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August 30, 2024
Program will support the Administration’s initiative to “Buy Clean” construction materials from U.S. manufacturers as part of the Investing in America Agenda
Aug. 7, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its plan for implementing a new label program to boost clean American manufacturing by helping federal purchasers and other buyers find and buy cleaner, more climate-friendly construction materials and products. The label program is made possible by a $100 million investment in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and aims to cut climate pollution linked to the production of construction products and materials, which accounts for more than 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act invests billions of dollars to reduce industrial emissions while supporting good union jobs, greater equity, and a strong manufacturing base, including $350 million to support EPA’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from construction materials.
“Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, America has an opportunity to lead the world in developing cleaner construction materials to cut climate pollution and reap unprecedented economic opportunities,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “By clearly labeling what ‘buy clean’ means for products like concrete, glass and steel, EPA will help accelerate demand for these materials and continue to build the clean energy economy.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant carbon-cutting piece of legislation in history,” said Elliot Doomes, Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the U.S. General Services Administration. “GSA is proud to work with the EPA, other government agencies, and private industry to use our buying power to drive the development of more sustainable building materials, create good-paying jobs, and lower operating costs for the American taxpayer. This program will accelerate our efforts to achieve a net zero federal footprint and catalyze American innovation.”
“The use of lower carbon materials, that have the durability of conventional materials while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, is one pathway that FHWA is pursuing to help us achieve President Biden’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Associate Administrator for Infrastructure Hari Kalla. “EPA’s announcement today supports transportation agencies throughout the country with tools to ensure we are appropriately implementing low carbon materials.”
The announcement builds on EPA’s selection of 38 organizations in July to collectively receive nearly $160 million to help businesses develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which report climate pollution linked to the production of construction materials and products. These efforts will bolster the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers, which are among the cleanest in the world in key sectors.
The label program will define what constitutes “clean” construction materials in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which aims to grow the market and reward innovation for American-made, lower-carbon construction materials. EPA anticipates that labeling requirements for each product type will be periodically reviewed and updated every two to four years to respond to and drive market shifts and help users meet sustainability objectives. The Inflation Reduction Act also provides more than $2 billion to the General Services Administration to use clean materials in the construction and renovation of federal buildings and $2 billion to the Federal Highway Administration to incentivize or reimburse the use of clean construction materials in transportation projects. Federal purchasing plays a significant role in industries like concrete, as federally funded government purchases account for more than 50% of all concrete poured in the U.S. every year. Materials and products that earn the new label will be listed in a central, publicly accessible registry, making it easier to identify - and purchase - these materials.
EPA’s label program will prioritize steel, glass, asphalt and concrete, as there are significant opportunities to reduce climate pollution from these materials and they represent the vast majority of construction materials and products that government agencies purchase with federal funds.
EPA also issued several supporting documents to help implement the label program, including Product Category Rule (PCR) Criteria – guidelines for developing EPDs, the disclosures that communicate climate and other environmental impacts of products. Other documents published today outline key remaining data gaps, provide a methodology for assessing life cycle data quality, and describe other federal data quality improvement activities.
EPA developed the Label Program Approach and PCR Criteria with input from stakeholders, including the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal agencies. The agency also considered public comments solicited through Notices of Availability published in the Federal Register earlier this year and a 2023 Request for Information.
EPA will continue to seek stakeholder input on the ongoing development and implementation of this program. Next, EPA will request input on the draft conformity assessment system, which is a rigorous process for verifying a product or material has earned the label. EPA will also request input on the first draft product type threshold(s), which will set standards to determine which construction materials and products will be eligible to carry the label based on information from EPDs and other data sources. Manufacturers that are planning to apply for EPA’s label and want guidance in measuring the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their materials and products can contact EPA at embodiedcarbon@epa.gov or visit the website.
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August 29, 2024
This standard provides guidance for organisations wishing to take their value creation models and networks from linear to circular. It focuses on business-oriented strategies to implement circular economy practices at both organisational and inter-organisational levels. It complements ISO 59004 by offering more detailed guidance on assessing current value creation models, mapping value chains and value networks, and developing strategies for circularity. ISO 59010 is designed to help organisations make this transition effectively.
You can read a sample on the ISO website.
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August 26, 2024
ISO 59004 belongs to the ISO 59000 family of standards which is designed to foster a shift towards a circular economy.
