Giraffe has addressed over 5000 companies on EuP, Batteries Directive, WEEE, RoHS and Packaging Eco–Design at public events across the country. We have directly advised over 100 companies in the EU, China, Hong Kong and US on how to comply with legislation and improve the environmental performance of their products and processes.
We believe these Directives present a good opportunity to improve the design or your company’s products and processes and reduce costs. Giraffe has identified over £23 million of potential savings to British companies.
Legislative Compliance Solution
Outsource Packaging, Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), WEEE, Batteries, EuP and REACH compliance preparation, reporting and processes to Giraffe’s experienced team. Giraffe is Britain’s leading eco-design consultancy and experts of EU legislation and compliance. Our work helps organisations prepare for upcoming legislation; reduce compliance costs; reduce operating cost and concentrate on running their business. Simple changes in reporting methodology, packaging design or compliance scheme provider can provide 30% annual savings. Giraffe solutions include:
- Calculation and submission of all documentation (full outsourcing)
- Advice on reducing cost of compliance
- Preparation and cost impact for EuP and Batteries Directives
- Compliance route and scheme review to ensure lowest compliance costs (due to compliance scheme notice period this project must have started before 30 September)
- Cost impact and mitigation of the upcoming CRC legislation
Case Study – Paladone Products Ltd
- Environmental and ethical policy
- Compliance – Batteries Directive
- Reduced use of paper and print
- Reduced energy consumption
- Savings of £447,990
- 15.6tCO2e
“As a company manufacturing solely in the Far East it has been invaluable having Giraffe Innovation and the Manufacturing Advisory Service advising us and helping us to navigate the ever increasing legislation not to mention identifying potential for significant cost savings!”
- Audrey Mealia Head of Supply Chain Paladone Products Ltd
Giraffe’s solutions are tailored to individual organisations requirements. Contact the Giraffe team for further information on 01273 422099.
EuP DIRECTIVE »
BATTERIES DIRECTIVE »
WEEE & RoHS »
CARBON REDUCTION COMMITMENT (CRC) »
PACKAGING – COST SAVINGS AND COMPLIANCE FROM ECO-PACKAGING DESIGN »
EUP – The Proposed Framework for Eco–design Requirements of Energy Using Products Directive (EuP) Directive for Eco–design of End Use Equipment.
Objective
Since over 80% of all product–related environmental impacts are determined during the product design phase, integrating environmental considerations early into the product development process is the most effective way of reducing their impact. This is what the EuP is trying to address.
Requirements on Manufacturers
- To assess the environmental impact of their product throughout its lifecycle
- To establish an ecological profile of the product
- Concentrate and prioritise those factors that are capable of being influenced in a substantial manner through product design.
Conformity assessment
The EUP Directive sets mandatory requirements for equipment suppliers to adopt and demonstrate the integration of environmental factors in the design and development (and production) and the eco–performance of the product itself. This will be required before placing product on the market.
Companies will be required to produce an ‘Ecological Profile’ of a product. This consists of two parts:
Generic Eco-design Requirements: Gives general principles and criteria on how eco-design should be applied during product launch.
Specific Eco-design Requirements: Specific limits/targets to be met
Suppliers of components and sub–assemblies will have to supply the information to allow manufacturers of EuPs to build an ecological profile of their products.
The EuP directive attempts to set a common framework under which this should be done for energy using and producing products. It has a much broader scope than WEEE & RoHS.
If you would like to find out more about the EUP Directive contact: info@giraffeinnovation.com.
The implementation of the Batteries Directive is likely to take place in September 2008. This new legal obligation will mean stricter rules on recovery and recycling and improvements to the environmental performance of all new batteries on the market. This will apply to all batteries regardless of their shape, weight, use or chemical composition.
The directive will especially affect the following businesses:
- Manufacturers
- Importers
- Distributors
- End-users
- Businesses involved in treating and recycling waste batteries
- Vehicle sales and maintenance businesses
If you manufacture or design battery powered products you will need to ensure that the batteries can be removed from the products and supply instructions on how to remove them.
Contact Giraffe on 01273-422099 for further information on how we can help your organisation prepare for upcoming legislation such as the Batteries Directive; reduce compliance costs; reduce operating cost and concentrate on running your business.
