6. PREPARE & Ecobalances
Projekt: PREPARE, pllution prevention and cleaner production
PREPARE (Preventative Environmental Protection Approach in Europe) is a pollution prevention initiative under the EUREKA umbrella. In Austria, the project was carried out on behalf of the Ministries of Science and Environment from 1991 to 1994.
The IÖW together with the Institute for Process Engineering at the Technical University in Graz STENUM, headed the Austrian EUREKA-Project PREPARE, where pollution prevention projects in 12 companies and corresponding research activities were performed.
The outcome of this project was an Austrian version of the USA EPE Pollution Prevention Manual with an improved methodology. This manual has been further improved in 1995 to integrate the requirements of the EMAS-Regulation and ISO 14001. Also, a teaching tool for companies and consultants was added in 1995.
After the first 12 national company projects, the PREPARE initiative was transferred to a regional level. There are currently projects running in Styria, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Carinthia and Vorarlberg.
Companies for which the IÖW was in charge
- Hali Büromöbel GmbH
- Bene Büromöbel KG
- Wiesner-Hager Möbel GmbH
- Team 7 Möbelfabrik GmbH
Other companies participating:
- Hirsch Armbänder GmbH
- Kufner Textilwerke GmbH
- F.M. Hämmerle Textilwerke AG
- Erich Gasser GmbH
- Rosendahl Maschinen GmbH
- Giesinger und Kopf GmbH & Co
- Neubrucker Papier GmbH
Criteria for environmental impact assessment
In relation with the PREPARE project, the IÖW published a manual on environmental impact assessment of materials, emissions and processes.
Publication:
- G. Hrauda, Chr. Jasch: Ökologische Bewertungskriterien. Endbericht zum PREPARE-Forschungsprojekt “Ökologische Bewertungskriterien”. Entwicklung eines Bewertungssystems zum Abbildung der Umweltrelevanz von Betrieben sowie zur Material-, Emissions- und Prozeßbewertung, Oktober 1993 (Schriftenreihe des IÖW 16/1993)
PREPARE-Toolkit
The methodology for PREPARE can be found in the Toolkit, which is also used for training. It contains:
- the PREPARE methodology on the implementation of an environmental information system, which is based on a cross check of data from accountancy and process technology. The focus is on pollution prevention on a mass and material level,
- the PREPARE EMAS textbook, which shows how PREPARE can be used to set up a management system and participate in the EU-scheme,
- the PREPARE workbook with worksheets for direct application.
Publications:
- PREPARE-Österreich: Initiative für innovatives und umweltbewußtes Wirtschaften, Broschüre über die Firmenprojekte; Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie sowie für Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wien 1993
- S. Geißler, Ch. Jasch: Beurteilung von PREPARE-Projekten in Hinblick auf die Zertifizierung von Umweltmanagemen-tsystemen, September 1994 (Schriftenreihe des IÖW 20/1994)
- Chr. Jasch, H. Schnitzer: PREPARE-Textbuch, im Rahmen des Projektes PREPARE-ÖSTERREICH, aus PREPARE-Toolkit, im Auftrag der Bundesministerien für Umwelt und Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst, Dezember 1993, aktualisiert im Februar 1995
- Chr. Jasch, Th. Haberfehlner: EMAS-Textbuch, im Rahmen des Projektes PREPARE-ÖSTERREICH, aus PREPARE-Toolkit, im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, April 1995
- H. Dimitroff-Regatschnig, H. Ferner, J. Fresner, Th. Haberfehlner, Ch. Jasch, H. Schnitzer: TOOL-KIT. PREPARE Textbuch, EMAS Textbuch, Lösungen, Arbeitsblätter. Erstellt im Rahmen des Projektes PREPARE ÖSTERREICH im Auftrag der Bundesministerien für Umwelt und für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst; Juli 1995
Links:
www.cleanerproduction.com
www.cpc.at/stoffflusswirtschaft
www.environmental-experts.com
www.prepare-net.org/topics_projects/index.html
Projekt: The Eco-balance Project Biopac
In 1990, the biodegradable Biopac packaging material was compared to PVC, styrofoam
and wooden part/old paper packaging. This was the first Austrian life cycle assessment
and ecobalance project. The BIOPAC product is, according to the given conditions,
an ecologically sensible packaging alternative. It should replace synthetic products
and polished wood and old paper packaging that is dirtied by food residues.