Focusing on Circular economy — Vocabulary, principles and guidance for implementation, this standard advocates for a circular economy model which emphasises the sustainable management and renewal of natural resources.
It aims to help organisations contribute to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development by facilitating the transition to circular use of resources. It sets out key terms and concepts, a vision for a circular economy, core principles and practical guidance for delivering on sustainability goals.
You can read a sample on the ISO website.
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August 22, 2024
Geneva, 31 July 2024-A collaboration of leading global organizations and companies has published an analysis of the key gaps and opportunities to improving business performance for circularity.
Developed by the Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP), the “Landscape Analysis of Circularity-related Corporate Performance & Accountability and Policy & Regulation” identifies opportunities for improvement within existing circularity methods, standards, frameworks, and policies. The analysis evaluates the regulatory landscape in the Global North and South, highlights bottlenecks, and proposes solutions to help improve corporate measurement, performance and reporting on circularity.
The GCP has four strategic workstreams; (1) Circular Impact Analysis, (2) Corporate Performance and Accountability System (CPAS) for Circularity, (3) Policy Framework for Circularity, and (4) Science-informed targets for Circularity; and aims to deliver the first Protocol version by 2026. The workstreams receive strategic and technical guidance from Policy, Business, and Independent Scientific Advisory Committees, and Technical Working Groups. Deloitte Consulting AG and Circle Economy Consulting are providing ongoing technical support for Workstream 1.
Building from the Landscape Analysis, Workstream 1 will conduct an Impact Analysis which will explore the potential impact of the Global Circularity Protocol in accelerating climate, nature, economic and social agendas as well as in improving business performance, and insights for where the protocol can maximize its impact, using focused qualitative analysis and quantitative modeling. The Impact Analysis will be presented at key global events in September 2024, including the OPN Forum in Brazil and the WBCSD Council Meeting 2024 during Climate Week in New York City.
More details at WBCSD website.
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August 21, 2024
Norway's capital Oslo is pushing forward to become an emission-free city, with the goal to use only zero emission technologies by 2030. Public procurement is one of the tools the city is using to achieve that goal, as explained by Geir Rossebø (Team Leder Climate & Environment) during the first annual event of the Big Buyers Working Together project, held in Brussels on 24 April.
Big Buyers Working Together, coordinated by Eurocities, ICLEI Europe and BME, on behalf of the European Commission, aims to bring public buyers together to pool their resources and help them gain more power to influence the market to become more socially and environmentally friendly. Sometimes that is difficult due to a lack of political commitment to continue successful sustainability initiatives after their success. Oslo has managed to overcome this by integrating the notion that public procurement can be used to create a zero emission city both in its procurement strategy and its climate strategy. It also agreed upon a framework on how to achieve this.
In addition, Oslo also has a strong focus on human rights in its supply chains and has since 2013 had social contract clauses in its procurements of goods. In 2023 the so-called Oslomodel was revised, and due diligence requirements are now included in all tenders, both goods and services, where there is a high risk of violations of human rights and labour rights, and/or where there is a risk for corruption and/or negative impact on the environment. These contract clauses refer to and build upon the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, which is important to align with international frameworks and guidelines for responsible business conduct.
The CoP on HDEV is one of the four CoP’s coordinated by ICLEI Europe. Eurocities also coordinates four, while BME coordinates two. The other communities of practice focus on Zero-Emission Construction Sites; Circular Construction; Sustainable Solar Panels; Mobility; Digital; Social; New European Bauhaus; Healthcare Efficiency; Healthcare Sustainability.
More details at ICLEl sustainable procurement webpage.
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August 12, 2024
The EU-funded nZEB Ready project has produced a step-by-step guide highlighting how public procurement can stimulate demand for nearly zero energy building (nZEB) construction skills. The guide, highlighted in the latest GPP newsletter, shows which requirements can be implemented throughout the procurement process, and provides examples from pilot projects and additional resources. The guide is further complemented by a collection of 15 case studies that illustrate how public authorities from across Europe have procured the renovation and construction of nZEB buildings and the impact these projects had on the uptake of skills and know-how.
A more energy-efficient building stock would help curb GHG emissions and energy consumption and support climate targets. Since 2021, all new buildings in the EU should reach the target nearly-zero energy building (or nZEB) standard, as defined by national governments. To reach these goals construction workforce needs to have the skills and know-how to design, construct, renovate and maintain energy-efficient building.
