Ecoembalajes España. S.A. (ECOEMBES) and the Business School of International Trade (ESCI) signed an agreement for the creation of the “Observatory Ecoembes on Packaging Life Cycle” on April 2008. In December 2010, Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV) joined also the initiative, thus the Observatory was renamed to “Green Dot Observatory on Packaging Life Cycle”.
There was need for compiling accurate and comprehensive information about the sustainability on packaging as well as tools for improving their environmental performance (ecodesign). The Observatory aims at collecting, producing and disseminating scientific information on the sustainability of packaging all through all its life cycle, contributing also to create social debate and to innovate in business.
The Green Dot Observatory on Packaging Life Cycle has the following goals:
- To become a national and international on line platform on the Life Cycle Analysis of Packaging.
- Become a unique reliable source of peer-review scientific information for professionals, media and the wider public on the complexities of sustainability on packaging throughout all its life cycle.
- To promote and facilitate a platform to exchange of knowledge, share ideas and create synergies amongst the key stakeholders related to the sector of life cycle on packages.
Different universities and technological centres in Spain and Portugal also collaborate with the Green Dot Observatory, which is coordinated by the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, and funded by ECOEMBES and Sociedade Ponto Verde. The “Steering Committee of the Green Dot Observatory” has two representatives of ESCI, two from ECOEMBES and one from SPV. The Director of the Observatory is Dr. Pere Fullana i Palmer (UNESCO Chair´s Director) and the Technical Coordinator is Alba Bala Gala (Head of the research line on waste management of the UNESCO Chair).
Comments and additional information are encouraged; we invite you to contact UNESCO Chair- ESCI if you wish to make a contribution.
We will soon launch the website http://www.observatoriopuntoverde.com
Information about the partners
ECOEMBES is a non-profit public company, with the objective of managing the integrated system of light packaging waste and aimed at its selective collection, recovery, recycling and reuse. As such, it offers support to the creation of business ideas and the development of research projects aimed at eco-efficient management in line with sustainable development.
Sociedade Ponto Verde is a non-profit organisation with the mission of promoting the selective collection, recovery and recycle of waste packaging in Portugal, ensuring the achievement of the recycle and the recovery objectives defined in the Portuguese packaging. SPV administrates the Portuguese green dot system.
The UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change is an innovative research group, internationally well-known, pioneer in developing and implementing the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The UNESCO Chair is working on Life Cycle Management, while building capacity through education and research and providing an international approach. It provides compatible solutions that are meeting the demands of the market, social expectations and respect towards the environment.