EU Ecolabel criteria for Graphic Paper, Tissue Paper and Tissue Products.

This Technical Report presents the EU Ecolabel criteria for Graphic Paper, Tissue Paper and Tissue Products, as published in Commission Decision (EU) 2019/70, and provides supporting rationale and background research for each criterion. The final criteria are the result of a broad consultation exercise including stakeholder interaction at two Ad-Hoc Working Group meetings (one in Seville and one in Brussels), discussions with specialised stakeholders in particular sub-groups (for emissions, for energy and for hazardous substances) as well as dialogue with Commission colleagues and EU Ecolabel Board members. The four main criteria are split into: • Emissions to air and water (CO2, NOx and S emitted to air and COD, P and AOX emitted to water). • Energy consumption (fuel and electricity). • Fibre sourcing (minimum sustainable virgin and/or recycled fibre content). • Hazardous substances (horizontal restrictions for SVHCs and substances with certain CLP classifications plus specific restrictions for chlorine, APEOs, surfactants, biocidal products, azo dyes, metal-complex dye stuffs and pigments and lotions in defined circumstances). Decision (EU) 2019/70 effectively combines the revision of previous criteria from three different Commission Decisions. The revision of criteria in Decision 2011/332/EU for Copying and Graphic Paper and Decision 2012/448/EU for Newsprint Paper were merged under Annex I of the new Decision while the revision of criteria in Decision 2009/568/EC for Tissue Paper is contained in Annex II of Decision (EU) 2019/70. Some of the main changes that have occurred to the criteria content are as follows: • Emission values for P, COD, AOX, S and NOx have been updated based predominantly on data available following the BREF exercise for pulp, paper and board production. • Emission values for CO2 have been updated based on data provided by stakeholders and on approaches taken by the Nordic Ecolabel scheme. • Specific energy consumption values have been updated based on data available in the literature and data provided by stakeholders. A new threshold has also been set for higher performance "structured" tissue paper products. • There is no longer any distinction between recycled fibres and sustainable virgin fibres for EU Ecolabel criteria. This approach is now better aligned with the "FSC mix" and "PEFC certified" approaches. The minimum "sustainable fibre" content (i.e. sum of sustainable virgin and any recycled fibre) has increased from 50% to 70%. • Fragrances are now banned in Tissue Paper products. The horizontal SVHC and CLP restrictions now apply to Tissue Paper and Tissue Products as well. The criteria development process is reflected in the evolution of earlier draft versions of the Technical Report, which are all publically available at the following webpage: http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Paper_products/JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Level(s) – A common EU framework of core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings: Parts 1 and 2: Introduction to Level(s) and how it works (Beta v1.0)

Developed as a common EU framework of core indicators for the sustainability of office and residential buildings, Level(s) provides a set of indicators and common metrics for measuring the performance of buildings along their life cycle. As well as environmental performance, which is the main focus, it also enables other important related performance aspects to be assessed using indicators and tools for health and comfort, life cycle cost and potential future risks to performance. Level(s) aims to provide a general language of sustainability for buildings. This common language should enable actions to be taken at building level that can make a clear contribution to broader European environmental policy objectives. It is structured as follows: 1. Macro-objectives: An overarching set of six macro-objectives for the Level(s) framework that contribute to EU and Member State policy objectives in areas such as energy, material use and waste, water and indoor air quality. 2. Core Indicators: A set of 9 common indicators for measuring the performance of buildings which contribute to achieving each macro-objective. 3. Life cycle tools: A set of 4 scenario tools and 1 data collection tool, together with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, that are designed to support a more holistic analysis of the performance of buildings based on whole life cycle thinking. 4. Value and risk rating: A checklist and rating system provides information on the potential positive contribution to a property valuation and the underlying reliability of performance assessments made using the Level(s) framework. In addition, the Level(s) framework aims to promote life cycle thinking. It guides users from an initial focus on individual aspects of building performance towards a more holistic perspective, with the aim of wider European use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA). Part 1 provides a general introduction to Level(s). In Part 2 potential users are provided with a basic introduction to all of the elements of the framework, and how it can be used as a whole, or in part, to report on the performance of building projects.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Level(s) – A common EU framework of core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings: Part 3: How to make performance assessments using Level(s) (Beta v1.0)

