The Power of Example
An evaluation of how examples of best practices,
good examples and success stories are used in the
work for sustainability
Report 5283 · May 2003
The Power of Example
An evaluation of how examples of best
practices, good examples and success stories
are used in the work for sustainability
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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ISBN 91-620-5283-7PDF
ISSN 0282-7298
© Naturvårdsverket 2003
Printer: CM-Gruppen, Bromma
List of contents
Summary............................................................................................................. 3
Background ..................................................................................................................... 3
Definitions and delimitations.......................................................................................... 3
How the evaluation was performed ................................................................................ 4
What did this survey tell us?........................................................................................... 5
Theoretical background - the information and innovation context in best practice
examples ......................................................................................................................... 6
Our assessments .............................................................................................................. 6
Proposals and recommendations for further work .......................................................... 7
1. Background ..................................................................................................... 9
1.1 Why evaluate the use of good examples in the work for sustainability? ...................... 9
1.2 The aim and delimitation of the evaluation................................................................. 11
1.3 Are the “best practices” actually the “best”? .............................................................. 11
1.4 The main issues of the evaluation and its implementation.......................................... 12
1.5 The expected results and effects of the evaluation...................................................... 13
1.6 How the evaluation project has been organised.......................................................... 14
2. The survey .................................................................................................... 15
2.1 A survey of good examples......................................................................................... 15
2.1.1 What are good examples? .................................................................................... 15
2.1.2 Collection and selection of best practice examples.............................................. 16
2.1.3 What have we found?........................................................................................... 17
3. Interviews with producers of information........................................................ 18
3.1 Producers..................................................................................................................... 18
3.2 Why produce an anthology?........................................................................................ 19
3.3 What are the target groups?......................................................................................... 19
3.4 What do producers want to achieve? .......................................................................... 20
3.5 How should we follow up? ......................................................................................... 21
3.6 How were the examples chosen? ................................................................................ 21
3.7 What selection criteria are used?................................................................................. 22
3.8 Do the examples represent best practice? ................................................................... 23
4. Interviews with recipients of information ........................................................ 25
4.1 How do we search for information on new innovations in the environmental field in
general? ............................................................................................................................. 25
4.2 Do you search for collections of good examples, best practices, success stories?...... 26
4.3 Does your own organisation produce some type of anthology which might be termed
“best practice”? ................................................................................................................. 26
4.4 Searching for and using good examples...................................................................... 27
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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
4.5 How should best practice examples be selected and documented?............................. 28
5. To disseminate the good examples ............................................................... 31
5.1 The potential and limitations of information............................................................... 31
5.3 Information theory and knowledge transfer concerning best practice examples as an
informative policy instrument ........................................................................................... 32
5.4 Best practice examples - part of an innovation process ............................................. 33
5.5 Our assessment of the information and innovation context ........................................ 34
6. Problems and advantages............................................................................. 35
6.1 The problems............................................................................................................... 35
6.2 The advantages of using best practice examples......................................................... 36
6.3 Our assessment............................................................................................................ 37
7. Our assessment – how should best practice examples be selected and
documented? .................................................................................................... 38
The content and level of detail in best practice anthologies ......................................... 38
The need for an overview ............................................................................................. 38
Evaluation of best practice examples............................................................................ 39
The link between best practice examples and other instruments of environmental policy
...................................................................................................................................... 39
7.1 Our assessment of the interviewees suggestions......................................................... 39
8. Conclusions and proposals for further work................................................... 41
8.1 Proposals that improve the quality and functionality of best practice examples ........ 42
8.1.1 A better overview................................................................................................. 42
8.1.2 Better best practice anthologies ........................................................................... 43
8.1.3 More evaluated examples..................................................................................... 44
8.2 Proposals that improve the link between best practice examples and other sustainable
development initiatives ..................................................................................................... 46
8.2.1 Better coupling between best practice examples and other sustainable
development initiatives ................................................................................................. 46
8.2.2 Making use of experiences from large-scale programmes................................... 49
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Summary
Background
Describing and drawing attention to best practice examples, good examples or “success
stories” is becoming an increasingly common feature of environmental protection both
nationally and internationally. There are a number of driving forces within the field of
sustainable development which, in all probability, will lead to this phenomenon
increasing even further. A closer analysis of the effectiveness of this tool is therefore
justified. We know far too little about the use and effects of such things as general
guidelines, handbooks and best practice examples. (We use the terms best practices, good
examples and success stories as approximately synonymous terms in this report) This
evaluation does not however presuppose that the tool in itself is poor and ineffective. On
the contrary, there is reason to believe that the collection and dissemination of good
examples is a positive component of environmental policy. The present practice of
compiling such examples is however not without its critics and in order to render the tool
more effective, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swedish EPA) has
decided to perform an evaluation of their role in environmental work.
