The growing phase of emerging economy countries requires the implementation of environmental assessment tools in the building sector. The use of environmental product declarations (EPDs) has risen in developed countries as one of the main tools for environmental assessment. However, at what point should developing countries follow the EPD implementation strategies used by developed countries? What are the strengths and weaknesses of EPD in the emerging economy context, and what threats and opportunities does it face within the building sector? This work aims to answer these questions by taking Mexico as a case study. A bibliographical review was conducted to determine the key elements for EPD development in the building sector in other countries, especially those in Europe, where EPDs originated. The review also examined the experience and perspective of other countries that are starting to contemplate this type of ecolabel as an option for environmental assessment within their own building sectors, as well as industry perspectives on EPDs, especially those of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Then, Mexico’s situation in regard to these key elements was examined, with a special focus on the main stakeholders detected: government and industry. Finally, after a contrast analysis was conducted between the developed countries and Mexico, the strengths and weaknesses of EPDs in the emerging economy context and the threats and opportunities within the building sector were determined. The use of EPDs in Europe has largely followed a normative and legislative pattern. Moreover, it has been the main data source for building environmental assessment schemes, and there is a strong life cycle assessment (LCA) platform that contributes to EPD development. Furthermore, there is a European tendency toward making the use of EPDs mandatory. However, there is a very different reality in emergent economy countries. In these countries, social housing represents a major part of the vision of the building sector, so it is taken as an initial approach to EPD development. In Mexico, there is a solid legislative framework in which EPDs could be implemented, and there is a variety of environmental assessment housing programs into which EPDs could be integrated. Nevertheless, there is an institutional void that has prevented the incorporation of the life cycle approach into the national strategy of sustainability in the building sector. Moreover, SMEs might not have the technical and financial capacity to develop EPD. This analysis has proved that EPD implementation in emerging countries mainly depends on two aspects: Firstly, it must be a shared vision of sustainability between government and industry, in which there is a correspondence between the sustainability objectives of the two parties and SMEs have the ability to contribute toward their achievement. Secondly, a solid platform of knowledge that supports LCA in the building sector is necessary, and it must involve a strong relationship between government, academia, and stakeholders.

Promoting sustainability in Mexico’s building sector via environmental product declarations

Despite policy thrusts and initiatives, driving consumer behaviour towards sustainable consumption is a challenging task. The paper in this context carries out a detailed analysis of consumer behaviour in the Indian context with a specific thrust on sustainable consumer behaviour. The paper builds on the theoretical conception of the ‘Value Belief Norm (VBN)’ framework developed by Stern et al. (1999) and adapts and expands the same in the Indian context by employing exploratory factor analysis. Based on consumption behaviour patterns, the study classifies Indian millennials into five different categories such as aware consumers, conscious consumers, consumers under transition, unwilling consumers, and rejecters respectively, which help to map the heterogeneities present among the Indian millennials in terms of their consumer behaviour. In addition, it emerges from the study that Indian millennials are more concerned about the environmental dimension of consumption than social and economic dimensions, which has clear policy implications in terms of creating awareness and sensitising people. 

Sustainable consumer behaviour of Indian millennials: Some evidence

In order to promote the development and sales of green products, including green electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), eco-labels have proven to be an effective instrument. Eco-labels verify eco-friendly characteristics and make products comparable. In India, one successful scheme in this regard is the Standards and Label-ling programme on energy efficiency administered by The Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Star Label). Hundreds of products have been certified. However, “green” EEE should comprise more characteristics in addition to energy efficiency. Considerations like resource efficiency and reduction of hazardous substances are important aspects as well. India's Ecomark scheme under the authority of the Central Pollution Control Board is based on such a holistic approach. Yet, in its 20 years of existence less than 30 Ecomark licenses have been granted, none of which for EEE. Key barriers are a lack of consumer awareness and insufficient government support, as well as the broad scope of the scheme. As part of the EU-financed WEEE Recycle project (www.weeerecycle.in) the authors have assessed which lessons can be drawn from the successful Star Label scheme and how these can be applied to foster a more widespread implementation of the Ecomark scheme.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/6353294/6360408/06360520.pdf

Yamini S. Kurani

Papers

State of environmental product declarations (EPDs) in India