Environmental impact of products (EIPRO) : analysis of the life cycle environmental impacts related to the final consumption of the EU-25 : main report : IPTS/ESTO project

This study supports the development of an EU Integrated Product Policy by clarifying which products have the greatest environmental impacts from a life-cycle perspective. A methodology was developed and applied which builds on the methods and results of previous research as far as possible and complements this with a new systematic analysis of the environmental impacts of products for the EU-25. The new analysis was done with an environmentally extended input-output model that allowed distinguishing several hundreds of products. The methodology and results were discussed with experts and stakeholders in a series of workshops and meetings. The study shows that food and drink, cars and products for housing are particularly relevant for the environment.