Life Cycle Modelling with Decentralized Partial Models
ReDiBlock
ReDiBlock
Conserving resources through distributed ledgers and blockchain technology for industrial production and the circular economy
The extensive data generated throughout the life cycle of a product is used by numerous stakeholders to make decisions. This information is distributed decentrally in value chains and networks. Further information is generated during the use phase, whereby even the generating consumer generally has no original interest in passing on and collecting it. Both the upstream areas of production and distribution and the downstream areas of collection, reuse and recycling could benefit considerably from this information.
A transparent and tamper-proof exchange of material, energy, production, processing, quality, maintenance and recycling information forms the basis for effectively designing and managing a resource-efficient circular economy. It must be possible to reliably qualify, quantify, analyze, evaluate and interpret physical material and goods flows over the entire product cycle so that the product cycle can be efficiently controlled from every phase of the life cycle with regard to regulatory, technical, economic, ecological and social aspects. As this has not yet been the case in practice, or only partially so, the approach of a distributed ledger technology (DLT) or blockchain platform offers the opportunity to improve the database for all players in the value creation and circular economy networks.
Shared access to this information would significantly increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire system. Additional fields of application and business models could be generated. Comprehensive access to available information is essential in the wake of social expectations regarding climate protection and a sustainable industrial society with highly efficient, environmentally friendly energy and material flows (decarbonization and dematerialization of industry). On the other hand, there is a legitimate need to control one's own data, to protect company secrets and to protect anonymity. At the same time, traceability, data security and accuracy, consistency and protection against forgery are required in a network of players who do not trust each other.
To this end, the project aims to clarify the necessary (data) technical approaches and requirements, analyze how to ensure the accuracy of the transfer of real data into the digital system, develop the necessary DLT system concept and set up a platform as an example and test it using real material, product and material flow data from participating companies. The aim of the project is to collect data on the entire life cycle, from raw material extraction, through processing and production, up to and including the use phase and closing the loop, and to map it in data streams. In this project, at least one company with a selected product is to participate in each of the life cycle phases as an example in order to test the results obtained and consider selected use cases. The different approaches between unit goods and quantity (bulk)-oriented products and their interfaces should also be taken into account.
Project content
- Analysis of possible use cases and identification of requirements
- Analysis of business models and regulatory frameworks
- Involvement of companies with exemplary use cases
- System analysis and conception and design of a DLT platform
- Demonstrator development and test operation
- Evaluation of the prototype DLT platform using real examples from industry
- Accompanying innovation monitoring
- Accompanying stakeholder and dialog process
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MaFImA
MaFImA
Material Flow Based Improvement Assessments
The research project MaFImA is based on the method of material flow cost accounting (MFCA) and aims to improve the method significantly. Within a resource efficiency project, measures for an examined existing production system shall be systematically derived and assessed with the help of an expert system. The search for measures represents a costly part of a successful resource efficiency project because it requires a lot of technical expertise and detailed knowledge about the company. MaFImA does not only support the systematic derivation of measures, but enables the holistic assessment from both an economic and an ecological point of view. Compared to today’s stage of development of the MFCA method, which only considers costs, the pursued development of the method is future-oriented and will increase its relevance accordingly.
To achieve the goals the MaFImA project strives for, past MFCA and resource efficiency projects will be analyzed, oral and written interviews will be conducted, brief expertises will be consulted and finally, concrete case examples will be carried out to validate the research results.
The project partner ifu GmbH will develop mathematical algorithms within the project in order to be able to execute comparative scenario calculations based on an IT-supported expert system.
MaFImA will essentially promote the dissemination of the MFCA method, particularly in SME, and thereby drive forward the topic of resource efficiency. Baden-Wuerttemberg hereby once more asserts its claim to be innovator in the field of resource efficiency.
Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Wuerttemberg
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GrüNetz
GrüNetz
Strengthening the market entry of green start-ups through networking with SMEs
The aim of the project is to use the synergy potentials from the cooperation between SMEs and green start-ups with precisely fitting topic and technology focussing as well as innovative matching and partnering formats.
This can accelerate the implementation and diffusion of environmental innovations, create additional jobs and make significant contributions to climate and environmental protection. The innovation fields considered are in the areas of environmental technology (including recycling management, air pollution control, water management) and resource efficiency (material and energy efficiency).
Only less than a third of SMEs specifically establish contact with start-ups. The potential to support SMEs and start-ups in connecting them in a target-oriented process is significant. The challenge is to develop and implement a viable concept, enabling suitable cooperation between SMEs and green start-ups to be initiated with limited effort.
Umwelttechnik BW GmbH, the INEC of the University of Pforzheim and Grünhof GmbH, Freiburg, want to use the funding project to "strengthening the market entry of green start-ups through networking with SMEs" (acronym "GrüNetz").
Project content:
- Derive relevant fields of innovation for networking between SMEs and start-ups, e.g. from the environmental technology roadmap.
- Analysis of the concrete starting positions and requirements of SMEs
- Analysis of the concrete starting positions and requirements of green start-ups
- Formation of topic-specific clusters of start-ups and SMEs
- Development and implementation of innovative networking, coaching and cooperation formats that are specifically suited for matching and partnering SMEs and green start-ups
- Transfer of project results to interested stakeholders
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InnoDiZ
Self-organised innovation management in the digital age
The InnoDiZ research project aims to test an online platform for virtual, inter-company collaboration to support internal innovation processes. Measurable increases in process and product innovations in quality and rate are expected. The central starting point is the inter-company further training of specialists and managers to become innovation managers or actors.
All information on the project (in German)
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Marek
Marker based sorting and recycling system for plastic packaging
At the core of the new sorting system is the so-called „Tracer-Based Sorting (TBS)“. By means of this technology, developed and patented by project partner Polysecure, plastic packaging sorting clearly exceeds conventional sorting approaches. Packaging can thus be sorted according to significantly more differentiated criteria than the conventional plastic type sorting that is currently available.
To this end research partner KIT is further developing the fluorescence marker substances being employed in the project. Yet, the overall objective is the pilot application under technical conditions: In a first step, marker substances will be added to packaging materials or labels of the packaging of the brands FROSCH and EMSAL from project partner Werner & Mertz. The high-tech marker substance shows fluorescent properties when irradiated with a specific kind of light during the sorting process. The sorting machine to be developed and built by Polysecure in Freiburg is exploiting this effect for packaging identification and sorting of the marked objects. In this way plastic waste can be separated and can be specifically recycled – independently of form, colour and contamination.
Within the scope of the research project the entire recycling process will be analysed and further developed. On the one hand, marker materials and application areas of the retrieved secondary raw materials are assessed, and on the other hand the project partners are working together to optimize the waste management. Moreover, the innovation effects of the technology in the market environment is observed.
This interdisciplinary collaboration will provide the basis for an increase in material recycling of plastic packaging in the sense of the safeguarding of raw materials and reducing environmental hazards in Germany.
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InNOSys
Integrated Sustainabilty Assessment and Optimization of Energy Systems
The main objective of the project InNOSys is the development of a new generic modelling and assessment approach for energy scenarios which allows a multicriteria assessment and optimisation of technically and structurally feasible development pathways of the energy system in Germany. Assessment criteria include economic, ecologic and social indicators.
The project partners pursue the following aims:
- Development of an interdisciplinary, integrated method for the sustainability assessment of transformation scenarios for the (German) energy system. Economic, ecologic and social aspects will be taken into account through a coupling of models, methods and competences of the project partners.
