available technology for tannery nins sourced from deciduous woods waste-water treatment of high natural value. Similarly co- funded by Spain’s Leather Research project used a biological reactor to year and the beneficiary has extracted Centre, the LIFE project GRAPE TAN- separate waste components into eflu- three new products using recycled NINS (LIFE04 ENV/ES/00023) demon- ent, which is treated by a combination raw material. These represent win-win strated the effectiveness of a prototype of ultra-filtration membranes, reverse economic benefits from environmental technology for collecting and concen- osmosis procedures and thermal dry- protection activities since they provide trating grape tannin extract. Two tan- ing systems, to produce inert solid an alternative for high-cost raw materi- neries participated in the pioneering waste and waste water with a consid- als such as fish oils. project that used grape-based com- erably improved quality compared to pounds to tan cow hides for shoe- previous approaches. The end prod- Environmental impacts from degreas- sole leather and sheepskin for lining ucts can be recycled for agricultural ing processes have been further leather. Outcomes were positive with or industrial purposes and the LIFE- financed plant can treat up to 8 000 Environmental improvements are possible at each of the four tanning production cycle m3 of water each day. stages: liming, tanning, dyeing and finishing

An equally innovative solution to help EU tanneries ‘close the loop’ of waste streams was developed by INQUIM- ICA in their LIFE project Demonstration

plant for the recycling of fat produced Photo: LIFE04 ENV/IT/000414 by processes of degreasing skins (LIFE02 ENV/E/000236). Here, wastes from degreased sheep skins were treated using new technology capable of extracting valuable compounds that can then be reapplied in lubricat- ing products for sheep hides. Results demonstrated that up to 700 tonnes of grease could be recycled each LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 51

agents. Conventional finishing plants ronmental policy for the Italian tan- have in the past had very low efficien- nery sector. Another spin-off from cies with up to 85% of the chemicals this landmark LIFE project is RIWAC sprayed becoming waste products. - Project for recovery and re-use of These generate high levels of vola- industrial waters and trivalent chro- tile organic compound (VOC) emis- mium generated by tannery waste sions, hazardous sludge effluent and processing (LIFE05 ENV/IT/000812), produce potentially noxious working This project involves introducing new environments. The NESS project methods for purifying tannery waste aimed to address these issues by water by destroying ammonia and innovating the spraying technol- converting it to nitrogen through a ogy used in tannery processes. In thermal catalytic system. In addition, particular, LIFE funds were used to the LIFE project technology aims to introduce new technology based on: recover chrome and calcium sulphate eliminating rotating spraying struc- from tannery sludge. tures and replacing these with linear bars; switching from sprayers to Dutch developments aerographs to enhance the accuracy of colouring applications; and auto- Good practice in greening tannery man- mating the overall finishing system. agement systems has been developed further by the Hulshof Royal Dutch Results from the project offer excel- Tanneries’ LIFE project, TANEFTREAT lent demonstration value for other - Demonstration of effective and effi- EU tanneries and the LIFE project cient TANnery EFfluent TREATment highlighted the suitability of NESS using an innovative integrated and

