Information from the Commission - Guidelines for LIFE-environment demonstration projects - Pursuant to article 4, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU environmental policy, EU financial instrument, environmental protection, pollution control measures, quality of the environment, sustainable development

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GUIDELINES FOR LIFE-ENVIRONMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

Pursuant to article 4, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 of the European Parliament
and of the Council concerning the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)

(2000/C 308/02)

On 17 July 2000, the European Parliament and the Council
adopted the Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 concerning the
Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE). This Regu-
lation is the new legal basis for the third step of the LIFE
instrument, from 2000 to 2004, and will be referred to in
this document as (cid:145)the new LIFE Regulation(cid:146) or (cid:145)the Regulation(cid:146).

On . . ., the European Commission established the guidelines
for the demonstration projects to be submitted in the frame of
LIFE-environment.

In article 4 relating to LIFE-environment, the new LIFE Regu-
lation provides that guidelines concerning the demonstration
projects shall be established,
in order to promote synergy
between demonstration actions and the guiding principles of
Community environmental policy with a view to sustainable
development (1). This document sets out the required guidelines
in the European Union or in the accession candidate countries
who have concluded specific agreements for this purpose. For
2000-2001, the candidate countries participating in LIFE are
Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia.

in the Regulation, and of

The first part of this document recalls the main features of the
LIFE instrument as set out
the
component of LIFE known as LIFE-environment. The second
part elaborates on the five themes provided by the Regulation
for demonstration projects, highlighting the Community policy
relating to these themes, explaining how LIFE-
objectives
environment demonstration projects can contribute to these
objectives and indicating other Community funding allocated
to similar themes or to the same themes with different policy
objectives.

practical

In addition to these guidelines, an information brochure
providing
LIFE-
environment is available on the LIFE website at the following
address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/envir/infopk/index-en.htm

application

guidance

for

to

1. MAIN FEATURES OF LIFE AND LIFE-ENVIRONMENT

1.1. Scope of LIFE

updating

1. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the
implementation,
of
Community environment policy and of environmental
legislation,
in particular regarding the integration of
the environment into other policies, and to sustainable
development in the Community.

development

and

2. LIFE is a financial instrument for three major areas of
action: nature, environment, and third countries. While
all three areas aim to improve the environment, each
has its specific priorities.

(a) LIFE-nature relates to actions aimed at the conser-
vation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora of EU interest.

(b) LIFE-environment

relates

to innovative demon-
stration actions for economic activities and local
authorities as well
to
support community legislation and policies.

as preparatory actions

(c) LIFE-third countries relates to technical assistance
to third countries bordering the Mediterranean
and Baltic Seas.

3. A financial framework of EUR 640 million is provided
for the third phase of LIFE (2000-2004), of which 47 %
is earmarked for LIFE-environment, 47 % for LIFE-
nature and 6 % for LIFE-third countries.

1.2. LIFE-environment

1. The

to
specific objective of LIFE-environment
contribute to the development of innovative and inte-
grated techniques and methods and to the further
development of Community environment policy.

is

2. To achieve this objective, LIFE-environment focuses on
two different types of projects: demonstration projects
and preparatory projects.

3. These guidelines are aimed at demonstration projects
only. The preparatory projects will be called for sepa-
rately by the Commission on an ad-hoc basis.

4. LIFE-environment

demonstration

further the objective set out
and one of the following specific objectives:

projects

should
in paragraph 1 above

(a) Land-use development and planning:
environment
on

integrate
considerations
on
and
sustainable development in land-use development
including in urban and coastal
and planning,
areas (2); or

the

(1) Sustainable development

is meant

in its

three environmental,

economic and social dimensions.

(2) An integrated and coherent territorial approach according to the
different local and regional levels concerned should be taken into
account.