- Analysis and comparative sustainability assessment of a spectrum of relevant transformation scenarios for Germany
- Optimisation of capacity expansion in the power sector under consideration of ecological, economic and social sustainability aspects
- Identification and analysis of conflicting goals and trade-offs between different sustainability indicators which will occur during the transformation process
- Formulation of conclusions for energy policy and society with respect to alternative courses of action
The project consortium combines a broad-ranging knowledge with respect to the ongoing discussion on sustainability, on energy system modelling and optimisation, on Life Cycle Assessment, assessment of macroeconomic effects of transformation processes as well as social science oriented research with respect to participation and social acceptance to an integrated concept for the sustainability assessment of energy transformation scenarios in Germany.
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WeLaReBaWü
Further development of the state strategy for resource efficiency Baden-Württemberg
In the joint project WeLaReBaWü, proposals for the continuation and further development of the state strategy for resource efficiency in Baden-Württemberg are being developed within the framework of a concept study.
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DiWaL
Development of a resource-efficient water management and plant concept for pretreatment and coating plants using the electroimpulsive technology for the decontamination of industrial water and lacquers
For all project information click here.
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SEROW
Simultaneous optimization of energy and resource efficiency of heat transfer regenerators
The aim of the research project is the optimization of heat exchanger rotors by thermodynamic modeling approaches taking into account constructive-manufacturing technology features.
Heat exchanger rotors are used in industrial and building services for transferring heat from hot to colder gas streams. From a technical perspective, these regenerative heat exchangers are substantially at the level of the 1960s. Against the background of rising energy prices and advancing climate change the incentive to recover energy has increased significantly. This project aims on the one hand to increase the efficiency of heat recovery and on the other hand to enable a more resource-efficient production of rotors.
First, the theoretical modeling is carried out with the implementation in a simulation program for the unsteady heat transfer of a small portion of the heat exchanger; assuming this, the model is then transferred to the continuous operation of the apparatus. With this model, important parameters can be varied in simulations and their effects can be analysed, without carrying out complicated test series.
Individual, determined by simulated calculations, optimal geometries of the heat exchanger can be subsequently converted into real heat exchangers in order to compare their properties with the simulation results. The results from this comparison flow back into the adaptation of the modeling program and thus the optimization loop would be closed.
Based on these findings rotor structures can be developed, which, adapted to each specific application, come up with a higher efficiency and can be manufactured with resource-conserving material inventory.
For all project information click here.
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NaGold
Sustainability aspects of gold production and gold recycling and lessons for extensive metal recycling
The supply of metals is increasingly subject to risks and limitations that are currently reflected in the volatility of world market prices. The EU, the Federal Government and the professional world speak of critical raw materials and claim the efficient use of resources, including the increased use in cycles. The precious metal gold does not belong directly to the critical raw materials, but it has played the role of scarce and coveted metal for thousands of years. In the jewelry sector, it is recycled to a large extent. New applications in the high-tech sector, e.g. in electronics, are becoming more and more difficult to handle. The main problem here is the logistics and the concentration of the product streams, which make the recycling cost- and energy intensive. At the same time, the reduction of primary gold is associated with major environmental and social problems, such as in the informal artisanal mining sector in developing and emerging countries. This significantly influences the environmental performance of the raw material gold.
Together with leading divestatories, the most important gold production, processing and recycling paths are to be examined holistically. The advantages and disadvantages are presented, gaps in the world-wide data sets, e.g. for LCA, are to be closed. The problems of artisanal mining and the opportunities of recycling are discussed. Gold is thus a case study for a today already real circulatory economy of a scarce metal.
For all project information click here.
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100 companies and more for resource efficiency
The present project follows on from the projects "100 Companies for Resource Efficiency" and "100Plus Companies". Within the framework of these projects, a total of 103 practical examples were selected and published between 2014 and 2018. These provide an insight into the potential for operational savings and possible measures for resource efficiency.
Within the scope of the current project, various objectives are being pursued, which result from the experiences and findings of the previous projects. On the one hand, the collection of practical examples is to be extended continuously, whereby the existing spectrum of technological measures is to be expanded in a targeted manner to include areas that have not yet been presented. On the other hand, with regard to the positive effect of resource efficiency measures on climate protection, the determination of CO2 savings through these measures, which mainly concern non-energy raw materials, is to be improved. In this context it is also important to discuss how these savings can be integrated into national and international climate protection activities. In order to transfer the gained knowledge into operational practice, a concept for action in the form of a guideline will be developed on the basis of the case studies. This guideline is intended to lower barriers to resource efficiency measures in companies. Since the case studies have shown that cross-company cooperation can make a significant contribution to the success of resource efficiency measures it is intended to develop an active network of companies with regular exchange and cooperation in the field of resource efficiency.
For all project information click here.
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NEXUS
Comparative analysis of the resource efficiency of primary and secondary raw material production - Economic indicators and the energy expenditure as a central evaluation indicator - the raw material-energy-nexus
In the project three topics will be processed. The first complex deals with the importance of the primary raw material in relation to the secondary raw material economy in Baden-Württemberg.
The second complex deals with the regionalization of current national and international approaches for economic indicators to measure resource efficiency.
The third part proposes a comprehensive approach for assessing the ecological and economic costs of primary and secondary production of raw materials. The focus is on the energy expenditure associated with the extraction or recycling of raw materials ( "Nexus"). The approach deals, e.g. With the energy expenditure with decreasing ore content in primary production or with increasing dissipation of valuable substances during recycling. An energetic indicator is used, which includes both the primary and secondary production for different raw materials as well as the substitution of raw materials among each other. This part is handled by INEC.
For all project information click here.
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ENsource
Centre of Applied Research Urban Energy Systems and Resource Efficiency
The focus of the Institute of Industrial Ecology is on the assessment of energy and resource efficiency in the overall context. In assessing complex urban systems in addition to the energy consumption and its environmental impact the use of other natural resources has to be considered. Energy is also bound in material flows, production of goods and in the infrastructure ("Embodied Energy"). This plays an important role in the metabolism of urban systems. This is followed by several important aspects: energy savings or the contribution to climate protection can often only be assessed holistically in the context of the whole energy and material metabolism. At the same, methods are required to assess and optimize the complex technical systems and their environmental impact multi-criterially. The holistic assessment approaches and optimization methods to be applied in the project specifically to the case studies and provide an overarching assessment of options for action.
For all project information click here.
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KSI - RE:PLAN
Simulation games for the disclosure of corporate energy and ressource efficiency measures
The KSI project is focused on the development, testing and dissemination of organization simulations in different fields of possible resource efficiency measures. These simulations are addressed to decision-makers in producing industries. The participants of the simulations run through typical situations in companies, e.g. in order to find potentials for efficiency enhancements, to develop appropriate measures and its communication and implementation in companies. These simulations in terms of management or role-playing games investigating concrete example companies or production processes are offered as advanced training measures for employees through appropriate networks.
Main goal is an efficient energy and material use and thus to reach direct and indirect saving of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). By using concrete examples the player gets to know typical situations likely to arise in practice and suitable implementation concepts will be worked out within the game. The player has to simulate operational processes and the technical system including all resource consumptions and GHG emissions and to quantify the results. Important experiences are the social interaction within the game, the learning effects and the contributions to solving different conflicts of objectives and further the direct transferability of the methods - used within the simulation - to the own company. With the aid of the simulations it is aspired to establish a “Resource Efficiency Awareness” and to strengthen the decision-making competence and action by the operational decision-makers in the production.
The training program thus provides specific knowledge in the field of resource efficiency directly at the interface between management and production in order to remove barriers and to initiate innovation processes. This results in an employee qualification and a long-term behavioral change in the company which also leads to a saving of GHG by implementing different resource efficiency measures.
Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety
Project coordination: Projektträger Jülich
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InReff
The integrated analysis and optimization of complex production systems – including material and energy use, resulting costs as well as environmental and climate impacts – is necessary to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the chemicals sector. When production systems are considered in such an integrated way eco-balancing, process engineering and optimization aspects refer to each other. In practice, their systematic consideration is non-trivial as appropriate instruments and holistic approaches are missing. Such instruments and approaches are expected to increase the degree of acceptance and diffusion regarding measures that aim at climate protection and resource efficiency and, in consequence, contribute to sustainable development. The InReff project does not seek innovative but singular technical solutions, but enables companies to systematically identify efficiency potentials instead. This then helps companies to derive and assess various (technical) measures and solutions. In the joint project three business and two academic partners collaborate to elaborate a platform that integrates different methods of modeling and assessment. The partners will furthermore develop a prototype and test it in practice. The desired holistic approach of this project is rather challenging and requires methodological and technological innovation. In addition, the project results will be incorporated in concrete measures of the involved business partners that are likely to foster technological innovations for existing production processes. Apart from the project partners, Worleée Chemie from Lauenburg was was involved in this R&D project as a SME partner.
Denz, Nicolas; Ausberg, Laura; Bruns, Michael; Viere, Tobias: Supporting resource efficiency in chemical industries - IT-based integration of flow sheet simulation and material flow analysis. Procedia CIRP 15 (2014), 537–542,doi:10.1016/j.procir.2014.06.060
Zschieschang, Eva; Denz, Nicolas; Lambrecht, Hendrik; Viere, Tobias: Resource efficiency-oriented optimization of material flow networks in chemical process engineering. Procedia CIRP 15 (2014), 373–378, doi:10.1016/j.procir.2014.06.066
Tobias Viere, Laura Ausberg, Michael Bruns, Jan Eschke, Jan Hedemann, Katharina Jasch, Hendrik Lambrecht, Mario Schmidt, Stephan Scholl, Tobias Schröer, Frank Schulenburg, Britta Schwartze, Markus Stockmann, Mandy Wesche, Klaus Witt, Eva Zschieschang: Integrated Resource Efficiency Analysis for Reducing Climate Impacts in the Chemical Industry. Journal of Business Chemistry, 2014, 11(2), S. 33-42 pdf-Download
Lambrecht, Hendrik u. Thißen, Nikolaus: Enhancing sustainable production by the combined use of material flow analysis and mathematical programming. Journal of Cleaner Production. In Druck. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.053
Viere, T.; Hottenroth, H.; Lambrecht, H.; Rötzer, N.; Paschetag, A.; Scholl, S. u. Wesche, M. (2016): Operationalisierung von Nachhaltigkeit im Produktionskontext: Integrierte Ressourceneffizienzanalyse zur Senkung der Klimabelastung von Produktionsstandorten der chemischen Industrie. In: Leal Filho, W. (Hrsg.): Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden: 349-363. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-10546-4_20
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WaPrUmKo
Within the research project WaPrUmKo prices and environmental impacts of conventional andorganic products are compared. Thereby, the statistical basket of the consumer price indexforms the basis. In comparing the price and environmental impact the relative difference between conventional and organic basket shall be determined and converted into an eco-economic analysis. For the first time empirical ecological variations in consumption patterns for statistical market basket analysis would be available, which could serve the markettransparency for consumers. Essential part of the project are empirical price surveys. Therefore, criteria for the evaluation of environmental product and service alternatives are determined,according to which the organic products are to be selected for the basket. Selection- and weighting criteria are developed for mapping a possible real market situation. Price-statistical methods, with involvement of the Federal Statistical Office, are further developed. The currentstate of the environmental assessment for product groups of the commodity basket is assorted. A particular challenge is to determine the environmental impacts of considered product quality. The environmental impact of consumption is assessed and the cost effects of a greenerconsumption are examined. To map not only the relative price and environmental impact of average consumers, the absolute differences at different levels of consumption and production patterns shall be determined examplarily.
Held, B. und Haubach, C. (2017): "The Additional Costs of Organic Food Products – A Basket of Goods-based Analysis Differentiated by Income". In: management revue, 28(1): 6-61. doi.org/10.5771/0935-9915-2017-1-6.
Haubach, C. und Held, B. (2016): "Der ökologische Verbraucherpreisindex – Kosten- und Umweltwirkungsvergleich von nachhaltigem und konventionellem Konsum". In: Leal Filho, W. [Hrsg.]: Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen: Theorie und Praxis der Nachhaltigkeit. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 313-329. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-10546-4_18.
Held, B. und Haubach, C. (2015): "Lohnen sich umweltfreundlichere Personenkraftwagen? Eine Analyse der Kosten und Umweltwirkungen". In: Wirtschaft und Statistik, 65(3): 41-52. https://www.destatis.de/DE/Methoden/WISTA-Wirtschaft-und-Statistik/2015/03/umweltfreundlichere-personenkraftwagen-032015.html
Haubach, C. und Held, B. (2015): "Ist ökologischer Konsum teurer? Ein warenkorbbasierter Vergleich". In: Wirtschaft und Statistik, 65(1): 41-55. https://www.destatis.de/DE/Methoden/WISTA-Wirtschaft-und-Statistik/2015/01/oekologischer-konsum-012015.html
Held, B. (2014): "Sind ärmere Haushalte stärker von Inflation betroffen? Eine äquivalenzeinkommensspezifische Analyse". In: Wirtschaft und Statistik 2014(11): 680-691.
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KosoK
Prof. Dr. Mario Schmidt, Prof. Dr. Christa Wehner
In this research, consumer behavior is examined in the context of climate change. With respect to the climate impact of consumption, gaps between the perception of risk, the risk assessment and the consumption shall be identified and approaches shall be developed to fill those gaps.
These gaps often lead to miscalculations in everyday consumption and climate-damaging behaviors, such as within the scope of detergents or in the evaluation of food. As a result, deficiencies in the company's customer communications shall be identified, the necessary interaction of the actors in the chain from producer to consumer shall be shown and approaches for the effective integration of the existing settings in consumer decision-making processes shall be developed for the implementation of effective climate protection measures. In addition, the development of approaches for communication strategies to influence appropriate motives, attitudes and habits of consumers are planned in order to close identified action gaps.
For this purpose, in empirical analyzes selected fast moving consumer goods are examined and evaluated with respect to their climate impact. This ecologically-factual evaluation of consumer goods shall be opposed to the consumer ‘s subjective evaluation. The exploration of the subjective consumer evaluation will be conducted in cooperation with GfK and our own empirical work with a focus on the identification of pro-environmental attitudes and values of risk assessment of climate change.
Eberhart, A. K., Naderer, G. (2017): Quantitative and qualitative insights into consumers’ sustainable purchasing behaviour; A segmentation approach based on motives and heuristic cues. Journal of Marketing Management 60: 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2017.1371204.
Moser, A. K. (2017): The role of consumers in transformations towards sustainable consumption - qualitative and quantitative insights into consumers´ purchasing decisions regarding fast moving consumer goods. Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Dissertation. http://opus.uni-lueneburg.de/opus/volltexte/2017/14452/pdf/Dissertation_Belegexemplar_elektronische_Version.pdf.
Moser, A. K., Naderer, G., Haubach, C. (2017): Mit qualitativen „insights“ aus der Nische zum Mainstream; Nachhaltiger Konsum von Körperpflegeprodukten. In: Leal Filho, W. (Hrsg): Innovation in der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung: Ein Beitrag zur Umsetzung der UNO Nachhaltigkeitsziele. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, S 23–38. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-54359-7_2.