Photo: LIFE04 ENV/IT/000414 technology from both economic compact biological and physical treat- The N.E.S.S. project worked to clean and technical perspectives. Thor- ment plant (LIFE02 ENV/NL/000114) up the spraying technology used in the ough tests were carried out over - that succeeded in boosting tannery skin-finishing phase the entire leather-finishing cycle and waste-water treatments with ‘better outcomes clearly showed that final than best’ technology. Hulshof tanner- the grape tannins offering improved product quality remained high and ies’ LIFE project demonstrated a new, values in ‘light fastness’, competitive comparable with products treated compact, integrated plant for the treat- production prices and potential nature in a traditional way. Operating costs ment of tannery effluent that improved conservation savings from limiting of the new finishing line were also current BATs in tannery waste-water deforestation by over 550 000 trees lower than conventional systems treatment. a year. and this is in part due to time savings achieved during finishing. The new Taneftreat plant combined Italian innovations Additional economic savings were ‘process-integrated’ and ‘end-of-pipe’ made from reduced consumption of measures. ‘Process-integrated’ meas- A number of interesting and innovative energy by as much as 75% and 95% ures separate different waste streams developments in sustainable tannery less water was used. Raw material generated in the tannery, which are management systems have been pro- savings significantly lowered VOC then treated by various ‘end-of-pipe’ gressed by Italian beneficiaries includ- emissions by up to 95% and other processes to reduce toxicity, limit ing SICA S.p.A.’s NESS - New Eco important health and safety benefits sludge volumes and generate biogas. Spray System project (LIFE04 ENV/ were noted by the NESS technology; Results from the LIFE-funded devel- IT/000414) which designed new tech- it created about 85% less acoustic opment have been compelling and nology to improve the environmental pollution and the use of water-based demonstrated a 95% removal rate footprint of skin finishing phases in colours improved employees’ work- of chemical oxygen demand (COD). the tanning production cycle. ing conditions. This compares favourably against the BAT, which had a COD removal rate A range of toxic chemicals are com- NESS project outcomes were based of below 90%. Sulphur removal also monly used during finishing such as on some of the BAT elements devel- showed considerable improvement as synthetic resins, organic and non- oped through the GIADA LIFE project the project achieved a 70% removal organic pigments, nitrocellulose bind- (LIFE00/ENV/IT/000184) which rate, compared with a BAT removal ers, waxes, emulsions and plastifying helped to establish a pragmatic envi- rate of 40%. the tannery’s environmental impact showed a reduction in biochemi- cal oxygen demand (BOD) of 98%, COD of 92% and chromium of 87%. Tanwater’s more efficient concept of treating waste water from the leather industry costs approximately e 1.5 / m3, including the original investment outlays, and this is around the same as conventional treatment costs.

Mediterranean management

All of these LIFE-funded improvements to environmental standards at European tanneries have been led by the industry itself. This demonstrates their commitment to the EU’s sustainable business development agendas and LIFE support has helped to extend these principles beyond EU borders into neighbouring countries. Photo: LIFE03 ENV/S/000595 Tanwater’s Elmo tannery is one of the oldest and largest tanneries in western Sweden LIFE TCY funds have been used in Tunisia, for example, to assist Additional advantages included: comes were based on an innovative the National Centre for Leather an 80% reduction in the amount of waste-water treatment process and and Shoes to explore new ways to chemicals used by the BAT; 30% displayed consistent outputs under enhance waste-water management lower net energy demands, because different weather conditions. Results from tanneries and enhance inte- biogas from the installation is used have been substantial, achieving grated approaches to pollution pre- to produce its energy; and the instal- nitrogen reduction levels of 86%. vention. Operated with Spanish part- lation costs were shown to be 35% This was higher than the project’s ners, the, EAUCUIR - Demonstration lower than the BAT, thus improving 80% target and far exceeded other of waste water treatment in Tunisian the cost-benefit ratio appreciably. All technologies that achieve a reduction tanneries (LIFE04 TCY/TN/000063) these factors highlight the wider EU of about 30%. project installed two new mobile pilot benefits that could be gained by incor- plants to demonstrate best practices porating Taneftreat technology as part Nitrogen loads were also lowered using physical, chemical and biologi- of the new BREF and the beneficiary considerably by the LIFE-funded cal treatment methods. The project has been discussing such opportuni- treatment plant - it created only 21 included a dedicated training element ties with the European IPPC Bureau’s tonnes a year compared to the previ- and overall results indicate important tannery working group. ous conventional biological process capacity-building gains that will have that produced 104 tonnes a year. long-term knock-on benefits for the Swedish success Moreover, ongoing monitoring of Mediterranean area’s environment.

