I was delighted to read of your initiave recently, and feel it is a brilliant way to focus the worlds attention both on overconsumption in the “first” world and underconsumption in the “third” world.
For 10 years I convened an environment group in Australia whose main focus was on the issue of sustainable consumption and production. I have followed the progress, or lack of progress might be more accurate, from Chapter 4 of Agenda 21, (Rio Earth Summit) which addresses the issue of the unsustainable level of consumption and production. I also took great interest in the Marrakesh Process initiated at the WSSD in 2002 which was supposedly the implementation plan.

Living in Australia it was an exceedingly difficult task to try and get people focussed upon what they consumed when there is only just emerging the idea that emissions generation and consumption are directly related. Even though the Federal Government is set to introduce a Carbon Tax, there is a tsunami of opposition from the vested interests within Australia who are hell bent on digging up all the fossil fuel deposits they can and shipping them to any customer who will buy them. This is in the name of continued prosperity ! At present we have a continual stream of climate sceptics (Monckton, Lawson, Plimer, paid for by the mining industry) lecturing their confusion to a gullible broader community, so the legislation is by no means secure.

However, that is by way of background, what I am writing to you about is an initiative which has just been introduced as legislation within Australia which you may not be aware of, it is called the Porduct Stewardship Scheme. I think you will be very interested in this so I am sending the URL of the Australian Government department that has overseen the new law. Strangely enough it was passed with bi partisan support ! despite the furore over a carbon tax.

Basically it seems to provide a closed loop for t.v. and computer sales in Australia with manufacturers agreeing to “take back” products which they sell, this may well be the first legislation globally which impacts upon SCAP and, if so. it is something that I would be sure the 2012 conference in Rio would welcome hearing about.

I will send this to your personnal email to ensure you hear of it.
The URL is http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/ewaste/index.html

Thank you for your great initiative, who knows, I may even see you at Rio as I am considering making the trip there.

regards,
Richard Laverack

When Novozymes a few years back decided on the target of “enabling a 75 million ton reduction in CO2 emissions in 2015 through our customers’ application of our products” (http://report2010.novozymes.com/Menu/Novozymes+Report+2010/Outlook/Long-term+targets) it was a consequence of a simple fact: The only way we can really make a difference is by means of our products together with our customers. We are steadily approaching the target and for 2011 the target is a 45 million ton emission reduction. The Novozymes target is a voluntary Millennium Consumption Goal (MCG) that supports the recently launched global Millennium Consumption Goals Initiative (MCGI).

Documentation of carbon footprints
The figures above – 75 or 45 million ton CO2 – represent Novozymes’ ambition of having a negative “carbon footprint” of a significant size. Such claims call for documentation, and considering products in context and making assessments of environmental impact of products takes product life cycle assessments (LCA).

For about seven years, the majority of Novozymes’ product groups have undergone life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is a scientifically based study of a product’s positive and negative environmental impacts throughout its life cycle: from extraction of resources through production to use and final disposal of the product.

Significant change takes innovation
Development and improvements call for insights, overview, and management. In Novozymes all pipeline discovery and development projects in R&D are passed through a “mini life cycle assessment,” known as a pipeline LCA. All pipeline LCAs are based on assumptions concerning the production of the enzyme together with its impacts and effectiveness during use.

Impact takes cooperation
Results of LCAs are used in our dialogue with Novozymes’ customers concerning both enzyme technology and product quality. However, it has to be even broader – sustainability calls for inclusivity. In August 2010, Novozymes became a founding member of The Sustainability Consortium, a new global organization aiming at improving the consumer products with regard to not least environmental impact. The consortium represents a diverse group of stakeholders with the mission of promoting a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic issues. The aim is to drive research and develop standards for product sustainability from a life cycle perspective. The consortium’s goal of changing the consumer market supports Novozymes’ ambition of changing the world together with our customers and partners, and driving the world toward sustainability. Novozymes decided to be a founding member of the consortium to help develop new standards and strategies that will create more sustainable consumer products for the future.

For further information about LCA studies conducted by Novozymes during the year, please see our Annual Report: http://report2010.novozymes.com/Menu/Novozymes+Report+2010/Supplementary+reporting/LCA+studies