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(b) Water management: promote

sustainable
management of groundwater and surface water; or

the

(c) Impacts of

impacts of

economic activities: minimise

the
environmental
activites,
notably through the development of clean tech-
nologies
on
placing
prevention, including the reduction of emission of
gases having a greenhouse effect; or

economic

emphasis

and

the

by

of

updating

Community
and
implementation
legislation,
environment policy and of environmental
to the integration of
the
in particular with respect
in particular with respect to
environment legislation,
into other
integration of
the
policies,
in the
and to sustainable development
Community. The potential applicants should therefore
the main legislation and policy devel-
be aware of
opments
for LIFE, hence the purpose of
these guidelines.

environment

relevant

the

(d) Waste management: prevent, reuse, recover and
recycle waste of all kind and ensure the sound
management of waste streams; or

(e) Integrated product policy:

reduce the environ-
mental
impact of products through an integrated
approach to production, distribution, consumption
and handling at the end of their lifetime, including
friendly
the
products.

environmentally

development

of

5. Demonstration projects must set out to test an inno-
vative solution to an environmental problem and lead
to concrete, practical results of the project. They must
be implemented at a scale that allows evaluation of the
technical and economic viability of
large-scale intro-
duction of this solution.

6. LIFE-environment

is not directed at

research or
in existing technology or infrastructure.
investment
LIFE-environment aims to bridge the gap between
research and development
results and widespread
implementation.

3. Although the guidelines are indicative in nature, they
give a good insight into the Community environment
legislation to which
policy and of environmental
projects
is not, however, a
It
prerequisite that project proposals should adhere to
these guidelines to be selected. This selection will be
based on the comparative merit of proposals, according
to the criteria defined in the LIFE Regulation.

should contribute.

4. Where appropriate, reference has been made to other
Community programmes operating on similar themes.
These references are not exhaustive. Applicants may
wish to verify if the objectives of other Community
programmes correspond better to their project.

and

other Community

5. For more information on the European environmental
programmes,
policy
on
applicants are invited to refer
to the documents
indicated in footnotes, and to the Europa website at
the following address:
http://www.europa.eu.int/

To this end, demonstration projects based on the
results of
in the
framework of past and ongoing RTD programmes in
the field of environment are encouraged.

successful projects

supported

2.1. Land-use development and planning

1. This section refers to the first thematic area: the inte-
gration of considerations on the environment and on
into land-use development
sustainable development
and planning, including urban and coastal areas.

2. GUIDELINES FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

1. As stated, the LIFE Regulation under LIFE-environment
addresses five thematic areas (see 1.2, paragraph 4
above), which relate to various policy fields, initiatives
and legislation within the Community environmental
policy. The purpose of the following guidelines is to
introduce these policy fields to potential applicants, to
indicate the main objectives of the Community policy
in these fields and to provide references to relevant
Community legislation.

2. The projects financed by LIFE shall be of Community
interest. They should contribute to the development,

2. A major objective of LIFE-environment

is to fund
projects which, as good examples, may, at a later
regional policies,
stage,
the design of
including
the
Funds,
the Community
Cohesion Fund and the Instrument
for Structural
Policies for Pre-Accession for Candidate Countries.

Structural

influence

3. For

directly

this purpose, proposals are encouraged from
land-use
organisations
management
(including local authorities) and which
involve the contribution of members of the public in
local decisions are well as the contribution of all
relevant social and economic participants.

responsible

for

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4. Other Community funds in this field: Community
and
initiative programmes
URBAN (3)) as well as the European Regional Devel-
opment Fund (4) as regards innovative actions.

(Interreg (1),

Leader (2)

5. Within the thematic area of land-use development and
planning,
the policy fields of urban environment,
quality of air and noise abatement and integrated
to the devel-
coastal zone management are subject
opment of new initiatives or legislation. Demonstration
projects proposals in these fields would, therefore, be
welcome.

2.1.1. Urban environment

1.

for

actions

framework of

In October 1998 the Commission adopted a communi-
cation including a
a
sustainable urban development
in the European
Union (5). This Communication indicates the guiding
principles of a future Community policy in this field,
and emphasises the need for an integrated approach to
environment management and land-use development
and planning:
this necessitates coordinating existing
initiatives and aligning them with the principles of
sustainable development and of local Agenda 21.

2. Within this framework,

the following projects are

encouraged:

instruments

(a) Those aimed at combining the use of several types
of
fiscal,
(regulatory,
information) in order to promote the integration
of environment into economic and social policies
of local authorities.

economical,

(b) Those

aimed at

the
footprint (6) of cities or other sustain-

featuring and reducing

ecological
ability concepts such as environmental space (7).

