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The Ecological Scarcity Method (ESM) enables measurement and assessment of the environmental impacts caused, for example, by manufacturing sites. Developed in Switzerland in 1990, where it has since been in use, the method is constantly being developed and updated. It has already gained regulatory status in Switzerland, for example for the purpose of proving entitlement for tax exemptions, in particular for environmentally friendly production of bio-fuels. A data set has been available for Germany since 2014. The method assesses all important environmental impacts on the air, on water, the consumption of energy, the generation of waste and the consumption of freshwater.

The “Ecological Scarcity Method” (ESM) was developed to make the environmental impacts, which arise during the everyday commercial operation of manufacturing sites or plants, measurable, assessable and comparable. The method was developed by industry in Switzerland between 1987 and 1990 because no reliable assessment method was available but industry and commerce were nevertheless increasingly being expected to address environmental issues. The method has been used ever since. It has constantly been developed, and continously been further and kept completely up to date with regard to the basis for assessment.

A detailed description of the method with explanations regarding the calculations can be found in (Frischknecht et al. 2013) and (Ahbe et al. 1990, 2014) as well as in chapter 7.

According to (Frischknecht, Steiner, & Jungbluth, 2009), the Ecological Scarcity Method may be described as follows:

The Ecological Scarcity Method weights environmental impacts, i.e. pollutant emissions and resource extractions, with what are known as “Eco Factors”. The Eco-Factor is derived from environmental legislation or corresponding policy targets. In its basic form, it follows the procedure of DIN EN ISO 14040.

Greenhouse gases are considered to have a major influence on climate warming. The Kyoto Protocol (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992) calls for reductions in the following greenhouse gases:

The Eco Factors shown in the following tables have been calculated on the basis of publicly available data from EU databases or have been extrapolated in the manner stated in each case. The current values and targets shown therefore do not necessarily correspond to, and may thus vary from, the current environmental policy efforts of the individual country in question. The Eco Factors apply in each case to the stated country and, due to the differences in underlying data and total volumes, cannot be numerically compared with those for other countries. Further information can be found in the “explanations regarding data collection” section.

To give a short introduction into an environmental impact assessment a hypothetical example will be calcuated as a comparison between two processes. Both of them are designed to fulfill the same job but they take different workstep approaches. Within the environmental impact assessment the focus is on the environmental outcome for every process.