Showing papers by "Oksana Mont published in 2005"

Sustainable consumption progress: should we be proud or alarmed?

Abstract: Many environmental strategies relying on a mere improvement of resource productivity and eco-efficiency of processes and products are not able to fully address the environmental impacts induced by increasing consumption. In addition to these strategies, the concept of sustainable consumption calls for changing the levels and patterns of consumption, which require complimentary approaches. However, so far, there has been a noticeable lack of strategies that conceive ways of shifting from a material-intensive consumer culture to a society with less materialistic aspirations. This paper aims to provide a critical overview of the current debate, research trends and main outcomes relating to the area of sustainable consumption. It is based on the study commissioned by the Swedish EPA and focuses on current research streams and activities of main stakeholders. It identifies and discusses the gaps in the existing range of initiatives and policy instruments towards sustainable consumption. (Less)

Sustainable consumption: at the cross-road of environmental and consumer policies

Abstract: Although the need for new systems of production and consumption is constantly stressed in policy discussions, the sustainable consumption concept has not been largely translated into practice. The efforts of environmental policy makers to pay more attention to the consumption side are still rather meagre, and there is little integration of environmental issues into consumer policy. This paper addresses these problems by providing an overview of consumption-related EU policies and by evaluating strategies of consumer and environmental organisations in this field. It is discussed how sustainable consumption can be better addressed by converging efforts of consumer and environmental organisations.

Product ban versus risk management by setting emission and technology requirements: The effect of different regulatory schemes taking the use of trichloroethylene in Sweden and Germany as an example

Abstract: This report highlights the opportunities inherent in smart regulatory measures to effectively reduce risks related to hazardous substance emissions and exposure, and underscores the danger of simplistic and ineffective policy. The example of different regulatory approaches used in Germany and Sweden to regulate the use of trichloroethylene was taken as the basis for the study. During the 1990s, due to environmental, health and safety considerations, the use of trichloroethylene in Europe was a subject of broad concern. As a consequence, the use of trichloroethylene became regulated through multiple approaches, such as labelling, handling regulations and performance standards. Since that time the absolute emissions of trichloroethylene in Europe have been decreasing consistently in all member states. These results were achieved by various regulatory measures governing the use of trichloroethylene in industrial applications that have been introduced by individual Member States. However, given the implementation responsibility at Member State level not all member States have implemented the same set of regulatory measures. In Germany, for example, the use of trichloroethylene is regulated through strict technical standards for equipment and emissions that has required companies to replace existing old machines with the state-of-the-art equipment. In Sweden a general ban on trichloroethylene use was introduced in 1996, which however eventually evolved into an exemption permit system for companies that found no alternative to degreasing with trichloroethylene.

Desmaterialización. Sistemas Producto-Servicio una estrategia diferente de negocios [Dematerialisation. Product Service Systems - a different strategy for businesses]

Abstract: Pensar las empresas y hacer propuestas que signifiquen mejoras en todos sus niveles de accion, teniendo como marco de referencia la sostenibilidad, requiere una gran dosis de creatividad y atrevimiento, esto por dos razones basicas: cuando pensamos en la sostenibilidad siempre esta presente un conjunto de ideas e imagenes que hemos construido a fuerza de aceptar conceptos que, sin mayores discusiones, van moldeando la aproximacion y construccion de nuestras realidades. Esta primera razon engendra la segunda: en la mayoria de las empresas, la sostenibilidad se limita a la prevencion y el manejo de vertimientos, emisiones y residuos solidos, generando una gran cantidad de acciones que tienen en lo economico su gran dinamizador.

Desmaterialización. Sistemas producto-servicio una estrategia diferente de negocios

Abstract: Pensar las empresas y hacer propuestas que signifiquen mejoras en todos sus niveles de accion, teniendo como marco de referencia la sostenibilidad, requiere una gran dosis de creatividad y atrevimiento, esto por dos razones basicas: cuando pensamos en la sostenibilidad siempre esta presente un conjunto de ideas e imagenes que hemos construido a fuerza de aceptar conceptos que, sin mayores discusiones, van moldeando la aproximacion y construccion de nuestras realidades. Esta primera razon engendra la segunda: en la mayoria de las empresas, la sostenibilidad se limita a la prevencion y el manejo de vertimientos, emisiones y residuos solidos, generando una gran cantidad de acciones que tienen en lo economico su gran dinamizador.