Definitions and delimitations
Best practices can be found in many areas:
•
Technical innovations, i.e. traditional technical inventions or new ways of using ecosystems
•
Organisational innovations in the environmental field, e.g. in the area of enforcement
and inspection.
•
New forms of cooperation, e.g. new ways of collaborating with actors both inside and
outside the environmental family.
Our delimitation of the term “best practice examples” (or good examples or success
stories) is based on the intention of the compiler. In our opinion, a document constitutes a
collection of best practice examples if the producer states explicitly that the document
contains such examples. Sometimes this may well be quite obvious if the title itself
contains the phrase “best practices” or something similar like “success stories”, etc. But
sometimes it is not always immediately obvious and the compiler’s intention of
conveying best practice examples only becomes evident in the preface or introduction, or
it is mentioned on the back cover, etc. There are also many reports that sometimes contain
collections of best practice examples, but this does not become evident until one has read
the whole document.
This evaluation does not pass judgement on whether individual best practice examples
really are examples of best practice, e.g. from the point of view of environmental
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performance. We do however come back to the problems regarding evaluated best
practice examples in the “Conclusions and proposals” section of the report.
How the evaluation was performed
In order to obtain an overview of the production and use of best practice examples in the
environmental field, we began the evaluation by searching for them on the Internet and in
published documents and reports. After that, we conducted comprehensive interviews
with producers and recipients of best practice examples.
Internet – We began our survey of good examples by searching for the combination “best
practice examples + the environment” (In Swedish: goda exempel + miljö) on the
Internet. This produced about 4,000 Swedish web pages within the environmental field
which mentioned best practice examples (goda exempel) in some form or another
(compared to over one million hits on “best practices” and about 100,000 on “success
stories” in English). We decided to study the first 400 hits in the search, about 10 per cent
of the total, in more detail.
Reports – A search of the Swedish EPA Library’s database, ELIN. This produced a large
number of reports with best practices, case studies, etc. as their theme. By contacting
colleagues within the Swedish EPA and obtaining information from report reference
groups and other networks, we also found reports that, although they did not explicitly
refer to them in the title or had the term as a keyword, paid a significant amount of
attention to good examples.
Interviews - conducted using a standardised questionnaire developed to find out the key
aspects of both the compiler’s and recipient’s view of best practice examples in the
environmental field.
A total of eleven interviews were carried out with producers of good examples. These
were: the Ministry of the Environment, the Swedish Business Development Agency
(NUTEK), the Swedish EPA, the Swedish Association of Environmental Managers
(NMC), the Swedish Institute for Ecological Sustainability (EIH), the Swedish
Association of Local Authorities, the Association for Agenda 21 and Sustainable
Development, the Swedish National Co-ordinator on Agenda 21 and Habitat, and the
National Road Administration. To examine the production of the LIFE programme
collections of success stories, those heading the programme at NUTEK and the Swedish
EPA were interviewed.
Among the recipients of best practice examples, we interviewed the International Institute
for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), the Swedish Recycling Industries'
Association, COOP, the Ecocycle Council for the Building Sector, Svenskt Vatten AB The Swedish Water & Wastewater Association, the Stockholm County Association of
Local Authorities, the National Chemicals Inspectorate, the Stockholm Local Investment
Programme Secretariat, the municipalities of Västerås, Huddinge, Falun, Sollentuna,
Örebro, and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.
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What did this survey tell us?
The documentation reviews and the interviews indicated there was a large amount of
information, but that this was difficult to penetrate and poorly arranged, with a lot of
distortion and a large amount of hidden statistics. Only 10 per cent of the Internet hits
actually described good practice examples, the other 90 per cent perhaps mentioned best
practices in some environmental context, but only as some kind of peripheral information.
On the other hand, we found a large number of reports, not least from the environmental
authorities, that were essentially good example practice collections, but where neither the
title, bibliography, nor other type of easily accessible information (e.g. the text on the
back cover) indicated this fact.
When it comes to producing collections of best practice examples, the interviews indicate
that a conscious choice to use them as a tool, based on an analysis of how they can be
used to influence actors, was not made. Neither is it usually the case that an analysis has
been performed as to how best practice examples can be used to reinforce other
instruments of environmental policy. The selection of examples seems to be governed by
supply rather than by demand and is not customised to a specific target group. Selection
criteria do exist, but they often appear to be rather poorly thought-through and not based
on an analysis of the needs of the target group.