Another successful BAT develop- LIFE funding also supported improved clean technologies and waste-water treatment ment with EU-wide relevance was in non-EU Mediterranean countries taken forward by the Swedish TAN- WATER - Reduction of the nitrogen discharge from the leather industry (LIFE03 ENV/S/00059). Implemented at western Sweden’s Elmo tannery, the project established new cost- Photo: LIFE04 TCY/ET/000045 Photo: LIFE04 TCY/TN/000063 effective methods to reduce nitrogen discharges from leather industry operations. The LIFE project out- LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 53

Further successful and promising projects

The table below presents some of the numerous past and current LIFE projects focussing on greening businesses. For more information on individual projects, visit the online LIFE database at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm or the section ‘LIFE by theme: Industry & production’ at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/themes/industry/index.htm.

Start Country Number Acronym Title Basic industries

2006 Belgium LIFE06 ENV/B/000356 CLEAN SITE Demonstrate and implement a self-supportive selective collection system for plastic packaging waste in the construction sector involving all stakeholders along the value chain and to show sustainability of the concept 2006 Spain LIFE06 ENV/E/000001 ReLiStoP Resin-free Liquid-Stone Process elimination of ynthetic polluting resins and toxic solvents used in the production of decorative elements in bass- relief with high artistic contents, substituted by eco sustainable and natural row materials impart- ing similar effect. 2006 Italy LIFE06 ENV/IT/000254 UME Ultrasound micro-cut ecosustainable 2006 The Netherlands LIFE06 ENV/NL/000176 Green Demonstrating innovative technologies that sig- Bearings nificantly improve the environmental performance of bearings 2005 Belgium LIFE05 ENV/B/000517 INSIMEP In Situ Metal Precipitation for remediation of groundwater contaminated with non ferrous metals 2005 Germany LIFE05 ENV/D/000207 HVD Hydro-Mechanical Descaling Process based on High-Pressure Vacuum Technology Using Scales as Abrasive Blast Medium 2005 Spain LIFE05 ENV/E/000256 ZERO PLUS Integral liquid residuals management model for surface treatment industries through BAT’s 2005 Spain LIFE05 ENV/E/000301 ECO- Ecological ceramics optimization. Alternative to CERAMICS sludge disposal 2005 Italy LIFE05 ENV/IT/000875 P.S.V. Polishing Sludge Valorisation 2004 Italy LIFE04 ENV/IT/000589 EWG New clean technology for the decoration of all kinds of ceramic surfaces, whether flat or tex- tured, with a minimal use of raw noble materials 2004 Sweden LIFE04 ENV/SE/000765 Biored Multi-Stage Biological Reduction of EDTA in Pulp Industries 2003 Germany LIFE03 ENV/D/000043 Recarc Recycling of residues from metallurgical industry with the arc furnace technology 2003 Italy LIFE03 ENV/IT/000421 PIONEER Paper Industry Operating in Network: an experi- ment for Emas Revision 2003 The Netherlands LIFE03 ENV/NL/000464 WAHEPHO High quality water recycling including thermal energy recovery in photo film and photo paper production 2003 The Netherlands LIFE03 ENV/NL/000476 Empereur Emulsion Pertraction for Europe 2003 Turkey LIFE03 TCY/TR/000064 SEVESO-TR Approximation of SEVESO-II Directive in Turkey 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000150 Recons Reducing Construction Environmental Impact 2002 Italy LIFE02 ENV/IT/000052 Micro- A new dry process of microfinishing of grey finishing porcelain and natural stone surfaces 2000 Sweden LIFE00 ENV/S/000853 Picked Recycling of Nitric Acid from Waste Pickling Acid by Electrodialysis Start Country Number Acronym Title

2000 Sweden LIFE00 ENV/S/000864 Cool Tech The new coolant technologies for metalworking 2000 The Netherlands LIFE00 ENV/NL/000808 EQuation Demonstration and dissemination project for stim- ulating architects and local governments to build sustainable with help of innovative design tools Tourism

