Environmental communication
© researchgroup Ecodesign TU Wien
Organisational chart Excerpt Environmental Communication
Communicate the improved environmental performance
After improving the environmental performance of a product, the results should also be communicated on the market. Possible advantages are a better corporate image, environmental awareness raising, an increased market share, etc. The ISO standards differentiate between three different types of environmental communication:
- Type I: Eco-labels certified by an independent third party (ISO 14024)
- Type II: Self-declared environmental claims (ISO 14021)
- Type III: Environmental product declarations (EPD) based on LCA results (ISO 14025)
The table shows the characteristics and application areas of the three different types:
- Type I - Eco-labels - ISO 14024 (e.g. Blue Angel)
-
Target audience: B2C
Communication method: Eco-label
Scope: Whole life cycle
Use of LCA: no
Advantages:
- Easily identifiable
- Credibility through third party
- Product specific requirements
Disadvantages:
- No detailed information
- No linkage to company's unique efforts
Typical application areas:
- Home use products
- Simple function products
- Low-priced products
- Type II - Self-declared environmental claims - ISO 14021
-
Target audience: B2C,B2B, Public
Communication method: Text and symbol
Scope: Single aspects
Use of LCA: yes
Advantages:
- Market oriented
- Flexible approach to market needs
Disadvantages:
- Relatively low credibility
- No life cycle scope
Typical application areas:
- Applicable for all products
- Typ III- Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) nach ISO 14025
-
Target audience: B2B, Public
Communication method: Environmental profile data sheet
Scope: Whole life cycle
Use of LCA: yes
Advantages:
- Detailed data via common method
- Credibility via scientific quantitative data
Disadvantages:
- Complexity of LCA results
- Uncertainty regarding back ground data
- Not easy to comprehend
Typical application areas:
- High complexity
- High-priced products
- Long lifetime and length of use
© EPD
Logo EPD
The International EPD System is a global program for the dissemination and implementation of EPDs. The website provides both data bases for Product Category Rules, opens an external URL in a new window, PCRs - which are "how-to" rules for the provision of LCAs - and EPDs, opens an external URL in a new window.
© Bomardier
Logo Bomardier
Example EPD of the Flexity Outlook Valencia (PDF), developed during the research project Mechatelligence for Light Rail Vehicles, for a tramway of the company Bombardier transportation.