How to become a Green SME in a Circular Economy
Summary
TLDRこのビデオ脚本では、環境に優しいグリーンSMEとして成長する方法と、循環経済におけるその役割について解説しています。EU-27の雇用の2/3以上を占めるSMEは、資源効率性、製品のエコデザイン、サプライチェーンの改善に取り組むことから始めます。また、ビジネスパートナーと協力して産業生態系に貢献し、製品のリサイクルやレンタルサービスを通じてリソースを再利用する循環経済のモデルに移行することが求められます。EUは、グリーン経済におけるSMEを支援する包括的な計画を発表し、経済的インセンティブと資金調達の機会を提供しています。
Takeaways
- 🌟 SMEはヨーロッパ経済の重要な部分を占めており、緑色なSMEになることは環境保護と経済発展の両方にとって重要です。
- 🔄 循環経済とは、資源の抽出を最小限に抑え、環境と健康への悪影響を軽減する経済システムです。
- 📈 原材料価格の上昇は、資源効率を高める必要性を示しており、プロセス改善、デザイン改善、サプライチェーン改善が鍵となります。
- 📊 物質フロー分析は、プロセスを視覚化し、資源、材料、エネルギー、水の消費を削減するのに役立ちます。
- 🛠 エコデザインの原則により、製品とシステムを再設計し、環境への影響を軽減し、リソース効率を高めることができます。
- 🔍 サプライチェーンの脆弱なポイントを特定し、重要な原材料に依存していないかを確認するためにツールを使用できます。
- 🔄 代替品やリサイクル資源を探すことで、サプライチェーンを強化し、環境に優しい製品を提供できます。
- 🤝 ビジネスパートナーと協力し、産業生態系に参加することで、循環経済への移行を促進できます。
- 🔧 逆物流システムの構築は、製品を回収し、リサイクルすることでリソースを再利用する機会を提供します。
- 💼 機能経済へのシフトは、製品を売るのではなく、レンタルやリースするビジネスモデルに変えることで、持続可能な成長を実現します。
- 💪 ヨーロッパ連合はSMEを支援しており、環境への挑戦をビジネスの機会に変えるための計画を提供しています。
Q & A
グリーンSMEとはどのような企業ですか?
-グリーンSMEとは、環境に配慮した経営を行っている中小企業を指します。スクリプトでは、EU-27の雇用の2/3以上を占めるSMEが環境に配慮し、循環型経済に貢献するべきだと述べています。
循環型経済とはどのような経済システムですか?
-循環型経済は、資源の網羅抽出を最小限に抑え、環境と健康への悪影響を軽減するように生産、消費、貿易が設計されたシステムです。
SMEが自社で行うことができる環境に配慮した取り組みにはどのようなものがありますか?
-SMEは、プロセスの改善、デザインの改善、サプライチェーンの改善に取り組むことができます。また、材料フロー解析を行い、資源効率を高めることも重要です。
材料フロー解析とは何ですか?
-材料フロー解析は、企業のすべてのプロセスの材料フローと損失を可視化する手法です。これにより、無駄や損失を減らし、資源・エネルギー・水の消費量を削減することができます。
エコデザインとはどのような原則に基づいていますか?
-エコデザインは、製品やシステムの環境への影響を減らすために、製品のライフサイクル全体を考慮したデザイン原則に基づいています。これには、CO2排出量、土壤や水の汚染、酸性化、有害廃棄物などが含まれます。
サプライチェーンの改善にはどのようなアプローチがありますか?
-サプライチェーンの改善には、サプライチェーン内の脆弱なポイントを特定し、重要な原材料に依存していないかを確認するアプローチがあります。また、代替品やリサイクルからの供給源を見つけることも重要です。
産業生態系とはどのような概念ですか?
-産業生態系は、異なる企業が協力し、廃棄物をリソースとして再利用することで、エネルギーと資源を節約する概念です。これは1つの企業の排出物が別の企業の入力となるエコシステムです。
リバースロジスティクスとはどのようなビジネスモデルですか?
-リバースロジスティクスは、販売した製品を取り戻し、リサイクルや再利用するビジネスモデルです。これにより、リソースを回収し、将来の商品に再利用することができます。
機能経済とはどのようなモデルですか?
-機能経済は、製品そのものを売るのではなく、その機能を提供するサービスとして顧客に提供するビジネスモデルです。これにより、顧客は廃棄物の処理を心配せずに製品を使用することができます。
EUが提供する環境に配慮したSME向けの支援プログラムにはどのようなものがありますか?
-EUは環境に配慮したSME向けに、グリーン起業家精神からグリーンSME向け市場へのアクセスまで、多岐にわたる支援プログラムを提供しています。また、EUの財政支援ツールも利用可能です。
EUのグリーンアクション計画とは何ですか?