(1) Communication from the Commission to the Member States of 28
April 2000 laying down guidelines for a Community initiative
concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage
harmonious and balanced development of the European territory,
Interreg III (OJ C 143, 23.5.2000).

(2) Commission Notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 laying
down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development
Leader + (OJ C 139, 18.5.2000).

(3) Communication from the Commission to the Member States of 28
April 2000 laying down guidelines for a Community initiative
concerning economic and social regeneration of cities and of neigh-
bourhoods in crisis in order to promote sustainable urban devel-
opment URBAN II (OJ C 141, 19.5.2000).

(4) European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999

(OJ L 213, 13.8.1999).

(5) COM(98) 605 final.
(6) The ecological footprint is the area of productive land required to
support the resource consumption and waste assimilation needs of
a given population, wherever that land may be located.

(7) The environmental space refers to the resources available for
consumption today without compromising the availability of the
same quantities and qualities of resources to future generation.

(c) Those pursuing several environmental objectives

through land-use planning.

3. Other Community funds in this field: fifth framework
programe of research and technological development
tomorrow and cultural
(5th FP), key-action (cid:145)City of
heritage(cid:146) (8).
on
cultural heritage will not be considered a priority
under LIFE-environment.

demonstration

projects

Specific

4. In cities where a programme is planned or imple-
mented under the Community initiative URBAN (9),
potential
their
environmental project in this framework rather than
proposing an isolated project to LIFE-environment.

seek to integrate

applicants

shall

2.1.2. Quality of air and noise abatement

1. During the last decade, the concentration of sulphur
dioxide in ambient air has been considerably reduced,
thanks to efforts made by industry and the energy
sector. Although Auto-oil
is expected to have
positive results, concentrations of nitrogen oxides,
volatile organic compounds, ozone and particles are
a matter of concern in most European towns, and
can be the subject of demonstration projects.

II

pollution,

2. The role of LIFE-environment in this field is to support
the framework Directive on ambient air quality (10).
This Directive obliges communities of more than
250 000 inhabitants and areas subject to high levels
of
action
implement
programmes aimed at
improving the ambient air
quality. LIFE-environment can support the most inno-
vative measures included in programmes addressing
those that are
the objectives of
necessary to launch, monitor and evaluate the results
of these programmes.

the Directive, or

define

and

to

3. In addition, LIFE-environment welcomes demonstration
projects aimed at validating new methods of air-quality
monitoring and those raising public awareness such as
bio-indicators (11).

(8) Council Decision 1999/170/CE (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(9) Guidelines for the Community initiative Urban: COM(1999) 477

final.

(10) Council Directive 96/62/CE (OJ L 296, 21.11.1996).
(11) Bio-indicators are organisms or communities of organisms reacting
under environmental influence with changes in their life functions
and/or their chemical structure and therefore make it possible to
conclude on the state of the environment.

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4. In November 1996 the Commission issued a green
paper (1) designed to launch a debate on a future
policy on noise reduction. The projects proposed in
this field, could address in particular the following
themes:

(a) validation at European scale of

indicators of
exposure to noise and simulation of potential
effects of decisions in land-use planning;

(b) innovative strategies of public information based

on an adequate mapping of noise levels,

(c) decision support systems, design of plans for noise
and

reduction
areas, monitoring
evaluation of results of policies in this field.

urban

in

5. The impact of transport on the quality of air and on
the level of noise can also be the subject of demon-
include initiatives
stration projects. Projects might
concerning
sustainable mobility, management of
transit and sustainability of air transport.

6. Other Community

field: 5th FP,
competitive and sustainable grouwth programme, key
action (cid:145)Sustainable mobility and intermodality(cid:146), (cid:145)City of
tomorrow and cultural heritage(cid:146) (2).

in this

funds

2.1.3. Integrated coastal zone management

1. Coastal areas and their natural resources (marine and
terrestrial) are plagued by increasing conflicts between
users, and institutional and policy problems that are
resulting in their progressive and sometimes
irre-
versible degradation.

