The document discusses the role of ecodesign and energy labeling in enhancing competitiveness, innovation, and technology development in the Basque Country. It highlights the economic benefits of ecodesign, including improvements in profit margins and market share, as well as positive impacts on company reputation and client relationships. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of legislation and soft policies to foster ecodesign practices, supported by data from the Basque Ecodesign Center.

1. INTERNATIONAL TRENDS IN ECODESIGN &
ENERGY LABELLING
WS6.- IMPACT ON COMPETITIVENESS,
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
Brussels, 21 February 2014

2. About of the Basque Country
and Ihobe
Ihobe is a public
agency belonging to
the Department of the
Environment and
Territorial Policy of the
Basque Government.
Its mission is to support the Basque
Government in developing environmental
policy and spreading the culture of environmental
sustainability in the Basque Country.
2
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

3.  Ecodesign information services
 Ecodesign guidance and training services
 Ecodesign action support services
 Recognition services
 140 SMEs working on ecodesign
 90 enterprises certified under ISO 14006
(more than 50% of total amount in Spain)
 89 enterprises with certified products
(12 with EPDs and 77 with EU Ecolabel)
3
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

4. Study 2013: The Economic Benefits
of Ecodesign in the Basque Country
Main reasons to introduce
Ecodesign in the company:
Top management convictions
To anticipate to futures
regulations
The competitive
pressure
To gain new
markets
To make savings
Certification, standardization, ecolabels,…
Request from clients
Due to public or private financial aid
Existing regulations
To obtain an ecological prize
0,00
4
5,00 10,00 15,00 20,00 25,00 30,00 35,00 40,00 45,00 50,00
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

5. Study 2013: The Economic Benefits
of Ecodesign in the Basque Country
46,2
%
Developing Ecodesign
projects and
impact on
profitability:
Effect of Ecodesign
projects on the
53,8
%
The profit margin
is lower
company’s
profit :
5
4%
24%
72%
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development
Ecodesign products
gave rise to profit
increase
Ecodesign products
had a neutral
effect on profit
The profit margin
is higher
The profit margin
is similar

6. Study 2013: The Economic Benefits
of Ecodesign in the Basque Country
Higher
PRICE of new
ecodesign products:
COSTS
(raw
materials, electricity
use,…) of new
ecodesign products:
Lower
43%
57%
The same
6
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development
23%
77%
The same

7. Study 2013: The Economic Benefits
of Ecodesign in the Basque Country
Effect of ecodesign products in
MARKET SHARE:
The market share
new
markets
increased
Opened
22%
27%
51%
7
The market share
remained stable
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

8. Study 2013: The Economic Benefits
of Ecodesign in the Basque Country
Except from financial aspects, other
impacts on the company :
Improve recognition and
reputation
Improve relationship with clients
Greater capacity to develop new
products
Improve relationship with authorities NGOs
Greater interdepartamental
collaboration
Improve employees’ motivation
Creation of new
jobs
Improve relationship across supply
chain
8
0
5
10
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development
15
20
25

9. The role of legislation:
the PUSH – PULL concept
PULL:
“Best in class”
recognition systems
Evaluation and
comparison
tools
Ca rbon
Footprint
Energy
Efficienc
y Label
PUSH:
Compulsory
legal
requirements
9
EPDs
W ater
Footprint
EuP
ErP
Directive
Dire ctive
WEEE
ROHS
Directive
Directive
Single vector
2000
Ecolabels
Life Cycle Thinking
Single vector
2005
Life Cycle Thinking
All vectors
2010
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development
2015

10. Other “soft” policies
are also welcomed:
Public private
partnership
The role of
academia
Other
“soft”
policies
Consumer
Behaviour
change
10
Supply chain
partnership
New Business
Models
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

11. Other “soft” policies
are also welcomed:
Public private
partnership
Created in 2011, the Basque
Ecodesign Center is a partnership
framework between companies
from the private sector and the
Basque Government, and whose
purpose is to design and execute
ecodesign innovative projects, with:
 79,738 jobs
 €56,205 million in revenue
 12,788 suppliers, 2,200 of whom
are based in the Basque Country
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International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

12. Other “soft” policies
are also welcomed:
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT OF THE
ACTIVITY
PRODUCT SUPPLY CHAIN
(BUSINESS)
Supply chain
partnership
information of
the product
Eco-design
of the
components
Environmental
information
Basic
green
purchasing
Environmental
Legal
requirements and
environmental
procedures
External
systems for
environmental
recognition
Advanced
green
purchasing
Excellent
green
purchasing
Environmental
Management
systems
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT OF THE
ACTIVITY
12
Internal
Systematics
of Eco-design
management
PROCUREMENT OF CORPORATE
SUPPLIES AND SERVICES
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

13. Other “soft” policies
are also welcomed:
New Business
Models
13
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

14. Other “soft” policies
are also welcomed:
The role of
academia
111 students involved (in 12 years)
60 enterprise developing projects
 21 research projects
19 technical data projects
 Average appraisal from companies: 7.9
 Average appraisal from students: 7.0
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International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development

15. Other “soft” policies
are also welcomed:
Consumer
Behaviour
change
15
To promote the consumer behavior change
(public authorities – GPP – and citizens)
International trends in Ecodesign & Energy Labelling
WS 6.- Impact on Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Development