Developed as a common EU framework of core indicators for the sustainability of office and residential buildings, Level(s) provides a set of indicators and common metrics for measuring the performance of buildings along their life cycle. As well as environmental performance, which is the main focus, it also enables other important related performance aspects to be assessed using indicators and tools for health and comfort, life cycle cost and potential future risks to performance. Level(s) aims to provide a general language of sustainability for buildings. This common language should enable actions to be taken at building level that can make a clear contribution to broader European environmental policy objectives. It is structured as follows: 1. Macro-objectives: An overarching set of six macro-objectives for the Level(s) framework that contribute to EU and Member State policy objectives in areas such as energy, material use and waste, water and indoor air quality. 2. Core Indicators: A set of 9 common indicators for measuring the performance of buildings which contribute to achieving each macro-objective. 3. Life cycle tools: A set of 4 scenario tools and 1 data collection tool, together with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, that are designed to support a more holistic analysis of the performance of buildings based on whole life cycle thinking. 4. Value and risk rating: A checklist and rating system provides information on the potential positive contribution to a property valuation and the underlying reliability of performance assessments made using the Level(s) framework. In addition, the Level(s) framework aims to promote life cycle thinking. It guides users from an initial focus on individual aspects of building performance towards a more holistic perspective, with the aim of wider European use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA). Part 3 of the Level(s) documentation provides a complete set of technical guidance on how to make performance assessments at each of the three different Levels, and then to report on the results.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Basic Principles of Hybrid Alkaline Cements

A line of research of particular interest being pursued at this time is the development of new cements known as blended or hybrid alkaline cements. These cements form when blends containing low proportions of cement and high proportions (60-70 %) of mineral additions (such as blast furnace slag, fly ash or  metakaolin) are alkali activated. The reaction products precipitating in these systems are very complex and actually comprise a mix of gels: C?(A)?S?H type gels (similar to the gels obtained during cement hydration, but with aluminium in their composition) and (C,N)?A?S?H gels (similar to the N?A?S?H gels obtained during the alkaline activation of aluminosilicates, but with calcium in their composition). The prevalence of one or the other gel depends on a number of factors, including the concentration of the initial species in the solution, type of activator used, pH values and reaction time. The paper reviews the fundamental chemistry governing these new systems and the activation mechanisms involved.  It also analyses the nature of the reaction products formed and their compatibility under different reaction conditions

Identifying macro-objectives for the life cycle environmental performance and resource efficiency of EU buildings

This working paper forms the main deliverable and outcome from work package A of the wider study. The aim of this working paper is to inform the identification of the most relevant macro-objectives for a building’s life cycle resource efficiency. These macro-objectives will in turn inform and set the scope for the common framework of indicators in work packages B,C and D. The first draft of this working paper was presented as the basis for discussion at the first stakeholder working group meeting, which was held in Brussels on the 16th June 2015. At that meeting the proposed boundaries, scope and coverage of the macro-objectives were discussed. Feedback from those discussions, together with follow-up written feedback, has been used in Chapters 6 and 7 of this working paper to identify a final set of macro-objectives that will be used to set the scope for the framework of indicators. In order to inform the initial proposals for discussion that were presented to stakeholders, this paper reviews existing legislation, scientific evidence, building schemes, collaborative research projects and other relevant literature. A high level scoping of environmental and resource efficiency ‘hot spots’ along the life cycle of buildings has also been carried out. Potential linkages and trade-offs between resource use, impacts along the life cycle and functional performance, with a specific focus on health and wellbeing aspects, have also been identified.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Environmental impact of sewage sludge ash assessed through leaching