Moser, A. K. (2016): "Buying organic – decision-making heuristics and empirical evidence from Germany". In: Journal of Consumer Marketing, 33(7): 552-561. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-04-2016-1790.
Moser, A. K. (2016): "Consumers' purchasing decisions regarding environmentally friendly products: An empirical analysis of German consumers". In: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 31: 389-397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2016.05.006.
Haubach, C., Moser, A. K. (2016): Nachhaltiger Konsum – Der Unterschied zwischen subjektiv und objektiv umweltfreundlichem Kaufverhalten, In: Walter Leal Filho (Hg.): Theorie und Praxis der Nachhaltigkeit. Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen, S. 297-311, Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-10546-4_17
Moser, A. K. (2015): Thinking Green, Buying Green? Drivers of Pro-Environmental Purchasing Behavior, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 32(3), 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-10-2014-1179.
Moser, A. K. (2015): The Attitude-Behavior Hypothesis And Green Purchasing Behavior: Empirical Evidence From German Milk Consumers, AMA Winter Educators' Conference Proceedings, Vol. 26, S. C27-C28.
Haubach, C., Moser, A. K., Schmidt, M., Wehner, C. (2013): Die Lücke schließen – Konsumenten zwischen ökologischer Einstellung und nicht-ökologischem Verhalten, Wirtschaftspsychologie, ISSN 1615-7729, 15 (2/3), 43-57. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259800821_Die_Lucke_schliessen_-_Konsumenten_zwischen_okologischer_Einstellung_und_nicht-okologischem_Verhalten.
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MEKKA
The focus of this project was the material flow cost analysis (MFCA) and in particular the ISO 14051, which has been created as a special evaluation of material and energy flows and their monetary value. But the project lacked a methodological integration into a comprehensive approach for the modeling of the material and energy flows related to a production system which is able to connect various extensions, e.g. in the direction of an inter-company analysis of the supply chain, or economic and ecological assessments. In particular, such a methodological embedding was required to develop IT policies and IT products, which are practicable and have the necessary flexibility for the operational use. In this context, extensive consultation with colleagues from Japan, as in the meeting Ecobalance 2012 in Yokohama, has taken place.
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PCF-KMU
For businesses, it is becoming increasingly important in the international competitionto position themselves on issues of environmental and climate protection. This serves the company's image and by the identification of savings potential competitive advantage can be achieved. An increasingly popular measure of the ecological evaluation of products and services is the "Product Carbon Footprint" (PCF). This "CO<sub>2</sub>footprint" shows how much greenhouse gases in the life cycle of a particular productare emitted.
The overall objective of the project is to make the method of the PCF applicable for medium-sized manufacturing industry and for medium commercial enterprises.Therefore, the currently available methods have to be developed and adapted andpractical experience in the implementation has to be gained. From the information obtained, instructions are formulated to help that in the SME environment such complex instruments can be used with reasonable effort. It is tested under whichconditions the collection of the CO<sub>2</sub> footprint can be an appropriate method to help, in particular small and medium enterprises, to mitigate climate change andsimultaneously obtain advantages in production and sales.
Any necessary adjustments to the institutional (legal and economic) framework conditions are worked out with the aim to make concrete proposals in this regard.
- Hottenroth, H.; Joa, B.; Schmidt, M. (2013): Carbon Footprints für Produkte - Handbuch für die betriebliche Praxis kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen [pdf-Download]
- Cichorowski, G.; Joa, B.; Hottenroth, H.; Schmidt, M.: Scenario analysis of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Darjeeling tea. Int J Life Cycle Assess. DOI: 10.1007/s11367-014-0840-0
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WaSChBerR
The aim of this project is to develop an indicator system in order to cumulate regionalized water intensities of actors along global supply chains. Thereby not only the water use but also the water scarcities at the different places of water abstraction are taken into account by using established water stress indices for spatial weighting of water use. The latter is important for assessing water-related business risks and impacts of water use which depend mainly on local water availability.
The indicator system follows a different approach than other water footprint methodologies. For calculating the cumulative water intensity, the water use of the company is set in proportion to the company’s turnover. Hence, the monetary value of the goods produced is used as a reference value and not the weight of products. This approach has the advantage that not only the water performance of the same enterprise could be tracked over time, but also comparisons between different companies would be facilitated. Further advantage is achieved by establishing a recursive system in which each supplier passes on his specific data just to the next actor in the chain. In order to calculate its regionalized cumulative water intensity (RCWI), a company must merely know its own water use, the prices and volumes of its purchased precursors, the RCWI of its direct suppliers and the water stress level of its production site. The timeintensive analysis of water use and water impacts throughout the whole supply chain is not longer necessary, as the indirect water footprints are passed on from each supplier to the customer – in the form of the RCWI.
- Joa, B., Hottenroth, H., Jungmichel, N., Schmidt, M. (2014): Introduction of a feasible performance indicator for corporate water accounting - A case study on the Cotton Textile Chain. Journal of Cleaner Production. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.06.075
- Joa, B., Hottenroth, H. (2012): Regionalized Cumulative Water Intensity – A Practical Approach to Corporate Water Accounting. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on EcoBalance - Challenges and Solutions for Sustainable Society, 20 - 23th Nov. 2012, Yokohama, Japan
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CliCCC
A methodically and technically innovative "calculator" will be designed to determine the greenhouse gas emissions and climate performance of individual companies, which is specifically geared to the needs of SMEs. The calculator uses the Internet as an ITplatform and will be operated on the websites of associations, chambers of commerceand other multipliers under license. It is modular and scalable, thereby allowingindividual design to meet the needs of other user groups. The calculator shall enablefast but reliable emission estimates of high scientific quality at the company level. In addition, the direct and indirect emissions of precursors and services ("ecological backpacks") are included. This is done based on generic data from the environmental economics and national accounts. By suitable methods for easy data entry and theformation of indicators with an online-based benchmarking, the benefits of the calcutator are optimized especially for SMEs. The innovative service concept of the calculator can be marketed not only nationally but also internationally. The business model comprises mainly sales of licenses to operators of Internet portals and advertising revenue. The separation of target customers (operators of Internet portals) and target users (enterprises particularly SMEs) gives you free use of the calculator to the end user.Thus, the barriers of use can be drastically reduced.
Raqué, C. (2012): Treibhausgasemissionen, Einkaufsdaten und Preiskonzepte. Horizonte, Ausgabe 39, S. 42-44. (pdf-download)
Raqué, C. (2011): Aufwandsreduzierte Schätzung von Lieferkettenemissionen. Horizonte, Ausgabe 38, S. 53-56. (pdf-download)
Raqué, C. (2011): Input-Output-Analysen zur Schätzung von Lieferkettenemissionen. In: Konturen 2011. Hochschule Pforzheim. S. 94-97. (pdf-download)
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CCaRMa
In the project “Corporate Carbon Risk Management” risks for companies which arise from impacts of climate change are evaluated. Aim is the development of a risk management of direct and indirect risks from climate impacts on companies. This enables companies to realize, assess and safeguard against these risks. Through a modular composition all risk factors are incorporated to the risk management of climate impacts. One focal point lies on the supply chain risks and interdependencies between impacts of climate change and resource prices. Based on the approach of cumulative emission intensities developed by Pforzheim University and different finance instruments the risks of loss for companies are calculated. Companies are supported by such a so long not existing management of climate risks in decision making concerning supplier selection, investment decision and site selection which minimizes the risk of negative impacts through climate change. On the one side “Corporate Carbon Risk Management” can be incorporated as a part of the whole risk management in existing analyzing instruments. On the other side the module “Carbon Supply Chain Risk” can be also used alone for analyzing the supply chain. Therefore this instrument supports German companies in their strategic alignment against the challenges of climate change. Thus the instrument of “Corporate Carbon Risk Management” safeguards the sustainability of companies.
