2. SVTC Sustainable Solar Industry Initiative
Sustainability Scoring Criteria:
•Extended Producer Responsibility
•Emissions Reduction
•Workers Rights, Health and Safety
•Supply chain
•Conflict Minerals
•Module Toxicity
•Cradle to Cradle Recycling
•Prison Labor
•Biodiversity
•Water
•Energy & GHGs.
3.
4. 2014-16 Scoring Methodology
New scoring methodology
• SVTC will score Solar companies’ websites bi-annually based on survey
response, interviews, news sources and publicly available data and
information posted on their websites.
• SVTC will continue to score 40 companies that represent an estimated 80-
85% of the market share. SVTC will also score smaller companies who
request to participate.
• SVTC will provide companies with survey questionnaires and notify
companies of deadlines via email announcements. The survey questions
and instructions on how to participate in the Scorecard will also be posted
on SVTC’s website.
• SVTC will use the existing 2013 survey questions to score companies in
2014-15.
• SVTC will be as transparent as possible about the scoring system.
• SVTC expects companies to improve their scores over the course of the
two years. Thus, SVTC will acknowledge companies that are innovating and
also acknowledge companies that are not truthful in their reporting.
• SVTC will partner with San Jose Sate University and the University of
California -Santa Cruz and other stakeholders to develop 2016 scoring
system, metrics and environmental standards.
4Solar Scorecard |
5. 5
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – 20 points
Issue: PV modules at the end-of-life have a recipe for e-waste—valuable metals mixed with
toxic materials. There is a growing concern that PV modules will be found in future e-waste
streams sent to developing countries.
Goal: Companies have a global take-back and responsible recycling program and support
legislation that moves in this direction.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
EPR program
participation
Q2
Fully funded collection and recycling system for
End of Life PV modules produced globally
+5 — all PV modules produced
globally
+2 — PV Cycle member only
Direct support
for EPR policy
in USA Q1
Manufacturer writes a letter to the Solar
Energy Industry Association (SEIA) urging them
to support EPR laws and regulations
+5 — SEIA letter
Commitment to
EPR in principle
Q1
Reports to SVTC that they support public
policies based on EPR in the regions they
manufacture and sell PV modules.
+5 — Direct communication to SVTC
or
evidence of policy support from
website.
Module Label &
Website Q3
Label with crossed-out garbage bin appears on
PV module nameplate. Clearly describes on
website how all customers can responsibly
return PV modules for recycling
+2 — Garbage bin on PV nameplate
+1 — PV Cycle link on website
+2 — More detailed recycling
information on website
6. 6
Cradle-to-Cradle Recycling - 5 points
Issue: There are numerous materials used in PV that are finite resources and making PV from
recycled materials will reduce waste, improve recycling markets and lessen the overall impact
on natural resources.
Goal: Companies have cradle to cradle recycling in which 95% or more of the materials
recovered are destined for high value recycling and materials recovery.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
High Value
Material
Recovery Rate
Q5
95% of the PV module is recycled into similar value
and quality products; or 95% of the PV module is
down-cycled into lesser value and quality products
+2 – cradle to cradle recycle, or
+1 – down-cycle
ISO 14001
Facilities Q4
All recycling activities take place at a facility with a
documented environmental management system
and worker safeguards and protections consistent
with ISO 14001
+1
Design for the
environment Q6
Cradle to cradle recycling is encouraged at the
design stage through design for the environment
(dfe) training programs offered by company.
+2
7. 7
Emissions Transparency - 10 points
Issue: PV manufacturing relies on the use of hazardous chemicals similar to those used in the
electronics industry which led to widespread contamination at manufacturing sites (Silicon
Valley has the highest concentration of Superfund sites in the USA).
Goal: Companies disclose chemical emissions information on their website.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Chemical
Emissions Q7
Information regarding chemical emissions
including chemical waste (HCl, HF, Cl2), hazardous
waste disposal and/or heavy metals.
+4 – chemical waste (HCL, HF, Cl2),
hazardous waste disposal, heavy metals
Air Pollutants Q7 Information regarding air pollutants is disclosed
in annual report, and or confirmed by third party
auditing or government agency.
+2 – NOx, SOx, Volatile Organic
Compounds, Particulate matter (PM)
Or +1 – if fewer than above
Ozone Depleting
Substances
Q7
Information regarding ozone depleting
substances is disclosed in annual report, and/ or
confirmed by third party auditing or government
agency.
+2 – Ozone depleting substances
Landfill Disposal
Q7
Information regarding landfill disposal is
disclosed in annual report, and/ or confirmed by
third party auditing or government agency.
+2
8. 8
Chemical Reduction Plan – 5 points
Issue: Reducing chemical use per module has benefits to the environment, workers, and the
cost of making PV.
Goal: Companies have a plan to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals. Companies should be
able to measure, track, and report on progress.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Chemical
Reduction Plan
Q8
Companies have adopted a plan with goals to
reduce chemical use per module and described it
on their website or sustainability report.
+5
9. 9
Workers’ Rights, Health and Safety - 15 points
Issue: PV manufacturing should be done in a way that protects worker rights, health and safety.
Goal: Companies protect workers’ rights, health and safety and can prove it. SVTC’s overall goals for
worker protections can be found on our Green Job’s Platform on our website.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Formal
Commitment Q9
Companies adopt a formal commitment that
protects worker rights, health, and safety that goes
beyond compliance with local laws and regulations
+4 SEIA’s commitment or equivalent
company declaration, or
+2 policy for a company declaration
that is missing important elements of a
commitment to worker, right, health,
and safety.