As part of a wider feasibility study on the possible reuse potential of Croatian sewage sludge ash, ash has been produced by laboratory incineration of sewage sludge from two Croatian wastewater treatment plants. The Croatian sewage sludge ash was tested for soluble heavy metals according to EN 12457 and results considered in the context of EU landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria. With sewage sludge ash alone, the main soluble elements/ions of concern were (in decreasing order): Mo, SO4, Cr and Cl. When obtained ash was incorporated into cement mortars at cement replacement rates of 20%, EN 12457 leaching of the crushed mortars demonstrated compliance with the strictest limits for inert landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria and well within other limits specified for use in road bases. However, much of the reduction in leaching levels can be attributed to the dilution effect of sand used in mortars. In the cases of Se, Cr, F and Cl, results imply that the cement used in the mortars actually represents a more significant source of soluble Se, Cr, F and Cl than the produced ash. Regardless, the overall results reveal that leaching of heavy metals and other ions is not a significant concern that would prevent the potential reuse of Croatian sewage sludge ash in cement mortars or concretes should Croatian wastewater treatment plants opt for sewage sludge incineration as an alternative sludge disposal and management option

Revision of the EU Green Public Procurement Criteria for Street Lighting and Traffic Signals - Preliminary Report

Lighting is used on more than 1.6 million km of roads in EU28 countries, accounting for some 35 TWh of electricity consumption (1.3% of total electricity consumption) and costing public authorities almost €4000 million each year. A broad review of relevant technical, policy, academic and legislative literature has been conducted. This report examines the current market situation and the potential for reducing environmental impacts and electricity costs by assessing the recent developments in road lighting technology, particularly LEDs. Particularly important areas identified relate to energy efficiency, light pollution, product durability and, specifically for longer lasting and rapidly evolving new LED technologies, reparability and upgradeability. The information in this report shall serve as a basis for discussion with stakeholders about the further development and revision of EU GPP criteria for street lighting and traffic signals.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Revision of the EU Green Public Procurement Criteria for Road Lighting and traffic signals

The EU GPP criteria for road lighting and traffic signals aim to address the key environmental impacts associated with the design, installation and operation of these systems. For road lighting, the criteria are broadly split into three parts: energy consumption, light pollution and durability aspects. From an LCA perspective, the main environmental impact was found to be related to energy consumption during the use phase. This impact can be reduced in a number of ways, by using luminaire and light source combinations with a high luminous efficacy, by dimming during periods of low road use and by selection of the lowest necessary light class for roads to prevent unnecessary over-lighting in the first place. Light pollution is another environmental impact of particular relevance to road lighting and traffic signals which is not well addressed by LCA methodologies. In order to reduce the potential for light pollution, EU GPP criteria are proposed based on upward and horizontal light output ratios. Furthermore, limits on Correlated Colour Temperature and blue light output are proposed in order to address concerns about annoyance and ecological light pollution respectively. The durability of light sources and fittings is not only important to environmental impacts but also to life cycle cost. Consequently, the EU GPP criteria set requirements for minimum warranties, ingress protection, control gear failure rates and reparability - in order to ensure that lighting equipment in winning tenders is of sufficient quality and able to deliver a prolonged service life. The implementation of these criteria should also help procurers understand better about aspects that should be considered in road lighting system design (e.g. maximum lighting level, dimming capability), the actual products they are procuring (requirements on provision of instructions and labelling), to keep accurate information about their infrastructure (requirement on asset labelling) and to monitor lighting system performance (requirements on metering and AECI). Overall, a good understanding of road lighting and traffic signal systems and the use of suitable technical specifications in Invitations to Tender should help ensure that the twin benefits of lower environmental impacts and lower life cycle costs for public authorities can be obtained.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Characteristics of incinerated sewage sludge ashes : Potential for pozzolanic material in construction products

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