2. Based

of

on

the

the

results

demonstration
programme (3) implemented from 1995 to 1999, the
European Commission is considering the development
of a European strategy for integrated coastal zone
management (ICZM). This strategy could focus on the
following
sustainable
that
management of the coastal zones must:

principles,

providing

(a) be based on an integrated territorial approach that
considers all
systems
influencing the coastal zone, and works with
natural processes;

the human and natural

(b) use participatory planning to develop consensus,
ensuring namely the involvement of all relevant
bodies and the different administrative and terri-

torial levels including the regional dimension when
necessary;

(c) use a combination of instruments (regulatory and
technical

economical,
solutions, information, research and education);

agreements,

voluntary

(d) ensure that decisions taken are compatible with the
foreclose

specific local conditions and do not
options for the future.

3. LIFE-environment can support this policy by funding
projects implementing these principles. Projects are
particularly welcomed in areas where
are
multiple and conflicting uses of the coastal zone, or
where the coastal zone is experiencing a rapid increase
of (permanent and/or seasonal) population or a major
shift in land use.

there

2.2. Water management

1. This section refers to the second thematic area: the
of

sustainable management

promotion
groundwater and surface water.

the

of

(environment

2. Water resources are still subject to high stress both in
qualitative and quantitative terms. The report of the
European Environment Agency (4)
in
the European Union at the turn of the century, June
1999) highlights the progress that has been made,
especially
to
addressing the pollution from organic matter and
phosphates. Yet,
the eutrophication of coastal and
some marine waters due to high nitrates concen-
trations in surface waters remains a concern, as well
as the nitrates contamination of groundwater mainly
due to diffuse sources from agriculture.

in northern Europe, with regard

3. Proposals

addressing

the

following

themes

are

encouraged:

(a) Water management at the river basin level: LIFE-
environment
the future
is designed to support
water framework Directive (5). Projects shall aim
at testing the realisation of global and concerted
action at river basin level, i.e. actions concerning
all waters in the river basin (surface freshwaters,
groundwater,
transitional waters, coastal waters,
interactions between water bodies) and involving
all relevant participants.

(1) COM(96) 540 final.
(2) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(3) COM(95) 511 final.

(4) European Environment Agency,

Information Centre, Kongens

Nytorv 6, DK-1050 Copenhagen K.
(5) Commission proposal 97/49 final,

modified 99/271.

(OJ C 184, 17.6.1997),

last

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(b) Groundwater protection: Demonstration of inno-
vative methods of groundwater management and
rehabilitation, including monitoring and reduction
of pollutants,
interaction with surface waters,
reduction of demand, solving of use conflicts and
prevention of ecological damage due in particular
to diffuse sources of pollution.

(c) Wastewater treatment: There is a need for demon-
stration projects addressing problems specific to
small communities and individual or semi-collective
treatment systems. Projects aiming at wastewater
reuse after
treatment and reuse of agricultural
drainage waters are also welcomed. Collective
wastewater treatment systems can be considered if
important technical innovations are to be demon-
strated.

(d) Prevention and reduction of diffuse and dispersed
sources of pollution of water: There is a need for
innovation and demonstration of good practices in
the fields of agriculture and land-use planning, and
for the evaluation of the positive impact of these
practices on the environment. For example,
the
techniques of buffer
zones, with plantations
limiting the run-off of diffused pollution into
surface water bodies, could be usefully tested and
evaluated.

(e) Planning and organisational aspects of water
the
management: projects can aim to address
following long-term challenges:

(cid:151) the effects of land use on flood risks and on

quality and quantity of waters,

(cid:151) the combined quality/quantity effects (concen-
tration of pollutants in low flows, river basin
continuum and upstream/downstream effects of
intervention
and
volumes),

flow regime

changing

(cid:151) the conflicting uses of water between agri-
culture, tourism, industry and local consumers,

(cid:151) the economic and social aspects of water

demand,

(cid:151) the deterioration of

large transnational water

bodies or severe acidification.

4. Other Community

field: 5th FP,
competitive and sustainable growth programme (1),
and sustainable development
energy,
(cid:145)Sustainable
programme,

in particular key actions

environment

in this

funds

management and quality of water(cid:146), (cid:145)Sustainable marine
ecosystems(cid:146) (2), Community initiative Intereg (3).