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DyLiC
The methods of analysis for technical systems and the provision of information must always be related to the decision and planning situations in the relevant social systems (business, politics, etc.). Against the background of extensive practical experience, the current pool of methods of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was X-rayed to make a connection between the methods of choice and the decision-making support in politics and business practice. The methodological basis of the LCA, especially the quantitative-mathematical structure, was mirrored against the experiences and pool of methods of other disciplines, especially business science. There were pointed methodological developments by those LCAs can support concrete decision-making situations in business and politics much better. The allocation has been presented against the background of utility maximization, at which it was shown that the non-arbitrariness is not due to the choice of allocation rule but to the choice of the utility function. It was shown that with a flexible modeling of the product system one can map different options of action in a decision-making situation in a life cycle inventory analysis. The results have been considered by the industry partners to develop new software for life cycle assessment and carbon footprinting.
- Schmidt, M. (2009): Principle of causality or market price principle – what really leads us fur-ther in allocating the greenhouse gas emissions? In: VHB/TU Dresden (Hrsg.): Klimawandel - eine Herausforderung für die BWL. Dresdner Beiträge zur Betriebswirtschaftslehre Nr. 150-09. ISSN 0945-4810. 14 Seiten.
- Schmidt, M. (2009): Die Allokation in der Ökobilanzierung vor dem Hintergrund der Nutzen-maximierung. In: Feifel, S., Walk, S., Wursthorn, S., Schebeck, L. (Hrsg.): Ökobilanzierung 2009: Ansätze und Weiterentwicklungen zur Operationalisierung von Nachhaltigkeit. Univer-sitätsverlag Karlsruhe. S. 21-38
- Schmidt, M. (2010): Carbon Accounting zwischen Modeerscheinung und ökologischem Ver-besserungsprozess. Zeitschrift für Controlling und Management, 54. Jg. 2010, H.1, S. 32-37
- Schmidt, M. (2011): Von der Material- und Energieflussanalyse zum Carbon Footprint - An-leihen aus der Kostenrechnung. Chemie Ingenieur Technik Vol. 83, Nr. 10, S. 1541 ff.
Fachvorträge:
- Schmidt, M., Lambrecht, H., Hottenroth, H. (2009): Can LCA learn from cost accounting and production theory? SAM3: 3rd International Seminary on Society and Materials. 29.-30.4.2009, Freiberg
- Lambrecht, H. (2010): Flexible Modellierung des Produktsystems bei der Sachbilanzierung. Ökobilanz-Werkstatt, 29.09. - 01.10.2010, Darmstadt
- Schmidt, M. (2011): MFCA and Supply Chain. International Symposium Environmental Ac-counting and LCA in Asia for Greening the Supply Chain. 3.12.2011, Kobe, Japan
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MaRess
The project MaRess is subdivided into 13 special work packages. The Institute of Applied Research at Pforzheim University will contribute to work package 4 (“Innovative resource policy approaches at the microscopic level: instruments and approaches close to companies”). The main emphasis of this work package is put on the analysis and development of policy recommendations concerning instruments and methods close to companies which are suitable for setting appropriate incentives not only within companies but also along the supply chain in order to realise resource-efficient behaviour. Regarded instruments include improved distribution of output for companies and company networks, diffusion in the area of cross-sectional technology (e.g. membrane technology), market launch programmes for resource-saving lead products/key services/leading technologies, information campaigns and export promotion programmes.
Work Packages 3 (“Innovative resource policy approaches to design framework conditions“), 4 and 12 (“Consumer-oriented approaches”) seek to integrate findings from their respective areas of activity in an overarching policy mix. Their research agendas are therefore coordinated in a careful and targeted manner. The results, including impact appraisals, will be shared with a view to identifying interactions or links. As a synthesis a policy mix will be developed which integrates the various fields of activity as far as possible.
Within work package 4 the Institute of Applied Research at Pforzheim University will especially focus on work step 4.1 (“Analysis of resource policy options in the field of instruments close to companies”). The starting point is – as for the whole project – the question about how to stimulate companies to act more resource-efficient. The analysis within work step 4.1 is not about the internal drivers, but deals with external conditions, meaning “stimulants” or incentives coming from the external sphere close to companies.
Against the background of ecological and societal complexity a company is regarded as a self-interested and autonomous operating player that is, at the same time, open to external influence, which is not the same as external determination. Hence, it is vital to make use of the self-interest of these self-steering systems and channel the behaviour through suitable incentive systems, called institutions. By doing so, it becomes feasible to trigger widespread resource-efficient practices as well as desired societal outcomes, provided that the implemented (formal or informal) institutions cover all relevant actors and do have (positive or negative) sanction mechanisms as a basis. What external sources seem to be most likely to stimulate a change in corporate ordering momenta (strategy, structure, culture) and actions (management, business and supporting processes) will be the subject of the analysis at the Institute of Applied Research.
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REFFIM
Resource efficiency resounded throughout the land – but despite high efficiency potential and associated cost savings it is no topic that runs by itself in German companies. REFFIM aims therefore for the component of public communication. The project investigates the orientation of measures to be realized by companies (in particular SMEs) and there by the relevant target groups (in particular executives). From this an efficiency marketing concept shall be developed, which picks up new approaches from so called business campaigning. Furthermore appropriate means and information offers will be developed and provided.
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CO2-Projekt
Following the Kyoto Protocol, the German government has committed to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O, H-FKW, FKW and SF6) by approximately 21% by 2012, as compared to 1990 levels.
The semiconductor industry is especially affected by these political guidelines as it releases large quantities of such gases (especially CO2, SF6, NF3 and halogenated fluorine hydrocarbons, or H-FKW). The emissions of the semiconductor industry of H-FKW, FKW, SF6 and NF3 amounted to 0.577 Mio t CO2-equivalents in 1997. Assuming the continuation of current practice, calculations show that by 2010 about 2.1 Mio t CO2-equivalents would be emitted.
This project, initialised by M + W Zander, aims to assess new technologies and concepts that further the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and mark energy efficient and effective solutions for the semiconductor and solar panel industries. The main objective is the evaluation of new exhaust gas treatment technologies in semiconductor and photovoltaic cell production (e.g., point-of-use abatements, electrically operated plasma burners in combination with catalysts) and the optimization of overall factory strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The focal point for IAF is the evaluation of reduction potentials of greenhouse gases based on different scenarios for technical plant configuration and the assessment of typical potentials for CO2 reduction with different technical approaches. As a result, a tool for decision-making in the factory planning process of semiconductor and photovoltaic cells plants will be developed, which will meet the requirements of the industry for an effective and economical method.
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KOMSA
The project serves the innovative connection of IT approaches for operational and interplant flow analysis with optimization methods from business administration and information management.
The goal is to increase productivity in production systems through the identification of inefficiencies in the use of raw materials and energy and by simultaneously presenting optimization strategies. To date, both approaches (material flow analysis and optimization) have been, at most, analyzed separately on an instrumental software level, which has led in particular to some utilization in small and medium enterprises. To increase the relevance of this “material flow-based optimal planning” for operational decision-making, it is necessary to look beyond the inefficiencies and determine how throughput parameters of production can be selected in order to achieve a local or global - economic or ecological – optimum.
Open research questions include: how can advanced algorithms of "global optimization" be linked with approaches of material flow modelling in such a way that they can be applied quasi universally to production systems? The methodical work of the project develops from concrete practical experience and flows into software solutions, which are tested in pilot projects in the chemical and metalworking industries and subsequently leads to their readiness for marketing. The relevance is very high for application in manufacturing - and throughout several industries. Current and reliable estimates assume a savings potential of material costs of 5 - 15 %, highlighting the important economic relevance of this project.
