The activities of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have been active since 2008. In July, the Ministry of the Environment convened the "Greenhouse Gas 'Visibility' Promotion Strategy Conference", and established the "Visibility" Subcommittee on Greenhouse Gases Produced in Daily Life and "Products Provided by Enterprises and Their After Sales Permanent organizations such as the 'Visibility' Subcommittee of Greenhouse Gases in the service system.
In the latter "subcommittee", the basic guidelines for calculation are published in the form of "books" and "CDs" for the targeted products. In the process of compiling and publishing "books" of basic guidelines for computing, our company has also contributed. The basic feature of this guideline is that the calculation level is divided into three stages of 1-3. Table 1 refines the data from level 1 to level 3. In the process of compiling and publishing the "books" of the basic guidelines for computing, several reference samples of publications were set. The calculation characteristics of this basic guideline have a strong meaning of "calculation for carbon transfer".
Table 1 Summary of calculation levels 1 to 3 in the basic guidelines for the calculation of greenhouse gas (based on the Ministry of the Environment)
stage
Summary
Level 1
The level calculated using the reference value of emissions in the process of goods and services.
Based on statistical and measured data, reference values corresponding to the characteristics of regional activities are prepared. Users do not actually measure emissions, but only combine the reference values for "visibility" calculations.
Level 2
When calculating the emission factor or activity amount, a combination is used to estimate the target data or reference value. The simplified estimation method, emission factor, and user-unavailable data (such as the amount of raw material emissions, etc.) for the estimation of small emission sources or small emission links are prepared as reference values with reference to previously saved survey cases. According to the estimation method of the user's data and the selection of the reference value, it can be estimated.
Level 3
When calculating the emission factor or activity amount, as a principle, use the data inherent in estimating the target activity to calculate. The user actually measured the emission amount of the activity to be estimated, the amount of reduction, and the emission coefficient and activity amount prepared for calculation by themselves are calculated.
On the other hand, in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the “Study Meeting on the Practicability and Popularization of the“ Carbonate Tracer ”System began in June 2008, and the Seminar on Calculation, Expression and Evaluation of CO2 Emissions in July ". These two seminars can be said to be the origin of the "Carbon Tracer System Pilot Project" currently being implemented.
The two seminars work together, especially in the last two sessions, which are held together. However, generally speaking, it is centered on the "Study on the Practicability and Popularization of the" Carbonate Tracer "System".
The seminar first took the basic life cycle assessment ideas related to the carbonic acid tracer system as the basis. However, this is too esoteric after all, it takes a lot of time and effort, the introduction barriers are high, and the lack of convenience to participate has caused many companies to discuss. In short, if it is not a system with both "reliability" and "convenience", many companies cannot join, and I am afraid that the carbonic acid tracer system cannot be implemented. This point has always been a subject since various industries began planning and formulating "commodity category estimation benchmarks". At the planning and formulation meeting of the "commodity category estimation standard" of the printing industry, the arguments of "reliability" and "simpleness" were also repeatedly raised. [next]
Calculation benchmark data
However, even if it is said, there is a need to show the strictness of "more than 60% of the primary data" (later lifted) as stated in the second edition of the British "PAS2050" that preceded the "carbonic acid tracer system" Sex.
The so-called "primary data" refers to the data collected by the estimator, such as the amount of raw materials used, power consumption, etc. Especially in the printing industry, whether it is printing or binding, the measured current of the printing machine and binding machine in operation is just that.
"Secondary data" refers to the data that the estimator has difficulty collecting on his own, citing general data or literature data or actual cases of life cycle evaluation. Specifically, for example, CO2 raw data of raw materials used in printing and binding processes. However, the use of "secondary data" should be limited to situations where "primary data" is difficult to obtain.
Furthermore, regarding the expression of 'carbonic acid tracer', there is also a discussion as follows: just like the size of the number alone cannot be judged, for consumers (or users), including the meaning of the expression should be clear " Various combinations such as "disclosure of information" are also necessary. On the other hand, at the "Symposium on the Calculation, Expression and Evaluation of CO2 Emissions", we also discussed guarantee agencies concerning the accuracy and reliability of the "carbonic acid tracer". Is the calculation result really correct? It is necessary to verify by a third party. Such an argument system varies greatly depending on the commodity. It is possible to carry out a full inspection of products from the manufacturer to the consumer, such as general food; it is very difficult to inspect the products from the manufacturer to the seller, such as printed products.
For example, some companies are considering that they intend to express "carbonic acid tracer" in the "environment report" (that is, "carbon heavy"-translator's note). According to the printing process, based on the actual measured values of the printing manufacturer, the data of the "stock preparation stage" and the "production stage" are calculated when the order is placed, and then the data of the "circulation and sales stage" are obtained from the customer to calculate the entire data . When considering verifying this data, verification is quite time-consuming. There is a saying that it takes 2 to 3 weeks. This has passed the delivery date. For products from "manufacturer to seller", especially printed matter, verification calculations for different types of products are considered difficult. For printed matter, if it is not calculated by the "system certification" method of the certification company itself, people will think this is not unrealistic?