2.3. Impacts of economic activities

1. This section refers to the third thematic area: the mini-
impacts of economic
misation of the environmental
activities, notably through the development of clean
technologies
emphasis on
by placing
prevention,
including the reduction of emission of
gases having a greenhouse effect.

and

the

2. Within this thematic area, the following policy fields
relate to important initiatives and legislation in the
implementation. Demonstration projects
course of
proposals in these fields would therefore, be welcome.

2.3.1. Clean technologies

1. Clean technologies are new industrial processes or
modifications in existing processes aimed at reducing
the impact on the environment and reducing the
consumption of energy and raw material.

2. In this field, LIFE-environment in particular encourages
projects either proposed by small and medium-sized
enterprises from all
involving
them closely, in order to support them in addressing
technical and financial obstacles to the development of
these technologies.

industrial sectors or

3. In addition, LIFE-environment seeks to support

require operators

the
implementation of the Directive related to the inte-
(IPPC) (4).
grated pollution prevention and control
This Directive will
in several
industrial and non-industrial sectors (listed in Annex
I of the Directive) to conform to consumption and
emission standards based on the implementation of
the best available techniques (BATs) as described in
reference documents to be established by the IPPC
bureau in Seville, Spain. Projects presented to LIFE in
sectors where reference documents have been adopted
should clearly describe the degree of
innovation in
comparison with techniques described as BATs in
these documents. Projects presented in sectors where
reference documents have not yet been drafted should
aim to provide as
far as possible the type of
information in relation to the BATs listed in Annex
IV of the Directive.

(2) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(3) Guidelines for the Community initiative Interreg: COM(1999) 479

final.

(1) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(4) Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 257, 10.10.1996).

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4. Other Community

field: 5th FP,
competitive and sustainable growth programme, key
action (cid:145)Innovative products, processes and organi-
sation(cid:146) (1).

in this

funds

2.3.2. Integrated environment management

projects which make it possible to reduce gases having
a greenhouse effect or reinforce their absorption by
carbon sinks. The reductions
resulting from these
activities or projects would be considered additional
reductions, over and above the reduction, which
would normally occur in the absence of these activities
or projects.

of

improved

1. The Community policy in this

field supports

the
environmental
continuous
enterprises, beyond and in the
performances of
absence of
through the
whole chain of industrial productions and encourages
the dissemination of good practices in relation to
environmental management.

requirements

regulatory

the

(EMAS)

2. The Community system of environmental management
and audit (2)
is under revision and is to be
opened to non-industrial sectors, including the public
sector. LIFE environment welcomes proposals,
in
particular in these non-industrial sectors, in order to
support the implementation of the new EMAS Regu-
lation. LIFE-environment would also welcome projects
aimed at supporting the implementation of EMAS in
countries and in sectors where the participation is low
or could be improved (3).

3. LIFE-environment may also fund pilot projects going
beyond environmental management so as to include
aspects of sustainable development, perhaps leading
to the development of sustainability audit schemes.

2.3.3. Reduction of emission of gases having a greenhouse

effect

1. The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in December 1997, fixes
quantitative objectives for the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions (4)
for industrialised countries. For its
part,
to
reducing emission by 8 % between 2008 and 2012
compared to the level of emissions for 1990.

the European Community committed itself

2. Apart

sectors

from which greenhouse

from policies and measures targeted at

the
economic
gases
emissions originate, the Kyoto Protocol provides for
the implementation of
flexibility mechanisms. The
best known of these mechanisms is the international
rights to emit gases having a
trading system for
however
greenhouse
The
effect.
and
provides

Protocol
the development of

also
activities

for

(1) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(2) Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 (OJ L 168, 10.7.1993, proposed

revision 98/622 (OJ C 400, 22.12.1998).

(3) Statistics per country and per sector can be obtained from the
EMAS Help Desk, c/o Bradley Dunbar Associates, Scotland House,
Rond-Point Schuman 6, B-1040 Brussels.

