August-September 1998

Renewed Eco-Market International Website
The renewed web-site of Eco-Market International, The European Platform on Green Products, "http://www.ecomarket.net" includes a variety of information on green products and services, in sectors that include building and furnishing, clothing and textiles, cosmetics, food and agriculture, energy and water, and travel and tourism. It also has separate sections on education, fairtrade, ecostores, labels, and finance. Those who want to join The Eco-Market can submit their web-site on line without costs.

For further information, please contact Mr. Han Hegeman, Ecosign Foundation, E-mail: lts@xs4all.nl.

Changing Course in Colombia
The Colombian Business Council for Sustainable Development, CECODES, created in 1994, currently includes 37 large firms and 2 business associations representing mining, oil, construction, manufacturing, agro-industry, banking, and other sectors. The CECODES members, representing more than 4 per cent of Colombia's Gross Domestic Product, and responsible for more than 400.000 direct and indirect jobs, have agreed to join efforts for making their consumption and production patterns more sustainable. One of their activities is the publication of an annual report, "Changing Course in Colombia", presenting indicators on economic performance, social responsibility, and eco-efficiency of member companies. CECODES also works closely with Government and others organisations to promote adequate institutional frameworks for encouraging sustainable business behaviour, and to advocate the use of environmental and social indicators for sustainability.

For further information, please contact Ms. Maria Emilia Correa, Executive Director, E-mail: cecodes@colomsat.net.co.

Handbook on International Comparisons of Energy Efficiency in The Manufacturing Industry
An increasing number of countries has expressed interest in bench marking their national energy efficiency against comparable economies, particularly in light of international climate change policy. However, results of energy efficiency studies in the past have not been suitable for assessing differences in energy efficiency between countries. At present, developing generally accepted methodologies for measuring energy efficiency in the manufacturing industry becomes increasingly important to come to internationally accepted comparisons for setting and monitoring compliance with goals for CO2 emission reductions, or for implementing joint implementation projects among sectors and countries. 

Therefore, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California, USA) and The Department of Science, Technology and Society (Utrecht, Netherlands) initiated the project "International Comparisons of Energy Efficiency". This project included 2 workshops attended by experts from 20 countries and representatives of international organisations, and resulted in the publication of the above Handbook. The book establishes a conceptual framework to develop indicators for measuring energy efficiency in the manufacturing industry, and uses this framework to propose indicators for the iron and steel, aluminum, cement, pulp and paper, ammonia, chlorine, petrochemical, refineries, and public electricity sectors.

G.J.M. Phylipsen, K. Blok and E. Worell, "Handbook on International Comparisons of Energy in the Manufacturing Industry", Department of Science, Technology, and Society, Utrecht University, 1998.

For further information, contact the Department of Science, Techology, and Society, Utrecht University, tel + (31 30) 253 76 00, fax + (31 30) 253 76 01.

Norway opts for Emissions Trading over CO2 Tax Expansion
The Norwegian parliament has voted down a government proposal to expand Norway's CO2 tax system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, opting instead for introducing a national system of tradeable emissions quotas for industry. The system will include all six greenhouse gases targeted by the Kyoto protocol, and will cover metal, petrochemical, and cement industries as well as oil refineries. Companies will have to achieve a cut of 30% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012, and quotas will be distributed at no charge on the basis of 1990 levels. Companies finding themselves unable to cut their emissions can buy quotas from others, and there will be restrictions on the right to sell quotas when a company shuts down. The quota system could be expanded to cover other sectors in a later stage.

For further information, contact Eva Nordvik, Norwegian Environment Ministry, tel: +47 22 24 57 18, fax: +47 22 24 95 60, E-mail: een@md.dep.no.
Source: Environment Watch Western Europe, 19 June 1998

Corporate Citizenship - Successful Strategies of Responsible Companies 
This book, that will come out in November this year, is the first comprehensive guide to the issues, emerging best practices, and the new Social Accountability Standards - SA 8000, set by the Council for Economic priorities in 1998. International companies such as Levis, Toys-R-US, Avon, Nike, Mc Donalds, Texaco, Reebok, Sony and the White House have learned that putting corporate citizenship at the heart of corporate strategy has given them the competitive edge. The book profiles their efforts and provides interesting solutions to issues including Fair Trade, Social and Ethical Auditing, Environmental Policy, and Global Codes of Conduct. The book also includes guidelines for the SA 8000 standards and the process for obtaining certification.

Mc Intosh, Leipziger, Jones, and Coleman, "Corporate Citizenship - Successful Strategies for Responsible Companies", 1998.

Source: Financial Times Pitman Publishing - Business and Management - Investment and Finance, 1998.

For further information, contact the Council on Economic Priorities in London, United Kingdom, tel (44 171) 730 26 46, or in New York, United States, tel (212) 420 11 33.

CARE - Strategic, Comprehensive Approach to Electronics Recycling and Reuse
The development of the Draft European Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) as well as the global warming and emission targets after the Kyoto Conference confer costs and far reaching responsibilities to all actors of the electronics industry as well as local and national authorities. According to the participants in the research project CARE, the great complexity of striving for high reuse and recycling rates on the one hand, and to integrate environmental awareness into the product design process on the other, cannot be solved by research activities focusing only on specific problem targets and "stand alone" solutions. It is therefore advisable to involve all stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, consumers, and governmental authorities through the organisation of a strategic or "cluster" project. Currently, more than 30 European organizations now take part in the interdisciplinary project CARE, combining work in the areas of Eco-design, Life Cycle Analysis, Human Impact Evaluation, collection, sorting, separation, reuse, and recycling of waste. The actual research project will run for 5 years - starting in 1999 - and spend an estimated overall budget of 100 million ECU.