2004 France LIFE04 ENV/FR/000340 ShMILE Sustainable hotels in Mediterranean Islands and area - A demonstration project in Corsica, Sar- dinia and Halkidiki for EU-wide promotion of the EU eco-label on tourist accommodation service 2004 Italy LIFE04 ENV/IT/000437 PHAROS Playground harbour and research of sustainability 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000161 TIERMES Tiermes-Caracena Valley 2003 France LIFE03 ENV/F/000260 Promesse Promotion of Environmental management on a sensitive ecotouristical site in Camargue 2003 The Netherlands LIFE03 ENV/NL/000473 TOURBENCH European Monitor and Benchmarking Initiative for Environmental Impacts and Costs of Tourist Accomodations 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000199 JARA Sustainable tourism and environmental restoration in territory affect for the mining action 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000263 PEDRA Pedra Tosca Park TOSCA 2000 Spain LIFE00 ENV/E/000389 SITUR Integral sustainability of Tourism 2000 Italy LIFE00 ENV/IT/000064 ECO-FIMON Ecological upgrading and tourist promotion of lake Fimon basin Eco-Fimon 2000 Italy LIFE00 ENV/IT/000132 TOVEL A concerted model of sustainable development of tourism Food industries

2005 Spain LIFE05 ENV/E/000251 OZONECIP Ozone clean in place in food industries 2005 Spain LIFE05 ENV/E/000267 Be-fair Benign and environmentally friendly fish processing practices to provide added value and innovative solutions for a responsible and sustainable management of fisheries. 2004 Denmark LIFE04 ENV/DK/000067 New Novel energy efficient process for potato protein potatopro extraction 2004 Spain LIFE04 ENV/ES/000224 JELLY Demonstration project for gelatine production with use of innovative technology achieving an important 2004 Greece LIFE04 ENV/GR/000110 ECOIL Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a decision support tool (DST) for the eco-production of olive oil. 2004 Italy LIFE04 ENV/IT/000409 Olèico A new application of phytodepuration as a treatment for the olive mill waste water disposal 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000085 SYNERGY Quality and respect for environment 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000114 BIOVID Alternative to wine shoots’ incineration 2003 Greece LIFE03 ENV/GR/000223 Dionysos Development of an economically viable process for the integrated management via utilization of winemaking industry waste; production of high added value natural products and organic fertilizer 2003 Italy LIFE03 ENV/IT/000321 FREEPCB Elimination of PCBs from the Food Chain through Bioremediation of agricultural superficies 2003 The Netherlands LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 ANPHOS Environmentally friendly phosphorus removal in anaerobe effluent by means of the struvite process 2003 The Netherlands LIFE03 ENV/NL/000488 Dairy, no A dairy industry which is self-supporting in water water! LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 55

Start Country Number Acronym Title

2003 Sweden LIFE03 ENV/S/000593 Cleantreat Clean Technology for Rest Product Treatment 2003 Sweden LIFE03 ENV/S/000600 Stiim System for Thermal Sedd Treatment - an Inte- grated Approach to Implementation and Manage- ment in the EU Seed Industry 2000 Greece LIFE00 ENV/GR/000671 MINOS Process development for an integrated olive oil mill waste management recovering natural anti- oxidants and producing organic fertilizer 2000 Sweden LIFE00 ENV/S/000867 Eurocrate Integrated reusable plastic crates and pallets, eliminating package waste, for sustainable distribution of everyday commodities in Europe Machine & system industries