As owners of large buildings and employers, public authorities can support the upskilling of the construction workforce. By embedding criteria in tenders for nZEB building standards, certifications, qualifications, as well as on-site training clauses public buyers can encourage the market to develop (n)ZEB skills. The guide, developed by ICLEI Europe in the context of the nZEB Ready project, aims to support public buyers in achieving this.
The guide can be downloaded here.
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August 8, 2024
The recently released UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 underscores the imperative for substantial investment and escalated action if the SDGs - a blueprint for a more resilient and prosperous world and the roadmap out of current global crises - are to be achieved. Detailing how global pressures such as poverty, insecurity, and adverse climate change have impeded progress towards the Goals, the latest progress report reveals that only 17% of the overall SDGs are on track to be realised. Nearly half show minimal or moderate progress, with over one-third stalled or regressing.
The report also highlights success stories pointing the way forward. For instance, renewable energy capacity has expanded at an unprecedented rate of 8.1% annually over the past five years. Extreme poverty continues to decline in upper-middle and high-income countries, while Central and Southern Asia reduced working poverty by 6.9 percentage points. There has been increased educational attainment, with primary school completion rising to 88%, and gender parity achieved in most regions. Global water use efficiency has increased by 19%, and marine protected area coverage has increased more than tenfold from 2000 to 2024. Additionally, the proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels increased in more than a quarter of major fishing areas between 2004 and 2021.
The Report’s focus on SDG 12 reflects both the challenges across the goals and transformative examples of circular economy uptake and mainstreaming crucial elements for achieving global sustainable consumption and production.
Unlocking Renewable Energy Potential
A notable success is the acceleration of renewable energy deployment, with global capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources growing by 8.1% annually over the past five years. This shift reduces reliance on fossil fuels and offers a blueprint for sectors aiming to implement sustainable practices.
Transformative Solutions in Food Waste Management
In 2021, 13.2% of globally produced food was lost post-harvest and during transport, storage, and processing, with 19% wasted at the retail or consumption stage in 2022. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive strategies spanning the entire food supply chain. Encouragingly, some countries have integrated food waste reduction into national strategies, although only nine out of 193 countries included food waste measures in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). These initiatives set important precedents through legislative measures, public awareness campaigns, and private sector partnerships, demonstrating achievable reductions in food waste.
Tackling E-Waste through Circular Economy Models
The rapid increase in e-waste generation, with only 22% being sustainably managed, highlights the need for robust recycling and reuse infrastructures. Solutions are emerging through circular economy models emphasizing product life extension and resource recovery. Countries with successful e-waste management systems showcase effective models, such as formal recycling centres and strict e-waste disposal regulations, which improve collection rates and environmental management practices.
Policy Innovations for Sustainable Consumption and Production
A positive trend highlighted in the report is the increasing number of countries adopting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) policies. By 2023, 63 member states, including the EU, reported a total of 516 policy instruments fostering sustainable and circular approaches. These range from national roadmaps to legal and voluntary instruments, indicating growing political will to address unsustainable consumption and production patterns. Noteworthy examples include the Philippines’ efforts to promote responsible mining and the United States’ plans to transform its food system for broader benefits, demonstrating how targeted policies can drive sustainable improvements across sectors.
Increased Business Sustainability Reporting
The rise in sustainability reporting by companies, now at 73% globally, reflects a trend towards transparency and accountability. This growth acknowledges that sustainability is integral to business resilience and competitiveness. Despite challenges in standardising national reporting requirements, the increasing number of companies publishing sustainability reports signifies progress. The trend is bolstered by a growing number of stock exchanges with written ESG reporting guidance, rising from fewer than 10 a decade ago to 69 in 2022. Enhanced reporting practices enable better tracking of sustainability efforts and foster greater corporate responsibility.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described this as a pivotal moment, stating, “This report highlights the urgent need for stronger and more effective international cooperation to maximise progress starting now. With over six years left, we must not falter on our 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet, and leave no one behind.”
The report calls for renewed commitment to sustainable consumption and production principles and emphasises the need for greater collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Such collaboration is essential for scaling successful initiatives and actions to realise the promise of the SDGs.
Read more on the UN SDG Report Website: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2024/
See the SDG 12 report section: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2024/Goal-12/
Track progress and take action at the SDG 12 Hub: https://sdg12hub.org/
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