Development of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, plug-in refrigerators and freezers for commercial useDevelopment of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, plug-in refrigerators and freezers for commercial use
 
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Basics and directives for ecological product design on EU-levelDirective on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS)The Directive (as a complement to the WEEE Directive) aims to protect human health and the environment by restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in new electrical and electronic equipment. It namely restricts the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) or polybrominated di-phenyl ethers (PBDEs). Certain appliances are exempted from the requirements, however. Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)The Directive aims to reduce the waste arising from electrical and electronic equipment (e.g. household appliances, audiovisual and lighting equipment, etc.) by improving the environmental performance of all those involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronic products (covering manufacturers, sellers, distributors, recycling or treating companies). By 1st January 2006 private householders will be able to return their WEEE to collection facilities free of charge while producers will be responsible for the financing of the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal. Eco-design directive for energy-using productsThe Eco-design directive was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in July 2005 and creates the framework for the requirements for an ecologically sound development of energy-using products such as household appliances, consumer elec-tronics, lamps, etc. The directive also includes refrigerators and freezers for commer-cial refrigeration. The recently published document provides the framework for the de-velopment of several product specific directives. These will be developed for several product categories during the next two to three years. Integrated product policy (IPP)The concept of the integrated product policy is based on the comprehensive inclusion of participants on all action levels, both on the supply and on the demand side. The goal of the IPP is to encourage manufacturers to design and produce their products more environmental sound and to persuade consumers to use these products in a manner that guarantees long usage periods, affecting the environment as little as possible (see also "green paper on integrated product policy" from 7 February 2001). Green paper on integrated product policyIn order to arrange the design and the use of products more environmentally sound in the future, an integrated product policy (IPP) will enforce the attention paid on the entire life cycle of products. Green paper on integrated product policy Proposal for a regulation on certain fluorinated greenhouse gasesThe proposal for a Regulation on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases is part of the first phase of the European Climate Change Programme and will put in place a legisla-tive framework to reduce emissions of the harmful greenhouse gases hydrofluorocar-bons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) also covered by the Kyoto Protocol. Green Paper on Energy EfficiencyGreen Papers are published by the European Commission and serve as public discussion papers on government policies on European level to animate the debate on fun-damental political goals within certain ranges. Concrete measures may then be suggested in the so-called white papers. The green paper on energy efficiency emphasises the need of specific measures to improve energy efficiency and points out the main obstacles, which are prejudicial to an improved energy efficiency so far (e.g. lack of information about the costs of the own energy consumption and/or about available efficiency technologies). EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. Participation is voluntary and extends to public or private organisations operating in the European Union and the European Economic Area. Sources |