Publication:
- Ch. Jasch, B. Hegenbart, G. Hrauda, H. Regatschnig: BIOPAC.
Plan Ökobilanz, Februar 1991 (Schriftenreihe des IÖW 1/1991)
Project: Eco-balance Steiner - Sawmilling Industry
Together with the Austrian Institute for Energy Management (OIFE) and commissioned
by the WIFI of the Chamber of Commerce, the I...W did a pilot project in the sawmill
and timber trade sector in September 1991. Based on an input outputanalyses for
different system boundaries, the instrument of ecobalancing was tested and resulted
in branchspecific improvement options and a manual for ecobalances in the saw
mill industry.
Publication:
- Ch. Jasch, St. Millonig, St. Reiniger, M. Wild: Ökobilanz
Sägewerk Steiner. Pilotprojekt in der Sägeindustrie (in Zusammenarbeit
mit dem Österreichischen Institut für Energiewirtschaft), Oktober
1991 (Schriftenreihe des IÖW 5/1991)
Projekt: Eco-Balancing for the canning Industry
The project was performed on behalf of the Food industries Association of Austria
together with four Austrian providers of canned food and the Austrian producer
of cans and funded by the Research Fund for Industry (FFF). The Input-output analysis
was done for all companies, for the production processes and a screening Life
Cycle Analysis on canned goulash soup was added. For all companies waste prevention
plans and environmental performance indicators were provided. The project was
the first approach to branch specific bench marking and struggled with the unequal
data basis in the companies.
Participating companies:
Alpenfleisch KG, Stainach; Felix, Mattersburg; GVG, Neusiedl/See; Inzersdorfer,
Wien; Vogel & Noot, Mittendorf
Publication:
- Ch. Jasch: Veröffentlichung des Methodenteils zum Forschungsprojekt
(Schriftenreihe des IÖW 13/1992)
Project: Eco-Balancing of Packaging Materials
On commission of the Ministry of Environment, the different methodologies to
evaluate the environmental impact of products by eco-balances were assessed.
The current level of methods, as well as the performance of the studies themselves,
can hardly be compared. The differences are found in the examined product systems
as well as in the investigated product cycle steps. In the area of evaluation,
concurrence can be found at the execution of low level aggregations. Further
evaluation and the various types of high level aggregation are still being discussed
by eco-balancing experts. The ranges of application of eco- balances and their
limits were shown. Consequently, recommendations to the Ministry, as guidelines
for further action, were derived.
Publication:
- G. Hrauda, Ch. Jasch, V. Puchinger, F. Rubik: Ökobilanzen
von Packstoffen in Theorie und Praxis. Eine Iststandserhebung. (Schriftenreihe
des IÖW 15/1992)
Project: Ecobalance SCA Laakirchen
From June 1993 to January 1994 on behalf of the pulp and paper factory SCA
Laakirchen, an input output analysis of material flows was done and combined
with existing information systems. It was followed by an investigation of process
improvement options and a first product life cycle assessment.
There was no publication of results.
Project: Manual on Ecobalances for building materials and the
ceramic industries
On behalf of the Austrian Association for building materials and ceramic industries
the I...W together with the Austrian Research Institute Seibersdorf and the technician
Dr. Bruck wrote a manual for Ecobalances. The manual contains a branch specific
inventory model, that can be used for different evaluation methods. It is also
the basis for benchmarking and product evaluations.
Publication:
-
M. Bruck, Ch. Jasch, P. Tuschl: Handbuch für ökologische
Bilanzierung in der Stein- und Keramischen Industrie, Wien 1996
Further publications on this topic:
- Chr. Jasch: Was ist und kann eine Ökobilanz? Ökobilanz,
Umwelt-Controlling und Environmental Auditing, Mai 1992 (Schriftenreihe des
IÖW 8/1992)