Units and dimensions of Eco-indicators

From the perspective of physics, the standard Eco-indicator values are dimensionless, same as the units of currency. In the Eco-99 system, the unit of measurement is called the Eco-indicator Point, Pt, and is divided into 1000 millipoints (mPt). The main purpose of having a unit of measurement is so as to be able to compare alternative options for materials, products and processes (by the way, the same need led to the beginning of the currency era). Apparently, the size of the Pt unit was chosen by Eco-99 to represent one thousandth of the yearly environmental load of an average citizen in Europe. The kilopoint (1 kPt=1000 points) was derived by dividing the computed total environmental load in Europe by the number of its inhabitants. So, if you have a friend in France she imposes a load of one kilopoint (kPt) on the planet each year, and so do you, give or take a few hundred Pts.

Description of the standard Eco-indicators 99

Standard Eco-indicator 99 values are available for:

• Materials: The indicators are expressed per kilogram of material

• Production processes (treatment and processing of various materials): Expressed per physical unit that is appropriate to the particular process (e.g., square meters of rolled sheet or kilo of extruded plastic).

• Transport processes: Expressed mostly per ton-km (q metric ton-1000 kg)

• Energy generation processes. Units are given for electricity and heat.

• Recycling or disposal processes. These are expressed per kilo of material and are subdivided into types of material and waste processing methods.

Average European figures are used for this calculation. A particular definition was used for the terms “material” and “process” when determining the indicators. The definitions used are explained briefly below.

A) Materials

Materials range from the primary resources of the Earth (ores and their concentrates, coal/oil/gas, forest and agricultural products), to refined (cement and other industrial minerals, metals, refined coal/oil/gas, lumber, pulp, processed food), and manufactured (chemicals, metal tube/sheet/wire, petrochemicals, paper, wood) products. In determining the indicator for the production of materials all the processes are included from the extraction of the raw materials up to and including the last production stage, resulting in bulk material. Transport processes along this route are also included up to the final process in the production chain. Which process that is, can be derived from the explanation in the Eco-indicator list. For plastic, for example, all the processes are included from extraction of the oil up to and including the production of the granules; for sheet steel all the processes are included from extraction of the ore and coke up to and including the rolling process. The production of capital goods (machines, buildings and such like) is not included.

B) Production processes

The Eco-indicators for treatment processes relate to the emissions from the process itself and emissions from the energy generation processes that are necessary. Emissions during the manufacture of capital goods, like machines and dies, are not included on the grounds that over the life of a plant (20years+) they are distributed over a large number of production units and, therefore are negligible. However, this may not be the case in comparing process options, e.g. combustion or landfilling of solid wastes where plant equipment and land-use are very important.