The European Food SCP Round Table has taken a major step forward towards supporting informed choice as it launches the ENVIFOOD Protocol version 1.0. The ENVIFOOD Protocol is the first sectoral framework methodology to build on both global (ISO) and EU (Product Environmental Footprint – PEF) approaches in order to provide specific guidance for conducting environmental...

The European IPPC Bureau publishes a range of reference documents on Best Available Techniques (commonly known as Bref Documents or Brefs). A review of the reference document on Best Available Techniques for waste treatments (WT Bref) has commenced. The Bureau will be assisted by a technical working group (TWG) comprising representatives from the EU member...

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 572 of 2013) sets down the minimum requirements for the protection of workers from the health risks associated with biological agents in the workplace. The regulations must be applied to any activity where workers are actually or potentially exposed to biological agents as...

Sustainable innovation needs to be anchored in the rethinking of current business models, and eco-innovators need to be prepared for a potentially “very bloody fight” with current market leaders, according to “10 key lessons” from the latest Sustainable Innovation conference organised by the Centre for Sustainable Design. According to the key lessons from the 2013 conference: Climate change,...

“I got vision and the rest of the world is wearing bifocals” – Robert Leroy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy, as played by Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Here is another thought – “For many years, Butch Cassidy was an industry leader”, at least as portrayed in the movie, ……….think about it:...

The HSA has recently published new guidelines on how to control fuel losses on petrol filling stations, called “An Operators Guide for Wetstock Reconciliation at Fuel Storage Facilities“, which is free to download at Petrol Stations – Health and Safety Authority. The guide is designed to assist petrol station operators to prevent and detect fuel leaks on their...

Chemicals intended for ‘product and process orientated research and development (PPORD)’ can be exempted from the obligation to register for five years. Chemicals used in scientific development related to product and process innovation or further development of a substance may fall under the PPORDs definition. However, a substance used in a PPORD activity must not...

The LIFE project MulkearLIFE (LIFE07NAT/IRL/000342) was recently presented with the Environment Award for 2013 by the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) at a ceremony in Cork. The project, which is being led by the Inland Fisheries Ireland, was honoured for its measures torestore degraded habitats in an area of 650 km2 of the Mulkear River...

The Eco-innovation initiative bridges the gap between research and the market. It helps good ideas for innovative products, services and processes that protect the environment become fully-fledged commercial prospects, ready for use by business and industry.  One interesting project recognizes REACH requirements relating to Chromium due to come into force in a few years time:...

What is blue energy?  Blue energy – or ocean energy – covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind (a Communication on offshore wind energy has already been adopted in 2008). Ocean energy can be harvested in many forms:  Wave energy depends on wave height, speed, length,...