-EUのグリーンアクション計画は、環境への課題をビジネスの機会に変え、SMEが環境に配慮したビジネスを展開できるように支援する包括的な計画です。
企業が循環型経済に貢献するために行う取り組みは経済的にもリターンをもたらす可能性がありますか?
-はい、スクリプトでは環境と経済の両面から得られる節約が例示されており、多くの取り組みが経済的にもリターンをもたらす可能性があると述べています。
Outlines
🌿 グリーンSMEへの道のり
この段落では、EU-27の雇用の2/3以上を占めるSMEが環境に優しいビジネスモデルに移行するよう促します。特に、循環経済の概念とその重要性が強調されています。循環経済とは、資源の抽出を最小限に抑え、環境と健康への悪影響を軽減する経済システムです。ビデオは3つのパートに分けられており、まず自社の制御できること、次にビジネスパートナーとの協力、最後にEUがSMEを支援する取り組みについて説明しています。原材料価格の上昇や資源の限界についても触れられており、プロセスの改善、デザインの改善、サプライチェーンの強化が求められます。
🔄 資源効率とサプライチェーンの改善
第2段落では、SMEが独自に資源効率を高める方法とサプライチェーンを強化する戦略について詳しく説明しています。マテリアルフロー解析を使用してプロセスを可視化し、廃棄物を削減する方法が紹介されています。また、エコデザインの原則に従って製品とシステムを再設計し、環境への影響を軽減する例も示されています。さらに、サプライチェーン全体を評価し、重要な原材料に依存しているかどうかを確認するツールも提案されています。代替品やリサイクル資源を見つけることでサプライチェーンを強化するよう促します。
💼 ビジネスモデルの転換とEUの支援
最後の段落では、SMEがビジネスモデルを転換し、循環経済の核心となる方法について語られています。リバースロジスティクスの導入、製品のレンタルやリース代替の販売、機能経済へのシフトなどが提案されています。これにより、使用済の製品が廃棄物から原材料へと変わり、循環経済の一环となります。また、EUが提供する支援プログラムや資金調達の機会についても触れられており、グリーン経済への移行を促進する意図が示されています。
Mindmap
Keywords
💡グリーンSME
💡循環型経済
💡リソース効率
💡マテリアルフロー解析
💡エコデザイン
💡サプライチェーン
💡リサイクル
💡リバースロジスティクス
💡機能経済
💡EU資金調達
Highlights
99.8% of Europe's private companies are SMEs, accounting for over two-thirds of employment in the EU-27.
SMEs play a crucial role in becoming green and transitioning to a circular economy.
A circular economy minimizes the net extraction of key resources and reduces environmental and health impacts.
Raw material prices are increasing, making resource efficiency essential for SMEs.
SMEs can improve processes, design, and supply chains to enhance resource efficiency.
Material flow analysis helps visualize material flows and losses in processes.
Eco design principles can reduce the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life.
Life cycle analysis enables better end-of-life management for products.
SMEs can benefit from using third-party verified eco-labels for greener procurement.
Industrial ecology connects businesses to create a cleaner and more efficient ecosystem.
Reverse logistics allows SMEs to recover and recycle products, turning waste into resources.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) holds companies accountable for their products' end-of-life.
Functional economy or product-as-a-service models can provide steady income and design for longevity.
The European Union supports SMEs with various initiatives and funding opportunities for a green economy.
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) offers advice and assistance for SMEs to internationalize and access funding.
Circular economy represents an opportunity for SMEs to build a more robust and resilient business model.
