Supporting the Ceramics Industry in the BREF Review Process

In 2023, Seeds was engaged by Logika to analyse the potential economic, environmental and social impacts of the draft BAT-AELs proposed by the EU-BRITE (European Bureau for Research on Industrial Transformation and Emissions) within the first draft of the revised Ceramics BREF.

The purpose of the project was to provide Cerame-Unie with a technical tool which incorporated the analyses of emissions to air and water for each pollutant marked as relevant by the members, the percentage of plants compliant with the ranges defined in the BAT AELs, the effectiveness of the proposed techniques deemed most suitable for achieving the lower end of the range, as well as the economic impact of the necessary adjustments to comply with the new BATs. Such tool would enable Cerame-Unie to support their new comment to the draft with a solid technical and data-driven report.

The client requested a comprehensive impact assessment, with particular emphasis on financial investments, industrial emissions, and cross-media impacts. They also required an evaluation of viable alternatives and mitigation measures to help minimise any negative consequences.

To ensure effective stakeholder engagement, the client asked for the coordination of meetings to facilitate discussion and collect feedback on the analysis. The findings and recommendations were to be compiled and presented in a technical report.

The following activities were carried out to support the development and finalisation of the final report:

1. Data analysis: Data published on the Qlik portal was extracted and subjected to statistical analysis, categorised into air and water emissions. The analysis focused on pollutants identified as relevant by Cerame-Unie members.
2. Economic analysis: Data analysis served as a foundation for the economic assessment and it was integrated into the final report through close collaboration.
3. Meeting coordination: Seeds provided support in the organisation and management of meetings with the Cerame-Unie secretariat and members, which yielded essential feedback for finalising the report.
4. Final report: The technical report was drafted to meet the client's requirements.

The project resulted in a technical report offering a comprehensive statistical and economic analysis of each pollutant which was identified as relevant by Cerame-Unie members. The report highlights the current status of the ceramic sector in relation to the new emission limits, as well as the effectiveness of the proposed techniques for achieving the lower end of the BAT AEL range. For each pollutant, the report includes graphs depicting various scenarios that demonstrate ways to mitigate the negative impacts of the new limits.

The report provides essential information that the client can use to support their requests in the next round of comments on the draft. Despite tight deadlines, all deliverables were completed on time.