(4) The six greenhouse gases aimed at

in Annex A to the Kyoto
Protocol are the following: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O), fluorinated hydrocarbon (HFC), perfluorinated
hydrocarbon (PFC) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

3. In order

energy,

to this

transport,

to contribute

approach, LIFE-
environment encourages projects which develop inno-
vative techniques or methods to make greenhouse
gases reduction possible, notably in the sectors of
including
industry,
forestry, and waste management. Projects
in the
above sectors concerning exclusively energy savings
are not encouraged as this aspect is covered by other
Community instruments. The project proposals should
quantify the emission reduction, and demonstrate that
this reduction would not occur in the absence of this
project.

agriculture,

4. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, key
actions (cid:145)Global change, climate and biodiversity(cid:146) (5),
(cid:145)Cleaner
renewable
energies(cid:146) (6).

including

systems,

energy

2.3.4. Sustainable tourism

1. Projects presented to LIFE-environment

in this field
should focus on the development of environmentally
friendly tourism activities by all relevant stakeholders.

2. Projects particularly encouraged include:

(a) Demonstration projects aimed at a more accurate
assessment of
tourism on the
the impact of
environment and the demonstration of solutions
within its
eco-system
resilience.

carrying

capacity

and

indicators

and testing of

appropriate
(b) The development
the
environmental
performance of tourist enterprises and destinations
as well
integrated
assessment methods that involve all relevant stake-
holders.

the demonstration of

for measuring

as

(c) Experimental

application

environmental
management and eco-labelling methodologies to
all sectors of tourism, enterprises and destinations,
involving local authorities when relevant.

of

(5) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(6) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

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(d) Demonstration projects

including

experimental
application of economic instruments, aimed at inte-
grating the environmental dimension in the most
sensitive
tourism (transport,
of
land-use, waste, water, energy resources).

components

(e) Innovative techniques and methods for the rehabili-
tation of identified declining tourist sites affected by
tourism, with a view to implementing
mass
strategic and integrated planning that will help
prevent and remedy that decline, in respect of the
polluter-pays principle.

(f) Demonstration projects aimed at
pressures generated by tourist
seasons and at peak times
and
fostering
between relevant stakeholders.

cooperation

flows

reducing the
in peak
through inter alia,
awareness
raising

projects

innovative
at
aimed
(g) Demonstration
approaches
environmental
implementing
quality benchmarking in both enterprises and desti-
nations.

to

2.4. Waste management

1. This section refers to the fourth thematic area provided
in the LIFE Regulation for LIFE-environment demon-
stration projects: prevention,
recovering and
recycling of waste of all kinds and sound management
of waste streams.

reuse,

2. In July 1996, the Commission adopted a Communi-
cation on an updated Community strategy for waste
management (1). Priority is given in the following
order,
firstly to the prevention of waste generation,
then to the recovery of waste in its triple dimension
(reuse, recycling and energy recovery) and lastly to the
safe disposal of waste (which is mainly carried out by
waste incineration without energy recovery and landfill
of waste). Within the recovery concept, where environ-
mentally sound, preference should in general be given
to recycling (including the composting and anaerobic
digestion of biodegradable waste) over energy recovery
from waste.

3. Moreover, Community policy gives particular attention
to streams of waste regarded as important because of
hazardousness or volume.

4. The need for demonstration actions in this field is in
the same order of priority as the overall strategy: first
innovative techniques and methods preventing the

generation of all kinds of waste, then recycling tech-
niques and management methods aimed in particular
at the waste streams indicated below. Projects solely
related to collection or final disposal of waste should
be submitted only if important innovations are demon-
strated.

5. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, key
actions (cid:145)Innovative products, processes and organi-
sation(cid:146) (2).
tomorrow and cultural
heritage(cid:146) (3).

and (cid:145)City of

2.4.1. Packaging and plastics

at

1. The priority requirement is to reduce the production of
such, LIFE-
packaging waste
the
environment welcomes projects addressing the reuse
of packaging, for materials other than glass. Projects
on recycling packaging materials,
including biode-
gradable plastics, are also welcomed.

source. As

2. As

regards plastics,

collection would be
source
preferable to complex sorting of mixed plastics.
source
Projects on plastics marking,
collection, are encouraged.

supporting

3. As regard plastics recycling, special attention should be
given to the quality and uses and market outlets of the
end product, the long-term durability of the product,
the ability to be recycled at the end of its lifecycle, and
the minimisation of the addition of new polymer resin
in the recycling process. Projects presented concerning
PVC should promote the recycling (cid:151) mechanically,
chemically (feedstock), or otherwise (cid:151) while avoiding
the addition of additives containing heavy metals, and,
if appropriate, promoting the separation of heavy
from the PVC polymer. These principals
metals
should also apply for other plastics containing heavy
metal additives.