- Lambrecht, H. und M. Schmidt (2010): Material Flow Networks as a Means of Optimizing Production Systems. Chemical Engineering & Technology. 33 (4)
- Schmidt, M., Lambrecht, H., Möller, A. (Hrsg.): Stoffstrombasierte Optimierung. 2009. MV-Wissenschaft, Marburg
- Lambrecht, H., M. Schmidt und A. Möller (2009): Stoffstromnetze aus Sicht der Optimierungstheorie. In: F. Heyde, C. Tammer (Hrsg.): Methoden der Mehrkriteriellen Entscheidungstheorie. Tagungsband des Workshops der GOR-Arbeitsgruppen „Entscheidungstheorie und –praxis" und „OR im Umweltschutz", Lutherstadt Wittenberg 2008, SHAKER, Aachen.
- Lambrecht, H. und M. Zimmermann (2008): Combination of Optimization Methods and Material Flow Analysis for Improvement of Operational Material Use (KOMSA): Concept and its Implementation. In A. Möller et al. (Hrsg.): Environmental Informatics and Industrial Ecology, Shaker Verlag, Aachen.
- Schmidt, M., Lambrecht, H., Möller, A. (2007): Optimisation Approaches in Material Flow Models of Manufacturing Systems. In: Hryniewicz, O., Studzinski, J., Romaniuk, M. (Eds.): Environmental Informatics and System Research. Vol. 1. 21st. International Conference on Informatics for Environmental Protection Sept. 2007, Warsaw, Poland. S. 271-278
- Lambrecht, H., M. Schmidt, A. Möller (2007): Konzeptionelle Grundlagen zur Verbesserung von Produktionsprozessen durch Kopplung von Simulations- und Optimierungsverfahren. In: J. Wittmann, V. Wohlgemuth (Hrsg.): Simulation in Umwelt- und Geowissenschaften: Workshop Berlin 2007. S.37-47
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EINBLIK
Sustainability reports focusing on comprehensive corporate responsibility will become more important in the future. In particular, companies are paying more attention to the production conditions of their suppliers and waste contractors. Therefore, the entire supply chain is the focus of a company’s climate protection approach. The question is this: is it possible to evaluate the climate efficiency of companies in times of outsourcing and globalisation? For instance, companies can achieve an overall positive climate rating by outsourcing environmentally damaging processes to pollution havens, even if the overall climate rating of their products is negative.
Taking this into account, the task of the research project EINBLIK, which is supported by the BMBF, is to develop an indicator in order to sum up the climate intensities of all companies along a supply chain. This indicator does not only measure the climate impact of one product, but also takes into account the climate impact of a company’s different sites and the company as a whole. This distinguishes the method from the ordinary method of Life Cycle Assessment. Thus, one can say that the cumulated climate intensity of a company shows the climate protection performance of a company’s output because the indicators of its suppliers and waste contractors are incorporated into its own indicator. This indicator of cumulative climate intensities follows a different approach from other concepts that assess climate protection performance. The indicator for every company in the supply chain is calculated in the following way: the climate intensities of all suppliers and waste contractors of a company multiplied by their share of the company’s turnover and the direct emissions of a company are set in proportion to the company’s turnover to calculate the indicator. This results in a recursive indicator system in which each supplier and waste contractor merely passes its climate rating along the supply and disposal chain. Every company has to look back by only one supplier and waste contractor step. This yields another big advantage for the realisation of the method because the necessary data for the calculation of cumulative emission intensities is easily accessible to each company in the chain.
In the first step, the methodical framework will be determined. This includes the determination of accounting principles, the examination of the data demand, and the approach for international usage and boundary rules. The second step involves the implementation of the method as an operational decision support system. Analysis and extension of the decision models must precede integration of the method in the operational decision process. The last step is the application for the project partners’ businesses. For example, Volkswagen AG will compare the climate efficiency of different sites and factories by cumulative emission intensities, while Systain Consulting GmbH calculates cumulative emission intensities along an extensive supply chain.
The aim of the research project is to advance the cumulative emissions intensities method in order to apply this concept to all companies in globalised production systems. The application of the indicator system should be independent of the industry and the size of a company. Furthermore, the method should be transferable to pollutants other than CO2-equivalents, and it should also comprise reduction chains. As a result, companies will have an incentive to minimise the climate impact of their complete product range. Thus, the method is sufficient to support comprehensive corporate responsibility. Cumulative climate intensities offer the opportunity to assess supplier connections on climate relevant emission ratings. This will enable companies to establish integrated supply chain management on climate impacts leading to mitigation of CO2-emissions. Every company will strive to achieve a low indicator value and will pass on this tendency to its suppliers and waste contractors. Moreover, mitigation of CO2-emissions can be achieved by setting target values for the indicator or by installing a mandatory benchmarking system. Furthermore, the indicator provides a new decision criterion because it connects environmental measures with business data. Because the indicator is a concrete operational number and not simply a scientific measure unfamiliar to the typical businessperson, it can be easily understood and applied by the decision makers in companies.
Institute of Applied Research, Pforzheim University, E-Mail: mario.schmidt(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
Institut für Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Abteilung Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insb. Produktionswirtschaft TU Braunschweig
Volkswagen AG, Abteilung K-GEFUW
Systain Consulting GmbH
Schmidt, Mario/Schwegler, Regina (2005): Wertschöpfungsbasierte Erfolgsmessung unternehmensbezogener Klimaschutzaktivitäten, hrsg. vom Institut für Angewandte Forschung der Hochschule Pforzheim (Pforzheimer Forschungsberichte: Nr. 4) (pdf-download)
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ELVIES
Since the adoption of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act - ElektroG (implementation of the European WEEE-directive), responsibility for the development of a collection system for old devices, the verification of given recycling ratios and the development of recyclable products are placed on the manufacturers of electrical and electronics devices. These duties require the development and/or improvement of systems for product labelling and monitoring since the specifications of the devices must be available at each step throughout their entire life cycle, from production through disposal or recycling. The project group, comprised from three Universities of Applied Sciences at Bingen, Darmstadt and Pforzheim, aims at analyzing the technical, economical and social implications of such labelling and monitoring systems and searches for suitable institutional frameworks from which the advantages of such solutions can most efficiently develop. The legal framework, possible technical standards and organisation forms are examined to determine how they contribute to a suitable incentive, which permits the lowest cost alternative to link the guidelines of the ElektroG with the individual incentives of the actors along the entire supply chain. Within this framework, the working group examines the objectives and implementation possibilities of closed loop supply chain management ("efficient Reverse Logistics") as well as the requirements of standardization and/or standardization of the information flows. Further, the resulting material flow can be mapped and illustrated in a model, which serves as a basis for consideration by all project partners.