2005 France LIFE05 ENV/F/000062 GAP Clean alternative technology to chemical milling: demonstration of technical, environmental and economic performance of mechanical milling for the machining of complex shaped panels used in the aeronautical and space industries – GAP (Green Advanced Panels) project 2005 Germany LIFE05 ENV/D/000197 LEADFREE Demonstration and Training Lead-Free Soldering for European Industry in Order to Promote Envi- ronment-Friendly Electronic Production 2005 Spain LIFE05 ENV/E/000317 ELVES Development of a system for high-quality separation of metal alloys from end-of-life-vehicle engines... 2004 Germany LIFE04 ENV/DE/000047 Resolved Recovery of Solar Valuable Materials, Enrichment and Decontamination 2003 Greece LIFE03 ENV/GR/000219 ETRES Applying European Emissions Trading & Renew- able energy support mechanisms in the Greek electricity sector 2003 Germany LIFE03 ENV/D/000044 DAMIVOC Development of an Aerospace Minimized VOC Exterior System 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000106 RECIPLAS Recycling plastic from vehicle factory waste to produce packaging and pallets 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000160 URBANBAT Integral waste management model for urban transport infrastructure 2003 France LIFE03 ENV/F/000263 RENOFAP Industrial pilot project for remanufacturing and reusing of diesel passenger cars particle filter 2003 The Netherlands LIFE03 ENV/NL/000474 LNG Tanker Demonstrating the effective and safe use of liquid natural gas as fuel 2003 Sweden LIFE03 ENV/S/000596 Reuseoil Recovery of Used Oil filters generating recyclable metal and oil fractions 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000177 TRAGAMOVIL Demonstration Project of Separate Collection and recycling of Waste from Mobile Phones 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000253 ECOBUS Collecting used cooking oils to their recycling as biofuel for diesel engines 2002 Finland LIFE02 ENV/FIN/000321 Tool for small and medium sized transportation companies to improve their environmental performance 2000 Spain LIFE00 ENV/E/000484 PC-NEW Personal computers new equipments

Clothing & design industries

2006 Germany LIFE06 ENV/D/000471 INSU-SHELL Environmentally Friendly Façade Elements made of thermal insulated Textile Reinforced Concrete 2005 Germany LIFE05 ENV/D/000195 SuperWool Sustainable, AOX-free Superwash Finishing of Wool Tops for the Yarn Production Start Country Number Acronym Title

2005 Italy LIFE05 ENV/IT/000846 BATTLE Best Available Technique for water reuse in Tex- tiLE SMEs 2004 Spain LIFE04 ENV/ES/000237 GRAPE Saving of forest exploitation for obtaining of tan- TANNINS ning extracts through valorisation of wine waste 2004 Italy LIFE04 ENV/IT/000414 N.E.S.S. New Eco Spray System 2004 Tunesia LIFE04 TCY/TN/000063 EAUCUIR Demonstration of wastewater treatment in Tuni- sian tanneries 2003 Spain LIFE03 ENV/E/000102 FOTOTEX Water Purification Tertiary Treatment using Photo- oxidation at semi-industrial scale 2003 Greece LIFE03 ENV/GR/000204 ECO- Introduction and Promotion of the ECO-LABEL to TEXTILE the greek textile industry 2003 Portugal LIFE03 ENV/P/000521 SONATURA Vapour Phase Bioreactors for Agro-non-Food Industries 2003 Sweden LIFE03 ENV/S/000595 Tanwater Reduction of the nitrogen discharge from the leather industry 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000194 DEGREASING Aqueous degreasing of fatty sheepskins through the replacement of ethoxylated nonylphenol by biodegradable ethoxylated alcohols and further recycling 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000216 Development of a new salt water purification system in the tanning sector for reuse 2002 Spain LIFE02 ENV/E/000236 Demonstration plant for the recycling of fat produced by processes of degreasing skins 2002 The Netherlands LIFE02 ENV/NL/000114 TANEF- Demonstration of effective and efficient TAN- TREAT nery Effluent TREATment using an innnovative integrated and compact biological and physical treatment plant 2000 Spain LIFE00 ENV/E/000498 TARELI Tannery Wastewater Recycling in Leather Indus- tries 2000 Italy LIFE00 ENV/IT/000034 ECO.FUTURE Ecofriendly Furniture 2000 Italy LIFE00 ENV/IT/000184 GIADA Integrated Environmental Management in the tannery district of Chiampo Valley (Italy)