Living Wage Q10 Commitment to improving wages of employees. +2 All employees paid more than min
wage.
Post Signs in
workplace Q11
Post signage for minimum wage provisions for
illiterate workers
+1
Collective
Bargaining Q12
Utilize a workforce protected by collective
bargaining
+2 if 100%
+1 if > 50%
10. 10
Workers Rights, Health and Safety - 15 points… continued
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Work Day Case
Rate Q13
Report and show improvements in workday case
rates
+1 for annual improvement
+1 for reporting
Recordable
Incident Rates
Q14
Based on reporting criteria used Bureau of Labor
Statistics http://www.bls.gov/iif/osheval.htm
+1 for annual improvement
+1 for reporting
OHSAS Q15 OHSAS for 100% of their facilities +2 if 100% of facilities,
+1 if >50%
Issue: PV manufacturing should be done in a way that protects worker rights, health and safety.
Goal: Companies protect workers’ rights, health and safety and can prove it. SVTC’s overall goals for
worker protections can be found on our Green Job’s Platform on our website.
11. 11
Supply Chain 10 points
Issue: As global supply chains become increasingly complex, it is often not known what is
happening regarding worker and environmental impacts in the supply chain
Goal: Companies have their suppliers from across the lifecycle report chemical emissions; have
companies adopting binding commitments to monitoring and improving the
environmental, health, and safety of their operations.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Supply Chain
Chemical
Monitoring
Q16
Purchase from suppliers that report all
chemical emissions from module upstream to
polysilicon production or semiconductor
preparation
+2 if all tiers report
+1 if only first tier suppliers report
Commitment
from
Suppliers
Q17
Enforceable commitment from suppliers to
protect workers and the environment.
+7 SEIA commitment, UNGC , or
SA8000
+3 if a less comprehensive code of
conduct
Commitment
from Tier 2
Suppliers
Q17
Companies could also earn points if the
agreement with suppliers extended to tier 2 of
suppliers’ supply chain.
+1 code of conduct covers tier two.
12. 12
Module Toxicity 10 points
Issue: Using toxic materials in PV poses a risk to the environment and workers, and increases
operating and disposal costs.
Goal: Companies have no toxic substances in its PV modules.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Eliminate Heavy
Metals Q18
Companies that do not contain toxic heavy metals.
Some manufacturers have been able to
significantly reduce the toxicity of their modules to
very low levels. The levels of Cd and Pb allowed in
products under RoHS is the threshold used for
claims to be cadmium or lead free.
+10 – for no more Pb or Cd than
allowed under RoHS.
13. 13
Biodiversity - 5 points
Issue: Many solar power plants, including PV power plants are being built on sensitive
ecological habitat in some of the areas that will be most affected by climate change.
Goal: Companies build projects (PV installations, manufacturing fabs, factories) on previously
disturbed or degraded lands or on rooftops and parking lots and have no direct impacts on
threatened and endangered species or on wildlife and biodiversity.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Zero Take
permits
Q20
Zero take permits for endangered, threatened, or
special concern animals in the US from 2013 to
pending.
+3
No harm to
wildlife or
sensitize species
Q21
No Species of Special Concern Present at Project
Sites
+1
No Biodiversity
Impacts Q22
No significant impacts of activities on biodiversity
in protected areas or on areas of high biodiversity
value outside protected areas
+1
These are all questions derived from the Global Reporting Initiative (which is supported by UNEP/OECD/ISO)
14. 14
Energy Use & Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions - 5 points
Issue: Reporting on energy use and GHGs will encourage manufacturers to use the cleanest
energy possible to make PV.
Goal: Companies report energy use, sources of energy, and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Energy & GHG
Reporting Q23
Companies that report energy use GHGs,
perfluorocarbon and/or report information to a
third party.
+1 report energy use annually
+1 report greenhouse gases
+1 Report perfluorocarbons
+2 report GHGs and/or energy to
third party
15. 15
Conflict Minerals - 5 points
Issue: Tin is a conflict mineral and its use in PV is widespread.
Goal: Companies confirm through due diligence that there are no conflict minerals in their
products.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
OECD Guidelines
Q24
PV manufacturing does not contain conflict
minerals from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC), Angola, Burundi, Central African
Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South
Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia as
per the due diligence guidance outlined by the
OECD and can produce documentation
+5 Document OECD Due Diligence
+3 Starting the due diligence process
16. 16
Water - 5 points
Issue: There are significant amounts of water used and wastewater emissions for making PV.
Goal: Companies do not pollute the water and reduce the amount used in production. One
place to start is to require manufacturers disclose water use and emissions.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Report Water
Use Q25, Q26,
Q27
Company recognizes the importance of reducing
impacts to water.
+2 They report volume of water use
+1 and wastewater generated
+2 according to several water quality
indicators.
17. 17
Prison Labor - 5 points
Issue: Prison labor does not have the same oversight as non-prison labor and prisoners may
be exposed to higher levels of pollution in the workplace.
Goal: Companies have written policies forbidding the use of prison labor throughout the supply
chain.
Solar Scorecard |
Criteria Description Points Possible
Prison Labor
Free Production
Q28
company have an explicit policy forbidding prison
labor
+5 – for providing the policy to SVTC or
posting on website.
+3 – company declared they do not use
prison labor on previous SVTC surveys.
18. Solar Scorecard Core Staffing
Sheila Davis, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Dustin Mulvaney, Ph.D., SVTC Senior Research Scientist
Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, San Jose State University
18Solar Scorecard |