The DIRECTIVE 2002/96/EC ON WASTE ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE) AND DIRECTIVE 2002/95/EC ON THE RESTRICTION OF THE USE OF CERTAIN HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN EEE (ROHS) seeks to reduce the amount and toxicity of electrical products going to landfill each year through recycling and recovery targets under 10 broad product categories from mobile phones, computers, and washing machines to electronic test equipment. WEEE is the fastest growing waste stream in Europe, growing at around 8% per year. The onus is placed on the ‘producer’ to finance the end of life product recovery and recycling. This requires manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and designers to consider the implication of their product designs from the outset, to meet their legal obligation under the directives.
The original focus of the WEEE Directive was to reduce the one million tons of –household waste’ being disposed of each year, 90% of which goes to landfill or incineration. Article 9 of the Directive places a liability on producers of non–household – so called Business to Business (B2B) electronic waste.
RoHS Directive – Do your products comply?
“The LMAS/Giraffe workshop cleared up a lot grey areas on the WEEE & RoHS legislation. The practical workshop was instructive identifying components that are RoHS compliant and those that are not. This will help in defining the end of line plan for non–compliant devices.”
- Quality & Regulatory Manager [International IT company]
The RoHS directive restricts the use of four heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and the brominated flame-retardants PBB and PBDE used in some plastics. This directive applies to any new products ‘put onto the market’ in Europe from 1st July 2006.
Giraffe’s testing service gives manufactures of electronic equipment the opportunity to evaluate their products potential obligation under the Directives as well as assess components and materials for RoHS compliance. Using XRF companies can demonstrate due diligence by ensuring they comply comply with the RoHS Regulations. The X–Ray Fluorescence (XRF) process allows companies to check for the presence of materials restricted under the RoHS Directive. The charts below show an XRF test result comparing two ball grid arrays. The first one shows a high presence of lead (Pb) while the second is lead free. The latter is RoHS compliant. Click here for more information about Giraffe’s RoHS service.
To find out more this service contact: info@giraffeinnovation.com.<
CARBON REDUCTION COMMITMENT (CRC)
The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a proposed mandatory cap and trade scheme in the UK that will apply to large non energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. The Carbon Reduction Commitment was announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper. A consultation in 2006 showed strong support for it to be mandatory, rather than voluntary. The Commitment is to be introduced under enabling powers planned for inclusion in the Climate Change Bill.
Your organisation will be included in CRC if it has at least one meter settled on the half-hourly market and its total electricity usage is greater that 6,000 MWh between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2008. In general, if your organisation spends more than £500,000 a year in the UK on electricity, you are likely to be included in the scheme. Participants will be required to submit annual data statements.
The Carbon Reduction Commitment will cover emissions outside of the Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) and outside the direct emissions already covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
Contact Giraffe on 01273-422099 for further information on how we can help your organisation prepare for upcoming directives such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment; reduce compliance costs; reduce operating cost and concentrate on running your business.
PACKAGING – COST SAVINGS AND COMPLIANCE FROM ECO–PACKAGING DESIGN
“Working with Giraffe really helped us to consolidate and explore new product opportunities – incorporating brand, technical and environmental factors from the outset.”
- MD KS Paul Products Ltd [now part of Fuchs GmbH]
Giraffe is working with the UK Government, manufacturers and retailers to improve the environmental impact of packaging whilst maintaining function, brand identity and supporting overall market acceptability of the product.
Are your products over packed? What is the environmental burden of your company’s packaging?
Giraffe has a proven track record in reducing packaging material and compliance costs while improving environmental performance. Giraffe has been working with leading retailers and manufacturers to identify significant reduction in compliance costs through packaging redesign. Could your company reduce its cost of compliance?
There are 3 main reasons why your company should consider eco-packaging design.
EC Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC and UK Packaging Waste Regulations targets are increasing each year until at least 2008.
Trading Standards starting to look at packaging in more detail.
DTI Packaging (Essential Requirements) Legislation 92/64/EC puts an obligation to ensure that ‘packaging shall be manufactured that the volume and weight be limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer’. Are your company’s products over packaged?
Consumer Demand
There is increasing consumer concern about the environmental impact of products and packaging. Work completed recently for a major supermarket chain showed 63% of consumers believe that packaging affects their choice of product and 66% believe that products are over-packaged. Increased CO2 emissions are associated with the distribution of inefficient or wasteful packaging. Does your company care about the environmental impact of its packaging?
If you would like us to look at the environmental impact of your company’s packaging contact: info@giraffeinnovation.com.
Changing Habbits Launch Event 1st Oct 2009 at City Hall
South-East Carbon Footprinting & Sustainable Design workshop
