Integration of environment and economy in product development gives opportunity for innovations
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | CHALMERS TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLA AKTIEBOLAG - Centrum för produktrelaterad miljöanalys |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 2 695 000 |
| Project duration | November 2013 - November 2016 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Our overarching goal has been to develop and implement a methodology to visualize the economic value of good environmental sustainability performance. A methodology to calculate environmental damage costs (EPS 2015d) has been developed, published in two articles and used in four case studies. We have contributed to the initiation of the work to develop two international standards, ISO 14007 and ISO 14008, aiming at creating a framework for assessing and using monetary values of environmental impacts in organizations. Our data has been implemented in two international LCA software.
Expected results and effects
By using the developed methodology, EPS 2015d, we have determined the environmental damage cost for 858 emissions and natural resource extractions. The four case studies resulted in new insights into which aspects had the largest environmental impact, and gave recommendations regarding which alternatives to prefer in some decision situations. In one of the cases, concrete process modifications are considered. The ISO-standard 14008, Monetary valuation of emissions and use of resources, is now at a committee draft level. The work on ISO 14007 has just began and had its first meeting.
Planned approach and implementation
The project has followed the project plan in its two parts: method development and implementation. The method development included methodology and values for environmental impacts of emissions and natural resource extractions. Both the value for society and for a company is of interest. Values for the society have been possible to estimate quantitatively, while values for a company have had to be estimated in qualitative terms. The implementation has involved publication in scientific papers, case studies by participating companies, and international standardization.