Trends in product level carbon management
Trends in product level carbon management: Business implications for supply chains and carbon labelling
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In October 2009 ENDS Carbon will be publishing a Trends Report on product-level carbon management, In partnership with Ecometrica.
Many companies know that the carbon emitted up and down their supply chains is much more significant than their direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Managing these cradle-to-grave supply chain emissions using techniques such as product carbon life cycle assessment (LCA) is an increasingly important way to reduce them. This report analyses global corporate approaches, regulatory implications and customer trends for product carbon LCA and carbon labelling.
The report:
- Examines the key drivers for the growth of product carbon LCA and carbon labelling such as regulation, supply chain pressure and customer demand.
- Maps out approaches to product carbon LCA and carbon labelling.
- Sets out critical success factors for further uptake. Research We combined desk research and interviews with 16 purchasers and suppliers to gain insights into supply chains. We also spoke to seven companies and two specialists with an interest in LCA or product carbon LCA and its relationship to carbon labelling.
Benefits
- Research and interviews with leading practitioners in the field assures relevant, targeted information.
- Expert guidance and key resources for product carbon LCA offer access to essential information.
- Strong future focus aids decision making to enhance reputation and minimise costs and risks.
Who should buy it?
CR managers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers exploring ways to reduce their carbon impacts. Publication date October 2009
Ecometrica, a leading carbon LCA assessment consultant, provided expert contributions on product carbon LCA drivers, methods and context.
Report contents
Executive summary
1 Introduction
- The role played by indirect emissions in most companies’ carbon footprints
- Method, approach and key questions addressed by the report
2 Global interest in addressing supply chain carbon
- Emerging importance of carbon in supply chains
- Keyresearch and corporate activity in identifying, reporting and reducing company-wide GHG emissions
- CDP supply chain initiative
3 Trends in product carbon LCA and carbon labelling
- Global developments in carbon labelling
- Organisational carbon hot spots, whole company carbon LCA
- Product carbon LCA: developments.
4 Drivers for product carbon LCA and carbon labelling
- Marketing
- Regulation
- Cost reduction
- Brand value
5 Barriers for product carbon LCA and carbon labelling
- Complexity
- Cost
- Time
6 How to measure product level carbon
- Undertaking product carbon LCA: approaches, boundaries and data.
- Impact of regulation: the example of biofuels.
7 Getting the carbon message across to consumers
- Balancing more information with overload
- Communicating carbon content: the future
8 Conclusions
Predictions:
- Growth of product level carbon LCA and carbon labelling
- Effect of harmonising standards
- Dominant drivers – consumers, regulation or commercial initiatives?
Companies and organisations interviewed
3663 First for Foodservice, Aramark UK, Carbon Trust, Curtis Packaging, Dell, Diageo, Groupe Casino, Innocent, Lite-On Electronics, Marks and Spencer, Migros, Nestlé, Northern Foods, Paterson Arran, Philips Electronics, Piqqo, Pratt Industries, Tesco, Premier Foods, Reckitt Benckiser, United Biscuits, Waitrose, Westbridge Furniture Designs
Figures
- CDP supply chain respondents by industry
- Life cycle stages assessed in a product carbon LCA
- The three boundary approaches to product carbon LCA
- Systems boundaries for ALCA and CLCA
- Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation default value levels
- Comparison of labelling types
