Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Such issues are encouraging companies to look much more carefully at the
materials used and how these impact on the business more widely. This includes
consideration of closed-loop systems of material management from production to
end-of-life disposal to extract the maximum value and most positive enviro-
nmental outcomes.
8.5.2.2
Customer and Market Confidence
Where markets are driven by sustainability, environmental or other green
credentials, then how can customers be sure that what they are purchasing is
delivering on its promises? It is here that standards and certification play a role in
protecting consumers and building market confidence, helping to protect the mar-
ket position for the leading developers and the investments made in the support.
Standards and certification also relate to technology definitions, particularly
important in a market that can suffer from 'green wash', that is, unsubstantiated or
irrelevant claims. Such claims are probably unintentional and due to a lack of
awareness [6]. As disposable incomes increase, so-called 'ethical spending'
increases; such consumers can be vulnerable to marketing messages from
businesses keen to exploit this. Several governments including the UK recognise
this and have published
Green Claims Guidance
[7], which provides guidance on
how marketing should be phrased and presented to avoid flouting trade descrip-
tion and advertising guidelines and legislation.
8.6 Bioeconomy Definitions
This article adopts the following definitions (as per British Standard PAS
600:2013):
• biobased: derived from biomass;
• biobased content: the proportion of a product that is derived from biomass;
• biobased material/product: a material wholly or partly derived from biomass; and
• biodegradable polymer: material that will primarily break down under the
action of microorganisms.
8.6.1
Biobased Content
In the growing green economy, quantifying the impacts of products and services
is of increasing commercial relevance. This is particularly important where
products are marketed or rewarded on their environmental credentials. For exam-
ple, this could be in terms of acquisition of tradable carbon credits through a
reduction in GHG emissions. In such cases, being able to determine the biobased
content of a product of both fossil and biomass origin is of increasing relevance.
In the USDA's BioPreferred Programme, biobased is defined in the covering
legislation (2002 Farm Bill) as commercial or industrial products (other than food
