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Selection of a product category is the first and an important step in the Green Mark program development. The following principles are used in the consideration and incorporation of a category selection. Those principles are;
The following tables are what we use in the Green Mark program to select product categories. They may be used in the Highlight Box.
Table 1. Elements to be considered and weights to be assigned by the experts
Elements to be considered |
Weight |
A.The overall environmental impact shall be lower than the traditional product |
W1 = |
B.The consensus on the criteria is readily achievable and/or there is a similar criterion in existence |
W2 = |
C.The functional characteristics shall be comparable with the traditional product |
W3 = |
D.Test methods and testing laboratories are already in existence |
W4 = |
E.Interest from manufacturers is high enough |
W5 = |
F.Numbers of domestic products and manufacturers are high enough |
W6 = |
G.Popularity of the product is high enough |
W7 = |
Total W1+W2+...+W7= |
100 |
Note: This table is to be filled out by at least 30 experts. They shall assign numbers to W1 through W7, with a total of 100
Table 2.Selection and prioritization of product categories
| No. |
Categories |
Environmental attributes |
Elements to be considered |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
1 |
Portable computers |
Energy saving, low pollution, recyclable |
A1 = |
B1 = |
C1 = |
D1 = |
E1 = |
F1 = |
G1 = |
2 |
Fax machines |
Energy saving, low noise, low pollution |
A2 = |
B2 = |
C2 = |
D2 = |
... |
... |
... |
3 |
Water heaters |
Energy saving |
A3 = |
B3 = |
C3 = |
... |
... |
... |
... |
4 |
Dishwashers |
Energy saving, water saving |
A4 = |
B4 = |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
5 |
Rechargeable batteries |
Resource saving, reusable |
A5 = |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
6 |
Textiles |
Low pollution, recyclable |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
7 |
Television sets |
Energy saving, low radiation, low pollution |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
8 |
Recycled toner cartridges |
Waste reduction, resource saving |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
9 |
Air cleaners |
Energy saving, low pollution |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
10 |
Gasoline additives |
Low pollution |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
11 |
Motor oil filters |
Extend life of oil |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
12 |
Shampoos/soaps |
Low pollution |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
13 |
Transformers |
Energy saving |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
14 |
Microwave ovens |
Energy saving, recyclable, low pollution |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
15 |
Dehumidifiers |
Energy saving, low noise |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Note: Experts are required to fill in each of the 105 blocks with numbers ranging from 0 to 10.
By combining the two tables collected back from each of the experts, the total score of each of these 15 product categories may be calculated (Table 3).
Table 3.
| Categories |
Expert 1 |
Expert 2 |
Expert 3 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Expert 30 |
Total Score |
Portable computers |
S1 |
S1 |
S1 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Fax machines |
S2 |
S2 |
S2 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Water heaters |
S3 |
S3 |
S3 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Dishwashers |
S4 |
S4 |
S4 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Rechargeable batteries |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Textiles |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Television sets |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Recycled toner cartridges |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Air cleaners |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Gasoline additives |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Motor oil filters |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Shampoos/soaps |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Transformers |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Microwave ovens |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Dehumidifiers |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Note: S1 = A1xW1 + A2xW2 +A3xW3 + A4xW4 + A5xW5 +A6xW6 + A7xW7
All the scores collected back from 30 experts were then put into sequence. The top ten were selected as the potential product categories to be further studied.
Procedure of Conducting a Feasibility Study--Dehumidifiers as An Example
1.Market Survey
- The number of dehumidifiers sold in Taiwan during the last seven years soared from 110,000 in 1992 to 150,000 in 1998
- The daily dehumidifying capacity of thirty models of dehumidifiers ranges from 5 to 40 liters, with most of them at 6.
- Either R-22 or R-134a is used as coolant. Models using R-134a are still quite popular. Although R-134a is considered to have higher impact on the environment, it is not prohibited from use yet.
- All these thirty dehumidifiers have power consumption under 500 kW, with most of them at 200 ~ 300 kW
- The energy factor of them ranges from 0.5 to 1.4, with only 7 of them over 1.0. In other words, only about 23% of them have an E.F. value over 1.0.
- Only ten models bear noise label. They all have a noise level lower than 50 dB. According to the manufacturers, most of the dehumidifiers sold on the market are under 50 dB.
2.Preparation of Draft Criteria
The following table is the conclusion and shows how the attributes were reflected in the final criteria.
Table: Environmental attributes of dehumidifiers considered in the criteria development stage
| Environmental Attributes Considered |
Result |
Explanation |
1. Reduction or elimination of coolant with high environmental impact |
Not included in the criteria |
1.R-22 is not prohibited by the Montreal Protocol yet
2.Numbers of dehumidifiers using R-22 or R-134a are equal |
2. Energy factor (E.F. value) |
The E.F. value of the dehumidifiers shall be higher than 1.0. The E.F. value is defined as the ratio of dehumidifying capacity (kg H2O/hr) over total electrical power (kW) |
|
3. Reduction of noise level |
Noise level should be indicated in the user |
Noise level of most dehumidifiers in the market is already under 50dB. |
4. Elimination of hazardous surface coating material |
No mercury or mercuric compounds shall be used. Pigments containing lead, cadmium, or chromium (+6) or the metallic oxides of them shall not be used too. |
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5. Identification of plastic material for easy separation after use |
Plastic material with a surface area larger than 100 square centimeter or weighs more than 100 grams shall bear identification codes. |
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3.The Use of Life Cycle Consideration Concept in the Criteria Development
Table: Criteria selection matrix used by Green Mark for the dehumidifier
Stage of the life cycle |
Environmental input/output indicators |
Use of Energy and Resource |
Impact on Human Health |
Emission to |
Water |
Air |
Waste |
GM |
T |
GM |
T |
GM |
T |
GM |
T |
GM |
T |
Resource Extraction |
@ |
@ |
@ |
@ |
O |
O |
@ |
@ |
@ |
@ |
Production |
@ |
@ |
@# |
* |
O# |
* |
@ |
@ |
O |
O |
Distribution |
@ |
@ |
@ |
@ |
O |
O |
O |
O |
@ |
@ |
Use |
@# |
* |
O |
O |
O |
O |
O |
O |
@ |
@ |
Disposal |
@# |
* |
@# |
* |
@# |
* |
@ |
@ |
@# |
* |
Note: GM denotes Green Mark product whereas T denotes traditional product with comparable functional characteristics.
O denotes negligible environmental attribute, @ denotes important attribute, * denotes significant attribute, and # denotes attributes considered in the criteria. |