After several months of research and discussion by the above two seminars, on the basis of the trial of 54 kinds of tentative signs with "carbon weight" exhibited at the "Economic Products 2008" exhibition introduced in the previous issue, March 2009 The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to formulate "Guidelines for Carbonic Acid Tracer System" and "Balance of Carbonate Tracer System Commodity Category Estimation".
The principle of the pilot work of the carbonic acid tracer system currently underway is the "Guidelines for Carbonate Tracer System". The following is an overview based on the "Guidelines". [next]
Estimated range
Carbonic acid tracing is based on the accumulation of environmental load calculation results at all stages of the commodity life cycle. Basically, the idea of life cycle assessment is used as the basis for estimation. When deciding on the estimation range of each stage of material preparation, production, distribution, use, maintenance, management, and recycling, it is necessary to introduce the idea of a system state to determine the estimation target range of each stage. However, there will be occasions where estimation is very difficult at various stages. The so-called difficulties are the difficult occasions for estimating objects, the difficult occasions for collecting data from other companies, and so on.
For example, in the printing industry, at the preparation stage, for the various materials used in printing and binding (paper, ink, PS version, developer, hot melt glue, iron wire, etc.), it is a decision to determine how much can be calculated. Estimated target range. On the committee of "Trial Implementation of" Commodity Category Estimation Standards "Planning and Formulation of Independent Working Groups / Printing Working Groups" (hereinafter referred to as "printing working groups"), this discussion can take time. Further corresponding to the characteristics of each product (product) and after-sales service, according to the "item of commodity category estimation" (explained in the previous article), when determining the scope of the estimation target, it may or may not be included due to the clear reason or basis A certain stage of the life cycle, or a part of that stage, is the benchmark for such recognition. It is not the same as "carbonic acid tracer" in the implementation of strict life cycle assessment.
If it is considered that the printed matter is basically a product from "manufacturer to seller", the preparation stage and production stage cannot be excluded, and it is very difficult to estimate the circulation and sales, use maintenance management, and waste reuse, and exclude them The range of estimated objects is out. As a result, the estimation range of the 'commodity category estimation standard' for publishing and commercial prints is left with only two stages of "stock preparation" and "production".
People say that as a future development, it is necessary to expand "from manufacturers to distributors" to "from manufacturers to consumers." At that time, it was necessary to build a "commodity category estimation standard" for circulation, sales, disposal, and reuse in the most popular areas of the printing industry (publishing industry, food industry, etc.) and integrate them into the industry. [next]
Estimation method
Based on the "Living Environment Assessment", the CO2 emission estimation method is calculated by the following formula
CO2 emission = activity amount x CO2 emission original unit i
(i = stage)
According to the above formula, you must collect data. The so-called "original unit" here refers to the common data base prepared by the operation group of the carbonic acid tracer system. It turned out that when implementing the "Life Cycle Assessment", most of the original unit data foundation of the "Living Circle Assessment" Japan Seminar was used. With the completion of the carbonic acid tracer system, the common data foundation has also been consolidated. The "Data Base for the Common Units of CO2 Conversions for the Pilot Project of the Carbonic Acid Tracer System (Provisional Version)" has now been published, and the original units of CO2 conversions for 221 items have been published and will be added in the future.
Table 2 Concept of each element of CO2 emission estimation method
Stage name
Examples of activity
Examples of "Original Units"
Preparation
The amount of raw materials used
When producing 1 kilogram of raw materials, CO2 emissions are "the original unit"
produce
Assembly weight
When assembling a weight of 1 kg, CO2 emissions are "original unit"
Electricity consumption during production
When electricity is 1kWh, CO2 emissions are "original unit"
Distribution and sales
Conveying capacity (kg · km)
→ Conveying distance × loading rate × truck loading
Commodity (product) 1 kg · 1 km of CO2 emissions "original unit"
Use · Maintenance Management
Power consumption during use
1kWh of CO2 emissions "the original unit"
Discard and reuse
Buried weight
"Original unit" of CO2 emissions when burying 1 kg of weight
Reuse weight
"Original unit" of CO2 emissions when the weight is 1 kg
In Table 2, the main point is the "power consumption during production" at the production stage. In the printing industry, this is really the point here. The printing machine is either a binding machine or a processing machine. It is important that the machine collects power consumption data while the machine is running. This is the basis for measuring power during actual work. In the "Commodity Category Estimation Standards" for publications and commercial prints, the collection of primary data is the principle, and as one of the collection of primary data, it is the actual measurement of the power of printing machines, bookbinding machines, etc.
Calculation of CO2 emissions
I can say that I have experience in power measurement in several factories. The so-called power consumption of the printing press is very different from the size of the printing press (the number of cylinders, UV, water and no water, etc.), and the variables such as speed. Moreover, the content of the printed matter also has an impact on the preparation time and running time. Through actual measurement, you can also contact the verification of the validity of the data collected in your own factory ("original unit").
Moreover, through actual measurement, the emission reduction points that have not been seen so far can be seen, and the path from "improvement" to "emission reduction" can also be seen. The next issue will go from "visibility" to "understanding" and explain the topic of "improvement".
Inkjet Receptive Coating, Anticorrosion Pigments, Matting Agent