Transcripts
how to become a green SME in a circular
economy ninety-nine point eight percent
of Europe's private companies are SMEs
accounting for more than two-thirds of
employment in the eu-27 well then as an
SME what are you doing to become green
how could you become a green SME in a
circular economy moreover what is a
circular economy a circular economy can
be defined as a system in which
production consumption and trade are
designed to minimize the net extraction
of key resources such as fossil fuels
raw materials water land the environment
and pollutants along with diminishing
negative environmental and health
impacts this video has been split into
three parts firstly what can you do on
your own what is in your control
secondly what can you do with your
business partners lastly what is the
European Union doing for you
you might have noticed that prices of
raw materials are increasing for
instance since 2000 metal prices have
risen by one hundred and seventy percent
rubber has risen by two hundred and
sixty percent and many other materials
are following suit it's always tricky to
put an expiration date on certain
resources like there will be no more
silver extracted in 15 years yet what is
certain is that companies will
increasingly have trouble sourcing raw
materials at affordable prices you'll
need to think about improving processes
improving design improving supply chains
we are all familiar with the old saying
what gets measured gets managed well the
first thing to do on your way to
resource efficiency is to map your
processes
what Natural Resources do you use how
much do you need where could you improve
material flow analysis can help you to
visualize the material flows and losses
of all your processes take the example
of painting a car in an auto repair shop
the left side shows the flow of paint
before the analysis the red arrows show
how much is wasted or lost in emissions
out of 10 kilos of paint purchased only
one kilo remains on the car the right
side illustrates how much of this can be
spared if you reduce losses within the
paints preparation and application and
if you limit overspray you will only
need to buy 3.2 kilos of paint instead
of 10
material flow analysis is a good way to
reduce material energy and water
consumption going beyond improving
existing processes and redesigning
products and systems can bring even
greater benefits this is the principle
of eco design which is illustrated in
the following example a refrigerated
truck company managed to reduce the
weight of their trucks in semi trailers
by 16 percent this brought about other
positive changes such as less fuel
consumption due to their lighter trucks
as the German architect miss van der
horse ed less is more better design is
another step forward expanding the focus
beyond materials eco design considers
all the main environmental impacts of a
product throughout its life such
environmental impacts include co2
emissions soil and water pollution
acidification and hazardous wastes based
on life cycle analysis eco design also
gives you some influence over what will
become of your product once it has left
the factory or shop eco design can make
it easier to reuse or recycle your
product at the end of its life for
instance one particular company has
designed a laptop that when it reaches
the end of its life is at least 70%
reusable or recyclable this particular
laptop was designed with the support of
the EU funded zero wind research project
clearly redesigning your products and
processes to use less material will
benefit both the environment and your
bottom line however improving your
supply chain goes beyond simply reducing
quantities better supply is also about
identifying the weakest points within
your supply chain take rare earth
minerals as an example most SMEs as well
as their immediate suppliers are
completely unaware of to what degree
they are dependent on critical raw
materials some tools have been developed
to help SMEs tackle the issue for
instance an example in France can be
found at the following address
furthermore in a recent report of the
European Commission 20 raw materials
were identified as critical including
cobalt gallium indium tungsten etc use
one of these tools to check that your
main inputs are not on the list and what
if they are well better supply above all
means that you should look for
substitutes or other sources of supply
such as from recycling instead of buying
virgin plastic material you could buy
recycled plastics instead of buying
virgin paper you could buy recycled
paper instead of using fossil fuel in
your plant you could use renewable
energy as for rare earth minerals there
is ongoing research and development to
find synthetic substitutes to natural
elements anyways the changes that you
can make will depend on your operations
there is no one-size-fits-all solution
as an SME you may find it helpful to
rely on proven sources to improve your
supply for instance if you buy products
awarded with third-party verified
eco-labels it ensures that you use the
greenest products that fit your needs
for example the EU eco label covers more
than 30 product groups including
detergents floor coverings lubricants
paper products and more therefore when
launching a procurement process to
secure your supply you could include
environmental criteria
let's imagine that you are now fully
resource-efficient SME you consume as
few resources as possible you design
environmental friendly and easy to
recycle products all of this as we said
is in your control however there are
still many areas where you will need a
little help from your business partners
to make a change by definition you
cannot make the change to a circular
economy alone a circular economy is all
about being open to new business
opportunities and there are many ways
for you to be part of a broader and
cleaner industrial ecosystem you may
wish to turn your neighbors into
business partners this is industrial
ecology turn products you sell into
resources you recover this is reverse
logistics turn your business model from
for sale to for rent this is a
functional economy
Industrial ecology or industrial
symbiosis aims to save energy and
resources by transforming one company's
waste into another's resource output
becomes input in a different part of the
ecosystem the most famous eco industrial
park in the world is located in
kallenberg denmark nowadays it includes
nine private and public enterprises
which are linked together with other 30
material exchanges for instance fly ash
from the power station is sent to a
local cement company which turns it into
gypsum boards also water reuse schemes
have been developed within collenberg
together with many other cooperative
solutions the eco industrial park of
colin borg enabled many economic
benefits in environmental savings for
example over 240 thousand tons of co2
emissions are avoided each year which is
equivalent to the emissions of over
32,000 European people this success is
not unique to Denmark and could be
reproduced near you have a look at other
examples of industrial parks in Europe
on the ECAP website at the address on
the screen also some country specific
initiatives have been set up to connect
businesses and shape opportunities to