2000 The Netherlands LIFE00 ENV/NL/000797 DETECTIVE Demonstration Textile CO2 Treatment Introduction Validation Effort

‘Best Projects’ award ‘Best of the Best Projects’ award

Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program (2007-2013): Supporting innovative green technologies The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) is a new Community instrument which aims to promote the competitiveness of European enterprises. With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as its main target group, the programme includes support for innovation activities, including eco-innovation, and for the promotion of renewable energies and energy efficiency. The eco-innovation strand within CIP has a budget of €430 million and specifically aims to support products, processes and services that help to reduce environmental impacts and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. It also supports the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP), focusing primarily on market-oriented activities related to the take-up of environmental technologies, and also eco-innovation activities by enterprises and entrepreneurs oriented towards commercialisation. Programme website: http://ec.europa.eu/cip/index_en.htm

Environmental Technologies Action Plan The Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) was launched in 2004 to stimulate the development and use of environmental technologies. ETAP covers a spectrum of actions to promote eco-innovation and the take-up of environmental technologies. It includes priority actions along several lines, such as promoting research and development, mobilising funds, and helping to drive demand and improving market conditions. Plan website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/index_en.htm LIFE Focus I Breathing LIFE into greener businesses I p. 57

Available LIFE publications

LIFE-Focus brochures Other publications

A number of LIFE publications are Integrated management of Natura Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2007-2008 available on the LIFE website: 2000 sites (2005 - 48 pp. – ISBN 92-79- (2008, 44 pp.-ISBN 978-92-79-09325-8 00388-7) ISSN 1725-5619) LIFE and endangered plants: Conserv- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/pub- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/pub- ing Europe’s threatened flora (2008 - lications/lifepublications/lifefocus/docu- lications/lifepublications/bestprojects/ 52p - ISBN 978-92-79-08815-5) ments/managingnatura_lr.pdf documents/bestenv08.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ LIFE, Natura 2000 and the military Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007 documents/plants.pdf (2005 - 86 pp. – ISBN 92-894-9213-9 (2007, 44 pp.-ISBN 978-92-79-06699-3 – ISSN 1725-5619) ISSN 1725-5619) LIFE and Europe’s wetlands: Restoring http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ a vital ecosystem (2007 - 68 pp. - ISBN publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ publications/lifepublications/bestprojects 978-92-79-07617-6) documents/military_en.pdf documents/bestenv07.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ LIFE for birds: 25 years of the Birds LIFE-Third Countries 1992-2006 (2007, documents/wetlands.pdf Directive: the contribution of LIFE- 64 pp. – ISBN 978-92-79-05694-9 – ISSN Nature projects (2004 - 48 pp. – ISBN 1725-5619) LIFE and waste recycling: Innovative 92-894-7452-1 – ISSN 1725-5619) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ waste management options in Europe http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ (2007 - 60 pp. - ISBN 978-92-79-07397-7) publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ documents/TCY_lr.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ documents/birds_en.pdf publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2005- documents/recycling.pdf LIFE-Nature: communicating with 2006 (2006, 40 pp. ISBN 92-79-02123-0) stakeholders and the general public http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ LIFE and Europe’s rivers: Protecting – Best practice examples for Natura publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/ and improving our water resources 2000 (2004 - 72 pp. – ISBN 92-894- documents/bestenv06_lr.pdf (2007 – 52pp. ISBN 978-92-79-05543-0 7898-5 – ISSN 1725-5619) - ISSN 1725-5619) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ LIFE-Environment 1992-2004 “Dem- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ onstrating excellence in environmen- publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ documents/natcommunicat_lr.pdf tal innovation” (2005, 124 pp. – ISBN documents/rivers.pdf 92-894-7699-3 – ISSN 1725-5619) A cleaner, greener Europe: LIFE and http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ LIFE and Energy: Innovative solutions the European Union waste policy publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ for sustainable and efficient energy in (2004 - 28 pp. – ISBN 92-894-6018-0 documents/lifeenv92_04.pdf Europe (2007 – 64pp. ISBN 978 92-79- – ISSN 1725-5619) 04969-9 - ISSN 1725-5619) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ LIFE-Environment Projects 2006 compi- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ lation (2006, 56 pp.-ISBN 92-79-02786-7) publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ documents/waste_en.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ documents/energy_lr.pdf publications/lifepublications/compilations/ LIFE and agri-environment support- documents/envcompilation06.pdf LIFE and the marine environment ing Natura 2000: Experience from the (2006 – 54pp. ISBN 92-79-03447-2- ISSN LIFE programme (2003 - 72 pp. – ISBN LIFE-Nature Projects 2006 compilation 1725-5619) 92-894-6023-7 – ISSN N° 1725-5619) (2006, 67 pp. – ISBN 92-79-02788-3) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ publications/lifepublications/compilations/ documents/marine_lr.pdf documents/agrienvironment_en.pdf documents/natcompilation06.pdf

