Successful development of the Catalan ecolabel for Clean Fleets

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Successful development of the Catalan

ecolabel for Clean Fleets

María José Sarrias

Directorate General of Environment Quality Ministry of Territory and Sustainability Barcelona, 8th september 2014

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Air Quality Plan in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

Territorial delimitation of the Air Quality Plan: 40 municipalities

of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (regions of

Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Vallès Oriental and Vallès

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The new eco-label category for vehicle fleets

Reasons:

The creation of the vehicle fleet category has been specifically included in the Action Plan for Improving Air Quality in Barcelona Metropolitan Area, as we have to improve the

quality of air in relation to PM₁₀, NO_x in urban areas.

Creation process:

The category has been prepared and discussed during one-year in a working group, which brought together more than 20 experts and representatives from both public and private sector.

Approval:

December 2012, Resolution TES/2970/2012

Publication:

January 2013, DOGC 6288

Air Quality Plan in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

Main problems: NO₂ annual mean limit value exceedances and PM₁₀ daily limit value exceedances.

Main challenges: Road transport (47% NO_xemissions; 45% PM₁₀emissions), port (16% NO_x; 21% PM₁₀), industry (24% NO_x; 20% PM₁₀).

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The Catalan Ecolabel: the Emblem of Guarantee of

Environmental Quality

It has 32 categories (17 categories of products and 15 categories of services). Some of these categories are water-saving systems, paper products, vehicle garage, car parks, vehicle fleets and tourist accommodation services.

What is it?

It is a regional ecolabel, awarded by the Catalan Government. It recognizes products and services that comply with defined environmental quality requirements.

How many categories does the Catalan ecolabel has?

Who manages it?

It is managed by The General Directorate for Environmental Quality of the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability of the Catalan Government.

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To minimize environmental impacts and to

promote sustainable development going further the current regulations.

To reduce contaminating emissions (PM₁₀, NO_x) from transport in the metropolitan region of

Barcelona.

To reduce greenhouse gases emissions from transport and therefore increase competitiveness thanks to the reduction of energy costs

To promote eco-efficiency and energy savings in the planning, design and management of the transport system (people and goods).

.

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Who can participate/apply to the catalan ecolabel?

Type of vehicles: M₁, M₂, M₃, N₁, N₂ i N₃, according Directive 2001/116/CE from Commission, 20 de December.

Company or Entity 4

Freelance

Vans and light trucks

3 Company or Entity 2 Freelance Cars 1 Company or Entity 6 Freelance Heavy trucks 5 Company or Entity Special Services 8 Company or Entity Collective transport 7 Type of applicant Type of fleets Subcategory

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Which are the Environmental Criteria?

The criteria have been structured into 6

sections, and we have developed both

mandatory and optional criteria

1. Fleet Management

2. Efficient driving

3. Maintenance

4. Age of vehicles

5. Low-emissions vehicles *

6. Other actions of environmental commitment

* Low – emissions vehicles as defined in the catalan ecolabel are those vehicles using electricity, GLP, natural gas or hydrogen as a source of energy, hybrid vehicles and also those using diesel or fuel that complies a minimum Euro technology, a maximum fuel consumption and a maximum CO₂ emissions.

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Example

Fleet: Passenger cars

Applicant: Company

Subcategory: 2

Fleet Management

Fleet description

Environmental management plan

Efficient driving

Efficient driving manual for each vehicle 30%of drivers trained in efficient driving

Maintenance

Following manufacturer’s specifications

Vehicles age

Minimum Euro 3 technology

Low-emissions vehicle

30%of the fleets vehicles have to be Low-emission vehicles

Other environmental actions

Promotion of the Catalan ecolabel

MANDATORY CRITERIA

Fleet Management

Record of monthly fuel consumption Trip optimization

Efficient driving

50/70% Training in efficient driving

Maintenance

Garages with the Catalan ecolabel

Low-emissions vehicle

50/70% Low-emission vehicles

Other environmental actions

EMAS or ISO 14001

Offsetting emissions, etc.

+

OPTIONAL CRITERIA (mín. 8 points)

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How much does it cost?

Assessment and Evaluation by Directorate General of Environment Quality Applicant Report Payment of the catalan ecolabel tax (150-300€) Application

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Innovative aspects and benefits

The vehicle fleets category pools public health & environmental goals as one of the measures foreseen in the Action Plan for Improving Air Quality in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.

Benefits

Polluting emissions and environmental impacts of vehicles are reduced

Air quality and public health are improved;

Fuel consumption is reduced;

It prepares companies for future European environmental requirements;

Added value when entering into contracts with the public administration.

Potential economic benefits from local authorities (taxes, toll

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Nowadays, 12 companies belonging to very different areas of activity, have applied for, and obtained, the ecolabel:

Urbaser SA in Barcelona and Calafell (waste management)

APSA group of Girona (driving school)

Transports de Barcelona SA (public passenger transport)

Repsol Butano SA (commercial fleet)

Danone SA (commercial fleet)

Hermanos Alum SL (waste management)

IMET (taxi fleet)

FCC SA (waste management)

Port Authority of Tarragona (commercial, representation…)

Falck VL (ambulance fleet)

Ministry of Territory and Sustainability – Service Directorate (employees and representative fleets)

Results achieved

Nº vehicles _≥ 4.500; Area = Mainly 40 municipalities within the special protection air pollution in

Barcelona

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Other initiatives related to purchasing vehicles

The Guide for green public procurement of vehicles gives public procurers clear and simple criteria (tables) to buy low emissions vehicles and to contract services with more environmentally friendly fleets.

The Guide for the private purchasing of vehicles (businesses & individuals) include other aspects not covered in the first guide like what car you have to buy according on different uses and other factors and other issues related to mobility.

The guide has already been applied successfully in the tendering procedures of different Departments of the Catalan government, as the procurement of postal and courier services.

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Lessons learned

The criteria were approved on 8 January 2013, after a one-year participation process, it’s necessary to involve the stakeholders.

Eco-label and Guides were developed at the same time, so they are based on the same criteria and use the same reference values.

This procedure gave the market a clear an a global common signal and is on the basis of the prompt results obtained.

The alignment of the criteria with the EU policies and directives, enabled that even international

Successful development of the Catalan ecolabel for Clean Fleets