2.4.2. Hazardous or problematic waste

1. The selective collection of waste is often a prerequisite
to its treatment or recycling. Projects aimed at opti-
mising this collection or developing it for problematic
waste which is not yet
selectively collected are
welcomed.

2. Projects developing recycling techniques
in particular

also
are
welcomed,
following waste
streams: electrical and electronic equipment waste,
batteries and accumulators, used oils, used tyres and
end-of-life vehicles.

the

for

(1) COM(96) 399 final.

(2) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(3) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

27.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 308/9

2.4.3. Waste important in volume

the

1. Construction and

demolition waste (cid:151) projects
addressing
source
selection of construction waste are encouraged. LIFE-
transforming
also support
environment will
granulates from demolition waste into concrete.

demolition

selective

and

the

2. Sludge from waste water treatment plants (cid:151) projects
fostering the secure use of sludge or sludge derived
products in soil improvement are encouraged, as well
as projects experimenting with alternative ways to
recycle sludge.

3. Biodegradable waste (cid:151) a key aspect of this kind of
project
is source separation of waste. There is a
particular need for projects focused on improving the
quality of compost.

2.5. Integrated product policy

1. This section refers to the fifth thematic area:
the environmental

the
impact of products
reduction of
through an integrated
approach to production,
distribution, consumption and handling at the end of
including the development of environ-
their lifetime,
mentally friendly products.

2. The integrated product policy is a relatively new field
the Community environment policy, aimed at

of
considering the whole lifecycle of products.

3. The development of green or ecological products
incorporating environ-
which meet
mental requirements in their design and use requires
profound changes
in production and consumption
habits.

the objective of

4. Within this thematic area therefore, the following areas
are of particular relevance for LIFE-environment, and
projects in these fields are welcomed.

2.5.1. Eco-design, eco-efficiency, green financial products

1. Ecological design of products (eco-design) takes into
account the lifecycle of products in order to reduce

the impacts on the environment throughout this cycle
(including raw materials, production, distribution, use
and handling as waste).

2. Eco-efficiency is a concept based on reducing the
intensity with which resources are used in economic
activities, i.e. the direct and indirect global impact on
natural resources in the form of matter or energy. One
result of this approach may be that a service is found
to be a more sustainable way of meeting a particular
need than the direct consumption of goods.

the

concept of

3. There is a need for demonstration projects in this field
with the aim of developing the use of eco-design and
of
to disseminate
information on eco-designed products, to assess the
impact of
information on production and
consumption habits. Special attention should be paid
to involving SMEs in such approach.

eco-efficiency,

this

4. The technical support required for the development of
green financial products (investment funds, credit or
insurance facilities linked to environmental criteria)
may also be the subject of demonstration projects.

5. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, key
action (cid:145)Innovative products, processes and organi-
sation(cid:146) (1).

2.5.2. Eco-labelling and environmental labelling

1. Projects

existing
focused on the promotion of
eco-labels (type I), their dissemination by creation of
partnerships and networking are welcomed.

2. Similarly, the projects can concern the environmental
linked
III,

information certified by independent experts,
with the new standard ISO 14025 (2)
eco-profile labels, product datasheets).

(type

policy,

3. Furthermore, the labelling of services is of interest to
Community
initiatives
concerning services related to products according to
the objectives of the new Community Eco-label Regu-
lation (3) and the new developments of the ISO 14024
standard (type I labels) on services.

particularly

the

(1) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).
(2) International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, rue de

VarembØ, Case postale 56, CH-1211 GenŁve 20.

(3) New Regulation on the basis of a Common Position (EC) No
6/2000 adopted by the Council on 11 November 1999, not yet
published on 20 July 2000.
Information provided in the
Community Eco-label homepage http://europa.eu.int/ecolabel.