LIFE and European forests (2006 - 68pp. LIFE-Third Countries Projects 2006 ISBN 92-79-02255-5 - ISSN 1725-5619) compilation (2006, 20 pp. – ISBN 92- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ 79-02787-5) publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ documents/forest_lr.pdf publications/lifepublications/compilations/ A number of printed copies of cer- documents/tcycompilation06.pdf LIFE in the City: Innovative solutions tain LIFE publications are availa- for Europe’s urban environment (2006, ble and can be ordered free-of- 64pp. - ISBN 92-79-02254-7 – ISSN charge at: http://ec.europa.eu/ 1725-5619) http://ec.europa.eu/envi- environment/life/publications/ ronment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/urban_lr.pdf order.htm LIFE “L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment

Period covered (LIFE III) 2000-2006.

EU funding available approximately EUR 945 million.

Type of intervention co-financing actions in favour of the environment (LIFE projects) in the Member States of the European Union, in associated candidate countries and in certain third countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. LIFE projects > LIFE Nature projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and natural habitats. They support the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network. > LIFE Environment projects contribute to the development of innovative and integrated techniques or methods to support environmental progress. > LIFE Third Countries projects support environmental capacity building and initiatives in non-EU countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.

LIFE+ “L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment KH-80-08-413-EN-C

Period covered (LIFE+) 2007-2013.

EU funding available approximately EUR 2,143 million

Type of intervention at least 78% of the budget is for co-financing actions in favour of the environment (LIFE+ projects) in the Member States of the European Union and in certain non-EU countries. LIFE+ projects > LIFE+ Nature projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and natural habitats. They support the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network. > LIFE+ Biodiversity projects improve biodiversity in the EU. They contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the Commission Communication, “Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond” (COM (2006) 216 final). > LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance projects contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments in support of European environmental policy and legislation. > LIFE+ Information and Communication projects are communication and awareness raising campaigns related to the implementation, updating and development of European environmental policy and legislation, including the prevention of forest fires and training for forest fire agents.

Further information further information on LIFE and LIFE+ is available at http://ec.europa.eu/life.

How to apply for LIFE+ funding The European Commission organises annual calls for proposals. Full details are available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm Contact European Commission – Directorate-General for the Environment LIFE Unit – BU-9 02/1 – B-1049 Brussels – Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/life

LIFE Focus / “Breathing LIFE into greener businesses: Demonstrating innovative approaches to improving the environmental performance of European businesses” Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2008 - 60p - 21 x 29.7 cm ISBN 978-92-79-10656-9 ISSN 1725-5619 DOI: 10.2779/88514

ISSN 1725-5619