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Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Pilot Programme

Summary
Evaluation
Commission Proposal
Legal Act
Implementation

Overall state of play:

Evaluation finalised in 2020, SWD(2020) 243, dated 22/10/2020

State of play, main conclusions, outlook

The EU-ETV Pilot Programme, operating as one of the initiatives under the Eco-Innovation Action Plan of the European Commission, set out to establish the foundations for a true European-level tool supporting and promoting eco-innovation, mainly in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The programme was targeted at environmental technologies whose value cannot be proved through existent standards or certification schemes and whose claims could benefit from a credible verification procedure as a guarantee to investors. The Pilot Programme was implemented in a limited number of Technology Areas and with the support of volunteering Member States.

The Commission evaluated the programme and, based on its findings, considers a transformation of the scheme, including its outsourcing to a larger innovation-support institution, broadening both geographically and thematically, simplifying procedures while maintaining its quality and robustness and strengthening communication on the scheme.

The registration of ETV as EU Certification mark is planned under the new Circular Economy action plan adopted in March 2020.

State of Play:

Evaluation completed 2020, SWD(2020) 243, dated 22/10/2020.

Scope:

This evaluation considered the results of ETV between 2013 and 2017.

During this period, 254 quickscans were delivered. A quickscan is the first screening of a technology to advise on the appropriateness of conducting a full evaluation process. This led to 107 verification contracts signed between technology developers and verification bodies, 49 specific verification protocols fixing the details of the verification process, and 27 full reports and Statements of Verification published on the ETV website¹.

The EU ETV pilot programme included the participation of seven Member States and the accreditation of up to 15 verification bodies. Out of seven technological fields considered as possible initially², three areas were covered. These were: water treatment and monitoring; materials, waste and resources; energy technologies.

The evaluation was launched with the publishing of a roadmap³ and was supported by an external study and wide-ranging stakeholder consultation.

Evaluation findings:

Effectiveness: there is only limited quantitative evidence, but a majority of stakeholders indicated that EU ETV provides a robust and credible system, acceptable to the market and generally recognised for rigorous procedures and quality. More communication efforts are needed to reach appropriate levels of awareness and recognition.

Efficiency: the average fee for companies (without testing) was €14.583. Based on sales estimated for the small number of technologies verified, the pilot programme seems to provide value for money.

Relevance: Policy priorities and market demand suggest a continuous need for third-party environmental technology verification. The main role for ETV is in helping SMEs to differentiate their products on European and global markets. In terms of environmental sectors, the needs are larger than the pilot Scope.

Coherence: There is a high degree of internal coherence. There are also substantial links with relevant EU policies and complementarity with other technology assessment tools, including certification.

EU added value: national ETV schemes appear to complement the EU pilot rather than compete with it. A majority of stakeholders have a clear preference for ETV to be developed at EU level. Compared to standard certification or test reports, the added value also lies in the EU framework, including the accreditation of verification bodies. Regarding the new ISO standard on ETV, ensuring the compatibility of EU ETV makes a lot of sense, whereas having a separate scheme for the ISO standard in the EU could jeopardise the quality and comparability of ETV results.

Estimated costs and benefits

The total spent by the Commission on funding the pilot phase of EU ETV was €4.64 million.

Based on the sales estimated by companies that have had technologies verified, the pilot programme seems to provide value for money, even when taking into account that ETV is only one factor among others generating sales. Soft benefits for technology developers are better established. These include the capacity to foster the company reputation and product recognition across the EU, thereby opening up new markets.

Moreover, in more qualitative terms, the knowledge and experience built up in the pilot programme could provide the basis for a more efficient ETV scheme, albeit one that will probably not be economically viable immediately. However, this will require ensuring that ETV’s commercial meaning and relevance is better communicated to technology developers and progressively also to technology purchasers or end-users.

¹ https://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/etv/verified-technologies_en

² The following technology areas were not covered by the pilot: soil and groundwater monitoring and remediation, cleaner production and processes, environmental technologies in agriculture, and air pollution monitoring and abatement.

³ https://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/plan_2017_871_evaluation_environmental_technology_en.pdf