Pilot Action Italy 2
Product Environmental Footprint Testing in the Thermal District of Acqui Terme
Acqui Terme is a small town (about 20,000 habitants) located in the South-East of Piemonte region (North-West of Italy). Its hot mineral waters, extremely rich in therapeutic properties, were already known by the Romans, who founded the ancient town of Aquae Statiellae. Steeped in history, culture and monuments, water has always been its hallmark and the Spa system its flagship. Already renowned since Roman times for its boiling hot springs, today Acqui Terme continues this long Spa tradition, offering medical, wellness and beauty treatments in the thermal facilities built around its three springs.
The objective of the pilot action is to test the PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) methodology in order to assess the environmental impact of products and services in the Thermal District of Acqui Terme. The PEF methodology is a LCA based method that use quantitative indicators, such as global warming potential, water consumption, natural resources consumption to assess the environmental impacts of product or service. It was designed by the European Commission, throughout the Recommendation (2013/179/EU), aiming to face the fragmentation of the internal market as regards different available methods for measuring environmental performance.
The main steps of the pilot action implementation will be as follows:
- Identify and involve 3 companies belonging to the thermal cluster for the implementation of the PEF methodology;
- Test, detect and discuss with the companies involved the main enviromental problems and impacts;
- Implement one (or more) improvement actions identified by the testing;
- Repeat the PEF test to assess the results achieved.