For further information, contact Bernd Kopacek, International Care "VISION 2000" Office, tel + 43 2622 27 367, fax + 43 2622 27367-22, E-mail: care_vision_2000@magnet.at

Green EU Product Policy
According to a new study, the European Commission should encourage product-focused tax measures and take a range of other actions to create a coherent EU framework for greening product policy. The environment directorate is considering the development of a so-called Integrated Product Policy for the environment (IPP) at EU level and intends to host a workshop in Brussels in December to discuss the study and how it should be followed up. According to the study, five building blocs are needed to create the IPP, including (i) measures to reduce and manage wastes generated by the consumption of products, (ii) measures targeted at the developments of more environmentally sound products, (iii) measures to create markets for more environmentally sound products, (iv) measures for passing information along the "product chain", and (v) measures to allocate responsibility for managing the environmental burdens of product systems. The study recommends a prioritized set of actions for the Commission to undertake in the short and medium term. The role for the Commission would hereby be to be responsible for capacity building, encouraging convergence between policies at the national level, and enabling national policies to work effectively. The environment directorate has posted the executive summary of the study on its web site "www.europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg11/whatsnew.htm".

For more information, please contact Claude Rouam, European Commission, tel + 32 2 295 79 94, fax + 32 2 296 66 74.

Source: Environment Watch Western Europe, 19 June 1998

Book and/or Video "Silent Revolution"
In 1989, the Netherlands developed a National Environmental Policy Plan that included ambitious targets for industry. Companies committed to contributing to the National Plan had to conclude a binding agreement with the government. They thereby enjoyed the benefit of an increased freedom in the implementation of environmental measures. In consultation with the government, companies designed their own environmental policy plans. The government had the possibility to cancel the agreement and impose strict mandatory measures if firms did not comply with the objectives and targets outlined in the plan. The above book and video present and illustrate five years of experience in putting this approach in practice. The environmental effects of the new scheme are generally considered as positive, since most environmental objectives established for the year 2000 have presently been achieved.

For further information, please contact The Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Department for Information and External Relations, IPC 120, P.O. Box 20951, 2500 EZ The Hague, The Netherlands, fax +31 70 339 11 44

Purchasing Power - Civil Action for Sustainable Consumption
This report highlights the critical role of civil action within the sphere of consumption. It considers how consumption choices affect quality of life and how these are affected by consumers' collective and individual actions. It concludes that such civil actions can change the manner in which business is done and the terms by which livelihoods are constructed. It highlights the range of public policy options for strengthening the effective relationship between civil action, consumption, and quality of life. 
The report identifies civil action at the level of households/individuals, communities and networks/webs, including a dairy project in Mauritania, a strategy of Black Empowerment in the South African financial sector, and "the Rugmark", a labelling system developed by Indian rug exporters and Geman consumers. The study found that these initiatives were effective in directly benefiting an increasing number of people, influencing large-scale processes, and combating passivity by demonstrating working alternatives and focusing on what is possible.

Simon Zadek, Sanjiv Lingayah, and Sara Murphy, "Purchasing Power - Civil Action for Sustainable Consumption", New Economics Foundation, 1998.

For more information, contact the New Economics Foundation, E-mail : neweconomics@gn.apc.org.

Sustainable Development Research at the University of Amsterdam - A Survey
This publication includes an overiew of research at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, displaying work of 59 researchers who are working on various environment and development issues. The overview is the result of a survey that was conducted in the context of the project "Integration of Sustainable Development in the UvA curriculum", aiming at attuning research and educational activities related to sustainable development.

For more information, contact Anne Elsen, Network Coordinator, UNEP-Working Group on Sustainable Product Development, Centre for Environmental Sciences Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, E-mail: elsen@unep.frw.uva.nl, fax (31) 20 625 88 43.

Impacts of Economic Globalisation and Changes in Consumption and Production Patterns in Central and Eastern Europe and other Countries in Transition
The aim of this report, that was written in the context of a regional NGO initiative for Sustainable Consumption and Production in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE CAP), is to find out how consumption and production patterns have changed in the context of political, economic, and social transformations in Eastern Europe, and to outline the policy framework and actions that can lead to transition to sustainable consumption and production in the region. The further objectives of the report are to link arguments for more sustainable consumption and production patterns with social issues in the context of globalisation, and to redress the knowledge gaps about these issues within and about Eastern Europe. The report includes a discussion of the debate on and changes in consumption and production patterns in the region, environment and health, impacts of foreign investments, and elements for a common policy and action plan.

Ewa Charkiewicz, Inese Estere, George Marcu Razvan, Alex Young, Brane Zilavec, and Vida Ogorelec Wagner, "Impacts of Economic Globalisation and Changes in Consumption and Production Patterns in Central and Eastern Europe and other Countries in Transition", CEE CAP, 1998.

For more information, contact Ewa Charkiewich, Tools for Transition, Atjehstraat 20, NL 2585 VK Den Haag, The Netherlands, tel and fax: +31 70 3520 289, E-mail: echsvb@euronet.nl

Results International Environmental Monitor Survey 
This annual International Environmental Monitor survey was conducted by associated polling firms in 30 countries. More than 35,000 in person or telephone interviews (at least 1,000 per country) were conducted in March and April 1998, in countries including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Gemany, Finland, Poland, Kazakstan, Australia and New Zealand. Together, the countries surveyed contain two-thirds of the world's population. Main findings of the survey were that growing majorities want major action taken immediately on Climate Change, that environmental concerns are a top-of-mind concern of increasing importance (particularly in India and China), that strict laws are considered the best way to reduce industrial pollution, and that industry's performance needs to be continuously assessed.

For more information, contact Mr. Doug Miller, President, Environics International Ltd., Toronto, Canada, tel +1 (416) 920 39 32, E-mail: doug_environmics.ca.