International Olympic Committee • • • • • ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION OF BRANDING AND SIGNAGE SOLUTIONS FOR EVENTS FINAL VERSION Prepared for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) 01 INTRODUCTION 5 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT This document aims to compile and compare lifecycle impact data for a range of branding, signage and overlay materials, in order to help guide decisions regarding the sustainability of sourcing and end-of-life management of such materials. Following this introduction, Section 02 of this document presents guiding principles that should be followed to reduce environmental impacts associated with the sourcing and end-of-life management of event branding and signage. Section 03 presents the outcomes of life-cycle assessments (LCAs) for over 40 different material types. For each material type, the environmental impacts of a conventional option are compared with those of an alternate commercially available option and a new innovation. This is complemented by case studies describing some of the more advanced solutions to reduce environmental footprint. Links to project contacts are provided in Section 04, and project references are included in Section 05. Disclaimer: Anthesis Consulting Group Ltd has prepared this report for the sole use of the client and for the intended purposes as stated in the agreement between Anthesis and the client under which this report was completed. Anthesis has exercised due and customary care in preparing this report but has not, save as specifically stated, independently verified information provided by others. No other warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the contents of this report. The use of this report, or reliance on its content, by unauthorised third parties without written permission from Anthesis shall be at their own risk, and Anthesis accepts no duty of care to such third parties. Any recommendations, opinions or findings stated in this report are based on facts and circumstances as they existed at the time the report was prepared. Any changes in such facts and circumstances may adversely affect the recommendations, opinions or findings contained in this report. 6 OVERVIEW OF APPROACH Anthesis took the following approach to this environmental assessment. 1. 3. 5. Collaboration with Stakeholder workshop Undertaking Life Cycle IOC and UEFA to and survey Assessments (LCAs) identify needs and additional research 2. 4. 6. Landscape review Finalisation of Review of outcomes and initial research research framework and guidance development 7 Environmental assessment overview Detailed product-by-product INDEX environmental results Pages 30 – 32 Hyperlinks to pages included • Lifecycle assessment methodology Pages 50 - 106 • Overview of each product Pages 33 - 34 category and materials studied Introduction • Summary of products and materials studied • Quantitative environmental Pages 6 - 7 impacts • Overview of work Pages 35 – 37 • Guide to interpreting summaries • Detailed end-of-life assessment Pages 8 - 12 and guidance • Index and how to use Pages 40 - 42 this report • Materials and recyclability guide Guiding principles Pages 14 – 18 Summary environmental Project contacts • Key principles for procurement and results planning across product lifecycles Pages 108 - 109 • Invitation to contribute Pages 19 - 20 Pages 44 – 46 information and data • Understanding end-of-life • Qualitative environmental terminology and processes results summary for all products • Project contact details studied Pages 21 - 23 References • Key questions for suppliers Pages 47 - 49 Pages 24 - 27 • General observations and Pages 111 – 112 • Transport impacts takeaways from environmental • Reference library • Printing, flame retardants, PVC, results and digital signage 8 INDEX OF BRANDING, SIGNAGE & OVERLAY ELEMENTS IN STUDY Type Category (product format) Product This document refers to different branding, signage and overlay elements. Fluted plastic boards This index has been hyperlinked to help create an easy Foamboards navigation route for users to access the most relevant information quickly. Wood & fibre boards Signage boards Signage boards (hardboards) Transparent boards Durable signage boards PVC banners Banners Flexible graphics Non-PVC banners Graphic textiles Graphic textiles Structures Structural materials Structural materials Flooring Flooring Flooring Self-adhesive decals Standard decals Self-adhesive decals and films and films Specialist decals 9 HOW TO USE THIS REPORT: OVERVIEW This document has been developed to address three different needs: procurement policy development, product procurement and environmental impact assessment. Each section below contains hyperlinks to the parts of the document that are most useful to readers for each discipline. For procurement policy development For product procurement For environmental assessment • Guiding principles outline key supply chain • General guidance is provided on • The footprint summary compares stewardship considerations and aim to clarify • end-of-life definitions environmental impacts across the product terminology used around end-of-life and categories “recyclability”. • key procurement questions • The detailed analysis sections give quantitative • transport impacts environmental footprint information at a • printing and flame retardants • Summary ratings (qualitative results) allow user product level to browse between all product types • impacts of PVC • These ratings can be used to give an overview of • digital signage To understand the approach we have taken: environmental considerations across different • Summary ratings (qualitative results) across products • Life cycle assessment methodology product types allows user to browse between all • Sources and reference library • These can aid policy setting for events categories and identify trade-offs for different • Use as a reference for justifying products environmental policies • The detailed analysis gives quantitative environmental footprint information and detailed guidance on end-of-life and circularity at a product level 10 HOW TO USE THIS REPORT: STRUCTURE OF REPORT INFORMATION Product/material information and environmental impact results are structured in several layers and use both qualitative and quantitative indicators Summary of all products and materials with The summary enables comparison of environmental impact indicators qualitative impact indicators across comparable products Product types with multiple Product type overview categories or products have dedicated summary pages Product category Each product grouping is broken down into 3 main, detailed sections. This includes an in-depth overview of the relevant materials, full environmental Detailed overview Quantitative Circularity & end- results, and detailed end-of-life of products / environmental of-life assessment information. materials results and guidance 11 HOW TO USE THIS REPORT: EXAMPLE USE CASES Information in this report may be used in many different ways, from strategic prioritisation of material usage to tactical product-specific decisions (e.g. how to manage a particular product at end-of-life) Use case Key sections Example Summary of all products and Identifying best-in-class products across all • Use of qualitative indicators to identify the best performing products materials with qualitative impact sustainability indicators (based on single use) or materials across all environmental impact categories indicators Summary of all products and • Use of qualitative indicators to review performance across a single Identifying best performing products within one materials with qualitative impact environmental impact, e.g. if one area is being prioritised by your priority area, e.g. climate or end-of-life indicators organisation. Understanding key issues with a particular Detailed overview of products / • Reviewing information in product overview to better understand material/product type materials and issues the materials themselves and the alternative materials available Understanding the key differences in • Using quantitative information to better understand the overall Product quantitative environmental environmental impact between different products impact of a material or product, and where or why these emissions impact results of the same type occur in the supply chain. • Using detailed recyclability or circularity guidance to inform choice Developing end-of-life management plans for a Product circularity & end-of-life of material, or to better understand how waste service providers particular product assessment guidance handle material at end-of-life Product quantitative environmental • Evaluate suitability of a product for single use through its impact results environmental impact and recyclability Investigating single use vs. reuse cases for a particular product Product circularity & end-of-life • Estimate potential environmental impact reduction through reuse assessment guidance of a material 12 GUIDING 02 PRINCIPLES 1 3 WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS SECTION This section provides: • An introduction to sustainability guiding principles. • The environmental principles for consideration when procuring event branding, signage or overlay elements. • A close-up on the circular economy, waste hierarchy, and supply chain stewardship. It is intended to help guide decisions on procurement policies as well as individual procurement activities. 14 THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY A traditional economy is linear, it relies on a model of ‘take, make,