Führ, Martin; Roller, Gerhard; Schmidt, Mario uva.: Individuelle Herstellerverantwortung durch Produktkennzeichnung bei Elektro- und Elektronikgeräten. Projektbericht. Sofia-Studien zur Institutionenanalyse Nr. 08-2, Darmstadt 2008 (ISBN 978-3-933795-88-5)
Download Projektbericht (1,4 MB pdf)
Führ, Martin; Roller, Gerhard; Schmidt, Mario uva.: Individuelle Herstellerverantwortung durch Produktkennzeichnung bei Elektro- und Elektronikgeräten. Anlagenband. Sofia-Studien zur Institutionenanalyse Nr. 08-3, Darmstadt 2008 (ISBN 978-3-933795-89-3)
Download Anlagenband (2,7 MB pdf)
Cichorowski, Georg: Technische Optionen für eine automatische Produktidentifikation im Bereich des Elektrogeräterecycling. Sofia-Studien zur Institutionenanalyse Nr. 08-1, Darmstadt 2008 (ISBN 978-3-933795-87-7)
Download Technische Optionen (0,5 MB pdf)
Barginda, Karsten: Akteurspezifische Anreizsituation durch WEEE und ElektroG. Teilprojektbericht. Sofia- Diskussionsbeiträge zur Institutionenanalyse Nr. 08-1, Darmstadt 2008 (ISBN 978-3-933795-90-7)
Download Anreizsituation (0,4 MB pdf)
Hottenroth, H.; Schräfer, W.; Schmidt, M.: Herstellerverantwortung beim Recycling von Elektro- und Elektronikaltgeräten, horizonte Ausgabe 32 (2008), S. 8-14
Führ, M.; Nuphaus, L.; Hottenroth, H.; Barginda, K.; Roller, G.; Cichorowski, G; Assmann, R.: Herstellerverantwortung nach WEEE-Richtlinie und Produktinnovationen – Status quo, Szenarien und Handlungsbedarf. In: MÜLL und ABFALL Nr. 1 vom 16.01.2008, S. 11-18
Hottenroth, H.; Keil, R.; Schmidt, M.; Borghetto, E.: Efficient Organization of Material and Information Flows Considering Interfaces in the Extended Supply Chain in the Electronic Industry
in: Hilty, L. M., Edelmann, X., Ruf, A. (eds.): R'07 World Congress - Recovery of Materials and Energy for Resource Efficiency, September 2007, Davos, Switzerland. Empa Materials Science and Technology, St.Gallen 2007
Keil, René (2006): Conceptual designing of alternative and individual WEEE collection systems for Hewlett-Packard. Master thesis, Hochschule Pforzheim (mit Sperrvermerk)
Kneller, Nadja (2006): Design of alternative WEEE collection systems for Hewlett-Packard. Diplomarbeit, Hochschule Pforzheim (mit Sperrvermerk)
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LeMoPs
The modelling of a life cycle can be performed in two different ways. On the one hand, a life cycle can be modelled with a general model, which is the international norm in life cycle analysis (LCA). Present LCA is almost solely based on general models, e.g., the ecoinvent LCI Database with strong assumptions and simplifications. As this approach requires the collection of a huge amount of data, life cycle inventory data needs to be centralised and harmonised. On the other hand, partial models of industries can be used for LCA. As well-elaborated partial models with high-quality data related to different industries and sectors are available in Germany, it is vital to know whether LCAs based on such partial models are sufficiently reliable.
Within their industries, these partial models are superior to general models as they consider and differentiate aspects in the particular sector that cannot be represented by present general databases. Apparently, the established methodological approach to LCA is not optimal for the German situation. In general, the advantage of using partial models is the accuracy of the modelled processes. By applying different approximation procedures or other methods, such as the Neumann series expansion, it is possible to calculate the deviation that results between using a partial model approach and a general model approach.
Taking this into account, it no longer seems useful to adapt existing structures of data availability to the mainstream life cycle analysis practice; rather it is necessary to investigate how life cycle modelling can be advanced to handle these partial systems.
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EFAS
Energy and material flow management can help companies discover considerable production cost savings, which may also lead to ecological savings of natural resources. Pilot projects have confirmed this, and analysis methods and instruments are available. Nevertheless, in practice - particularly in small and medium enterprises - appropriate projects are not carried through and/or fail because of various obstacles. Thus, a goal of EFAS was to identify the success factors (and/or obstacles) for energy and material flow management projects, to then categorize the enterprises and to develop specific guidelines for the use of a successful method and instrument.
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Material Flow-Based Cost Allocation with Regard to Sustainable Controlling in Organisations
Internal and external energy and material flow management aims to illustrate how the use of resources can be improved. The systematic structure of the model makes it possible to create transparency in the production process. Thus, various information levels can be linked to specific processes, and different evaluation perspectives and approaches are possible. So, an input-output analysis can occur for a general survey of the energy and material flows of a company. For the redesign and restructuring of processes and plants in the enterprise, modelling or simulation can be implemented (Meier et al., 2003, 74). An evaluation of the network can take place both up and down the material stream. Further, it is also possible to look at the associated costs, apart from the material flows. Material costs represent a large share of an enterprise’s expenses, so they require special attention. The research project was based on the initial thesis that conventional cost calculation instruments cannot satisfy certain information demands, but which can be uncovered through the use of energy and material flow management. Thus, a substantial contribution to in-plant transparency and to the improvement of decision-making can be achieved.
The instrumentation of energy and material flow management is far developed, but despite many good practical examples, it seems that the improvement of environmental performance runs altogether slowly and without uniformity, and it is frequently limited to the treatment of only the most obvious problems (Clausen et al., 2004, 419). So far, energy and material flow management was used only sporadically and, after the conclusion of pilot projects, it was usually not continuously carried through. Particularly in small and medium enterprises, the approach has not always met with broad approval, as these companies, in contrast to larger enterprises, are not equipped with the financial, personnel and technical resources needed for the improvement of their environmental performance. This explains why companies may not be persuaded by the potential cost savings despite numerous national initiatives and information supporting energy and material flow management (Clausen et al., 2004, 420).
This reluctance may be justified by, among other things, the fact that energy and material flow management necessitates a relatively high initial expenditure for the collection of the energy and material streams, whereby an unfavourable cost-benefit ratio results (Meier et al., 2003, 79). In order to understand the relationship between the potential of decreasing costs and the need for up-front expenditures, it is reasonable to look for a connection between the database of energy and material flow management and the existing information systems and controlling procedures. Thus, the objective of the project was to analyze the possible links of energy and material flow management in the enterprise to controlling procedures in particular. The project quickly clarified that, not only do theoretical integration potential and technical facility play a role (i.e., whether the concept of energy and material flow management is integrated into the procedures and actions of the enterprise), there are other factors of influence and obstacles that determine acceptance of the material flow approach in enterprises. The project aimed to examine the position and relevance of energy and material flow management in the enterprises through a comprehensive analysis approach in order to outline those issues and factors, which can form the basis for a broad view of the energy and material flow in enterprises.
- Schmidt, M./Hroch,N. (2005): "Stoffstrombezogene Leistungsverrechnung für ein nachhaltiges Unternehmenscontrolling", Hochschule Pforzheim (IAF) [Download]
- Schmidt, M.: "In Stoffströmen denken - Grundlage nachhaltigen Wirtschaftens". Vortrag beim NiK-Netzwerktreffen "Stoffstrommonitoring" des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Logistik und Materialfluss Dortmund am 24. Juni 2003 in Dortmund
- Schmidt, M.: "Material and Energy Flow Analysis Objectives, Methods, Instruments and Possible Applications." Einführungsvortrag beim Achema 2003-Kongress - Session "Material and Energy Flow Analysis" am 21.Mai 2003 in Frankfurt/M.
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WEMUK
Using greenhouse gas emissions as an example, a method was developed that permits the successful measurement of operational environmental protection activities and, concomitantly, a comparison beyond time periods, site locations or organisational limitations. In order to standardize the significant economic success factors, the operational added value was suggested as a reference parameter. Using this, together with non-financial factors from material input/output balances, key data can be generated in companies who have large product ranges, small vertical integration or strongly varying outputs. This serves not only for analysis, but also for the control and planning of operational environmental management. In the future, such systems will come to have more importance to political efforts to involve industrial enterprises into an emission trade for the purpose of climate protection (such as the Kyoto Protocol).