learn about the national industrial
symbiosis program in the UK follow this
address or this additional address which
provides guidance by the French Ministry
of sustainable development other
interesting information and examples can
additionally be found at the EU cluster
portal address
just as life does not stop at your
business's door your business does not
stop once your product is sold you may
prefer to not think about the future of
your products you may think it's none of
your business in fact you could be
ignoring a profitable opportunity since
the resources and the products you sell
today can be recovered and recycled into
resources for products you will sell
tomorrow one option is to create a
reverse logistics system on your own
where you take back the products that
you sell to your customers this may be
easier to do if you are operating in a
business-to-business operation if for
example you provide company offices with
homemade apple juice you could take back
the empty bottles rather than letting
your customer throw them away you could
formalize this process through a
contract or systems like deposits once
you get the empty bottles back you just
wash them and reintegrate them back into
the supply chain this is a simple case
but if your product is more complex or
if your business is too small to set up
a reverse logistics circuit on your own
you can pool resources and have a shared
organization that collects and recycles
on your behalf the following example
from France is a good one
six main manufacturers of mobile homes
have joined forces to collect dismantle
and recycle old homes this reverse
logistics system is financed through an
environmental contribution of 100 euros
for each new mobile home sold now
whether you apply reverse logistics on
your own or if you partner with similar
manufacturers for certain waste flows
you don't even have a choice indeed
there is a principle in Europe known as
extended producer responsibility or EPR
according to which you're responsible
for the products you place on the market
at the end of their life this is the
case for a growing number of products
including packaging electric and
electronic equipment batteries etc under
these requirements you have to take back
the products you sell yourself or you
have to join an organization which takes
care of waste collection and recycling
last but not least be it mandatory or
voluntary be it on your own or with
others reverse logistics ensures that
recovered resources feed loops that
facilitate better supply as was seen in
the first part of the video if you start
including reverse logistics in your
operation your old products don't simply
become waste they become raw materials
for a new product you are now at the
heart of
circular economy
however revolutionary green you have
been so far you may still be selling a
product with a functional economy you
can go one step further you don't sell
your product you rent or lease it to
your customers take a German company for
instance which provides chlorinated
solvents used for high precision metal
surface cleaning as this industry sales
started to decline in the mid 1980s the
newly founded company got the idea to
rent their solvent filled containers to
their customers instead of selling them
this resulted in the short-term
closed-loop lending of solvent
containers in which their customers were
able to rent the containers to clean
their metal pieces without worrying
about waste disposal the shift to a
service-oriented business model made the
company a big success story as it
achieved a growth in revenues and a
decrease in solvents use if you sell
your products and take them back as
waste as we previously defined as
reverse logistics you become responsible
for them even after they have been sold
to consumers if you rent your products
you are going one step further by
keeping them as your property this
radically changes the way you design
your products if you continue owning
your products throughout its functional
and end-of-life phases you will want
them to last as long as possible and you
will design them so they have as long a
life as possible furthermore in some
cases long term rentals and
subscriptions can provide a steady
stream of income making your monthly
accounting more constant and easier to
manage
the aim of the circular economy is to
minimize the net uptake of resources and
their associated negative environmental
impacts SMEs have a crucial role to play
in achieving a circular economy and as
you can see there's a lot of work to be
done
fortunately as the concept of circular
economy is rapidly rising on political
agendas you will not be alone in Europe
just look at what the European Union is
already doing for you
in July 2014 the European Commission
released a general plan targeting SMEs
in a green economy the overall objective
of the green action plan is to enable
SME is to turn environmental challenges
into business opportunities it sets out
a list of EU actions supporting SMEs in
a green economy ranging from green
entrepreneurship to access to the
markets for green SMEs all in all it
provides a favorable environment for
green business across the European Union
you can learn more about the green
action plan for SMEs on the European
Commission's website by following the
address on the screen
you'll also get more information on how
the European Commission is addressing
the circular economy at this address
a circular economy comes with financial
incentives of its own as you have seen
throughout the video there are many
examples of environmental and economic
savings resulting from material flow
analysis eco design industrial ecology
reverse logistics in the functional
economy most initiatives can be quickly
paid off however even if they should not
be the first reason why you should get
involved in a circular economy European
funding programs do exist you can have a
quick overview of funding opportunities
within the EU on the ECAP website at the
address on the screen there is also a
recent video on the euro news business
planet channel which is dedicated to EU
financial support tools for SMEs that
you can watch at this address
beyond direct financing there are also
plenty of support programs that can help
you to achieve higher environmental
performance some of them are sponsored
by the enterprise Europe Network
een a general support for SMEs which
offers advice to internationalize your
business and assistance to apply for
funding opportunities it has close to
600 member organizations across the EU
and Beyond including Chambers of
Commerce and Industry technology centers
universities and development agencies
you will learn more on EE ends website
at this address
in contrast to today's larger linear
take make use disposed economy a
circular economy represents a great
opportunity to transition into a
business model that will be more robust
and resilient in the years to come
there are many initiatives that you can
do on your own other initiatives where
you can partner with other businesses
and finally there are many initiatives
where the EU will be glad to support you
all what's left for you to do is to get
started
you
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