Update of the world-wide, unique electronics database, applicable for eco-design and the EuP Directive

Electronics is a field of continuous change and innovation. Products are available in numerous facets and shapes, using various electronic components and electric systems. A challenge for Life Cycle Assessment datasets – a challenge that PE INTERNATIONAL and LBP-GaBi (University of Stuttgart) have now met. The new electronics extension database is fully updating the existing version, known and implemented by our customers for many years.

The new electronics extension database facilitates modular modeling of almost any populated printed wiring board. It goes without saying that it also accounts for the requirements of WEEE, RoHS and EuP. You can choose from typical, average electronic components, characterised by name (e.g. SOT323), housing description (e.g. 0201, 1608 etc.), mass, size, pin number and lead free tag. You will also have access to various FR4 substrates, solder pastes (with lead and lead free), mechanical parts (such as shielding or connectors) and datasets for average assembly lines. Pre-defined exemplary models allow electronic boards to be modeled in a snap. In combination with our other databases, you can model and analyse entire electronic products conveniently and efficiently.

For those of you who want to delve into more detail, PE INTERNATIONAL also offers parametric models of semiconductors, TFT panels, connectors and other electronic components.

The new electronics database is also compatible with GaBi DfX, the software for compliance and sustainable product development.

Tesco enhances climate profile

Tesco had announced that it will take on the challenge of operating a low carbon business. This corporate target has been made clear by Sir Terry Leahy – Tesco’s CEO. Tesco’s goal is to reduce the carbon emissions of the company by 50% by 2020. To achieve this ambitious goal carbon footprint reduction must be incorporate in all business processes including the design of the stores. By setting up an agreed set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be used by all interior design managers, the base for comparing different products has been established.

GaBi i-report – Greening the supply chain

GaBi i-report - an extension to the world-renowned GaBi 4 software – will assist you and your suppliers in proactively reducing the carbon footprints associated with your organization’s products, processes and supply chain.

With GaBi i-report, you can evaluate the environmental impacts of alternative products before they go into production. Grant the design experts, within or outside of your company, with the environmental background to select the best alternative now and better design in the future.

Easy listening about climate change

Easy listening about climate change is provided by the German journal ‘Logistik heute / Logistics today’: they have published an audio book describing the changes in the sector forced by climate protection requirements. Logistic companies as well as consultants (like PE INTERNATIONAL) describe approaches to handle the new challenges in strategy and practice and even profit from the issue.

2008 China Life Cycle Management Conference, October 19 to 21

The very first Life Cycle Assessment/LCM conference in China will be held in Chengdu, co-organized by Sichuan University and UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. Being an important link in the global production and consumption chain, China has been...

Life Cycle Assessment VIII in Seattle (30.09.- 2.10.08)

The Life Cycle Assessment VIII 08 brings together business, government and academia, to discuss both new applications of life cycle assessment and new results and methods. This year in addition to the usual sessions on life...

Now Released: Who-is-Who-and-Where in the biofuel field

Biofuel Cities Reports & Recommendations, Version 2, 2008 out now.

GiGa receives Environment Award 2008

The GiGa research group from the "Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional" (Spain) received the “Environment Award 2008” by the Catalan Government in the category of Universities for the development of a project of integrated...

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World’s first certified carbon-neutral offset press from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG has begun production

The world’s first certified carbon-neutral Speedmaster XL 105-5+LX sheetfed offset press from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has recently begun production operations at UD Print AG in Lucerne, Switzerland. The greenhouse gases produced in manufacturing the press have been calculated and offset. Environmental Management experts PE INTERNATIONAL took account of all relevant parameters, from extracting raw materials and material production to press manufacture, testing, and transportation to the print shop.
 
According to a study by PE, manufacture of a Speedmaster XL 105-5+LX equates to emissions totaling 320 tons of carbon dioxide. That is roughly one tenth of the volume of carbon dioxide generated each year from manufacture of print products on such a press, with the proportion of paper making up around 90 percent of the total carbon dioxide volume. Carbon dioxide emissions are offset through purchasing and cancelling 320 emission credits (1 = 1t CO2e) which come from the Te Apiti wind farm WWF Gold Standard CDM climate protection project in New Zealand. The project is in line with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which is entrenched in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol.

In the future, Heidelberg will be offering this service to all its customers, who will be able to choose between "regular" Speedmaster XL 105 presses or those with a climate certificate. For all other presses, this service is available on demand. Heidelberg is thus the first mechanical engineering company to offer its customers a package of this type.

Now online: Study on “environmental impacts of renewable feedstocks in material use”

Renewable raw materials hold a high potential for energy saving and for CO2 reduction. In particular, the material use of renewables is often underestimated because a lot of products cannot be directly identified as being produced from renewable resources. On behalf of the German Agency for Renewable Resources, a study was conducted to systematically evaluate the environmental performance of renewables in material use and to develop recommendations for a sustainable use of renewable raw materials in the near future. 

The European Bus System - Evaluating the Future

A consortium, led by UITP has successfully received funding under the 7^th European Research Framework Programme for the project “The European Bus System of the Future” (EBSF). The 4-year project, with an overall budget of 26 Mio. Euro, will start in September 2008 and has as its main objective the promotion of bus systems in European cities. PE INTERNATIONAL will be the leader of a key work package in the development and application of the project’s assessment framework which will evaluate the contribution of different measures implemented to improve the attractiveness of public transportation.

CONSENSE 2008

Be a witness when the German certification system for sustainable green building will be presented on 17th and 18th June under the New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre’s roof.

The product is the programme

Landis+Gyr classifies itself as „Green /Clean Tech“- company with the support of Smart Metering, a key technology for enhanced energy efficiency (electricity, gas, heating and water). It is a company that wants to compete and set its own standards. Landis+Gyr started the determination of the companywide „Carbon Footprint“ with the help of a “Corporate Carbon Footprint Analysis” in March using the methodology provided by the „GreenHouseGas protocol“(GHG). In order to satisfy the highest standards, the analysis was also based on the environmental standards ISO14044 as well as GRI-G3.