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ISAC
The pre-phase for ISAC – Integration of Ecology into Strategic Action and Concepts for Extended Controlling – began running in January 2001. Under the centralized control of ifeu - Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg GmbH - many renowned partners from science and economics took part in this project, such as the following universities:
- Department of Applied and Socially-Oriented Computer Science, University of Hamburg
- Chair for Corporate Theory, Aachen University of Technology (RWTH Aachen)
- Institute for Applied Research (IAF), Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences
- Institute for Ergonomics and Technological Management (IAT), University of Stuttgart
and the following enterprises:
- ifu Institute for Environmental Computer Science Hamburg GmbH
- M+W Zander Facility Engineering
- Otto Versand GmbH & Co.
- Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH
- DaimlerChrysler AG
During the pre-phase, the demand for research in important areas of environmental management – strategically-oriented controlling and information supply – was identified, the concepts that were to be developed during the main phase were outlined, and the practical projects were planned. To this end, an interchange of ideas with the public was sought: during two public workshops, the main research ideas were presented and discussed with representatives from business and science.
The aim for the entire ISAC project was to strengthen environmental management by integrating ecology into strategic action. Effective and efficient pursuit of such ecological goals requires their integration into business strategy primarily because strategic decisions leave much more room for ecological action than operative decisions. Despite this fact, experts have discovered and criticized “strategic gaps” in the environmental management of companies.
The focus of ISAC was the theoretical examination of this phenomenon. From where does the strategic gap in environmental management originate? How are different priorities assigned to environmental protection in business plans? What is the company’s attitude toward ecological action? Based on the answers to these questions, opportunities were sought to optimally integrate ecological action. Last but not least, concepts and instruments were developed that support the integration of such ecological strategies into enterprises. Controlling that ensures the rationality of management decisions has been shown to play a key role during the integration process; therefore, the development of concepts for strategic (environmental) controlling was the focal point of the main phase of ISAC.
To do justice to these complex and interdisciplinary problems, the ISAC research group approached these topics from three different perspectives: strategic management, strategic controlling and information supply. These fields of theoretical research served as pillars, whereas practical projects with renowned companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Aventis, Otto Versand and M+W Zander served as links between these pillars. The practical projects were deliberately chosen to cover the different topics and entrepreneurial situations in an optimal way. Thus, from the beginning, the theoretical research was able to refer to practical examples, and the results (developed concepts, methods and instruments) could be directly tested in those companies. In return, the companies had the opportunity to take part in innovative research findings and were able to soundly solve their problems concerning the integration of sustainability into company strategy.
- Dyckhoff, H. / Ahn, H. / Schwegler, R. (2003): "Rollenkonflikte zwischen Umweltmanagern und Controllern: Fallbeispiele, Ursachenanalyse und Ansatzpunkte zur Konfliktauflösung", in: Schmidt, M.; Schwegler, R. (Hrsg.): Umweltschutz und strategisches Handeln: Ansätze zur Integration in das betriebliche Management, Wiesbaden, S. 253-267
- Schmidt, M. / Schwegler, R. (2003): "Einführung in das ISAC-Vorhaben" in: Schmidt, M.; Schwegler, R. (Hrsg.): Umweltschutz und strategisches Handeln: Ansätze zur Integration in das betriebliche Management, Wiesbaden, S. 1-21,
- Schwegler, R. (2003): "Lücken schließen im Umweltmanagement -Theoretischer Bezugsrahmen für ein rationales Management-Handeln auf Basis der St. Galler Management-Lehre" in: Institut für Angewandte Forschung der Hochschule Pforzheim (Hrsg.): Pforzheimer Forschungsberichte Nr. 1
- Schwegler, R. / Schmidt, M. (2003): "Rationales Umweltmanagement: Schließung der Lücken im Umweltmanagement - ein managementorientierter Bezugsrahmen", in: UmweltWirtschaftsForum, 11. Jahrgang, Heft 2, S. 4-11
- Schwegler, R. / Schmidt, M. (2003): "Lücken im Umweltmanagement: Forschungsansatz für ein rationales Umweltmanagement auf Basis der St. Galler Management-Lehre", in: Schmidt, M.; Schwegler, R. (Hrsg.): Umweltschutz und strategisches Handeln: Ansätze zur Integration in das betriebliche Management, Wiesbaden, S. 25-90
- Schwegler, R. / König, M. (2003): "Nachhaltige Unternehmensstrukturen am Beispiel Otto", in: Schmidt, M.; Schwegler, R. (Hrsg.): Umweltschutz und strategisches Handeln: Ansätze zur Integration in das betriebliche Management, Wiesbaden, S. 285-313
- Schwegler, R. (2003): "Lücken im Umweltmanagement: Theoretischer Bezugsrahmen für ein rationales Umweltmanagement auf Basis der St. Galler Management-Lehre", auf der Jahrestagung des DNWE (Deutsches Netzwerk Wirtschaftsethik) in Seeheim-Jugenheim, 5.4.2003
- Schwegler, R. (2003): "Kritik und Verbesserung der St. Galler Management-Modelle im Hinblick auf die Schließung von Lücken im Umweltmanagement (empirisch gestützt durch Fallstudien)", DNW-Doktoranden-Seminar des Doktoranden-Netzwerk nachhaltiges Wirtschaften e.V. (dnw) vom 26.-28.9.2003 in Berlin
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DaimlerChrysler AG - Material and Energy Flow Analyses
At the DaimlerChrysler plant in Stuttgart, ecological material and energy flow analyses were carried out in order to identify the potential for economic and ecological savings and to develop suggestions for optimization. Thus, up-to-date methods of material flow analyses and IT instruments were used and further developed. Scientific questions centred on the proper use of the method of Petri-Net based material flow nets, modelling aspects of software-based presentation and the analysis of production processes, the development of generic data as well as the ecological assessment of material flows.
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Ecological Material Flow Analyses in Manufacturing Enterprises
In this project, available scientific methods in the area of ecological material flow analysis were adapted in concrete cases in manufacturing enterprises. This was accomplished through the development of sample solutions, which are applicable to ever recurring problems in the enterprise. These could be, for example, questions regarding internal recycling, the allocation of environmental effects with combined products or the consideration of upstream process stages outside of the operating location. For this, a kind of "model construction box" was developed, which illustrates modular archetypal examples of material flow systems.
M. Schmidt (2000): "Betriebliche Umweltinformationssysteme" In: BMU/UBA (Hrsg.): Handbuch Umweltcontrolling. Vahlen München. 2. Aufl.
M. Schmidt (2000): "Computergestützte Stoffstromanalysen - hat das Unternehmen einen Nutzen davon?" In: L. M. Hilty et al. (Hrsg.): Strategische und betriebsübergreifende Anwendungen betrieblicher Umweltinformationssysteme. Marburg. S. 25-36.
M. Schmidt (2000): "Betriebliches Stoffstrommanagement" In: H. Dyckhoff: Umweltmanagement - Zehn Lektionen in umweltorientierter Unternehmensführung. Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg, S. 121-149
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Concept for Environmental Reporting in a Logistics Company (Deutsche Post AG)
The aim of the project for the global concern Deutsche Post World Net was to develop a concept for environmental reporting in a logistics company. The goal was to gather and allocate the environmental effects of logistics between the purchaser and the service provider in national financial statements and other means. Also addressed was the development of an approach for ecologically efficient environmental management in the transportation industry.
Schmidt, M. (2003): Hochschule entwickelt Umweltbericht des Post Konzerns, in: Konturen, 23. Jahrgang, Ausgabe 22, S. 47-50. (pdf-download)
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