Stakeholder needs study on indicators for IPP (Integrated Product Policy)

Integrated Product Policy, or IPP, is an approach that seeks to reduce environmental impacts through the life cycle of products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the need for indicators to monitor the IPP approach, with the focus on national indicators for Sweden. This was achieved by interviewing different stakeholders. Government/authority stakeholders identified a need for IPP indicators in order to monitor the process and show politicians the use and effectiveness of the policy. However, they also identified obstacles to construct meaningful indicators that would be able to show a cause and effect relationship between the policy and e.g. decreased environmental impact. Non-government stakeholders did not express a need for IPP indicators to monitor the IPP process to the same extent and most were more critical towards IPP as a concept. Several governmental and non-governmental stakeholders saw indicators for environmental performance of products as relevant from a general/public interest. However, since different stakeholders have different needs, indicators for IPP should be tailored to suit different user groups.