When it comes to finding best practice examples, potential recipients feel they often lack
knowledge as to the existence of such examples and they do not know where to find
them. They also feel it is difficult to find the right search strategy in relation to the
information they require. Many of those interviewed would like to see a portal and/or
search engine that would facilitate the search for best practice examples.
When it comes to applying or copying best practice examples, there is the practical
problem of many cases being unique, which means that it is not easy to set up a template
for how collections of examples should be designed so that they can be of use. The
examples described have seldom been followed up or evaluated, which in many cases
was seen as an obstacle to application.
Leaving the problems behind, the benefits of working with good examples highlighted by
the interviewees included the fact that they represent a relatively fast and easy way of
showing what has been achieved and of disseminating new and innovative knowledge.
Several interviewees felt that it was interesting to see good examples not only as a way of
pushing through legislation, but also perhaps of achieving higher environmental
objectives. It is also interesting to consider the use of best practice examples as a
complement or alternative to other policy instruments such as regulations and general
guidelines.
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Theoretical background - the information and innovation context in best practice
examples
Since there is both an information and an innovation angle to how best practice examples
are used, it is important to make use of experiences from other areas in order to render
this instrument of environmental policy more effective. Those areas we feel lie closest are
the theories of modern information and innovation. For this reason, a short review of the
literature in these areas was carried out within the framework of the evaluation. Our
conclusions prove that best practice examples will be more effective if using them is
based to a greater extent on firmly targeted information to specific target groups, where
the producer is also considered trustworthy by the recipient. Neither can communicating
best practice examples be based solely on reports or websites, but must also be seen in a
larger context that facilitates communication among people by, for example, presenting
best practice examples in those arenas where recipients actually are. The purpose of
communicating best practice examples should be to support other types of measures, such
as the environmental quality objectives (adopted by the Swedish Government) or
legislation.
Information channels need to be developed so that recipients of best practice examples
can specify what information and knowledge they require. Experiences in general of
disseminating documentation methods and distributing innovation should improve the
effectiveness of best practice examples in the environmental field.
Our assessments
The production and use of best practice examples is an encouraging aspect of
environmental work, but their application can certainly be improved. Greater awareness is
needed of how best practice examples can function as a policy instrument and what one
can achieve by using this tool. We see a need for a better overview of existing example
collections; for highlighting and analysing the needs of potential target groups in order to
make best practice examples more governed by demand; for guidance on how best
practice examples can better be described and presented so that they can be made use of;
and for more evaluated best practice examples to be made available when it comes to
technical solutions, working methods and forms of cooperation.
Furthermore, we feel that there is a need for better links between the application of best
practice examples and traditional environmental work and for better ways of making use
of experiences from large national and EU-based programmes.
The majority of the suggestions for improvement put forward by interviewees are based
on problems and opportunities that have been experienced earlier, and which could well
form the basis of our recommendations and proposals. The views of those interviewed do
however contradict each other, a case in point being the requirement for comparability set
against the emphasis on the uniqueness of each individual good example. The need for
best practice examples that are both well produced and evaluated in contrast to the need
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to produce case descriptions without consuming too much time and resources is another
contradiction.
Some of the users’ requirements may very well be desirable, but they would demand such
significant resources that the pace of introduction and the terms of responsibility would
become all-too-important elements of realistic proposals. These include the requirement
for a central agency (e.g. the Swedish EPA) to guarantee trustworthiness and
comparability of good examples, as well as the similar requirement for the evaluation of
best practice examples using scientific methods. To place far-reaching demands on the
documentation and analysis level for each best practice example would also jeopardise
one of their key advantages, namely rapid information dissemination. On the other hand,
unsystematically selected best practice examples, which have not been evaluated in any
way, would have a low catalytic effect for change and little legitimacy as instruments. It
would also be more difficult to link them to other environmental protection measures.
Evaluation, the dissemination of experiences and knowledge building concerning all
efforts to achieve a sustainable society are very important to the development of this kind
of environmental work and to the utilisation of results achieved up till now. The fact that
learning about what is possible to do in practice in the environmental field is increasing
throughout society furthers our overall aim of achieving a sustainable society. It is
therefore important that this work is carried out in the best possible way, that beneficial
knock-on effects are achieved and that best practice examples interact positively with
other types of environmental measures.
Proposals and recommendations for further work
Our proposals do not imply any reprioritisation between the production and dissemination
of good examples and other types of environmental work in general, but should rather be
seen as improvements to existing activities. Neither do our proposals imply any
significant cost increases for organisations that are financing projects since they do not
involve any noteworthy increase in resources, but will rather lead to quality
improvements by “looking” somewhat more carefully “before leaping”.
Three of our proposals aim to increase the quality and functionality of best practice
examples by:
•
obtaining a better overview of collections of good examples by setting up a simple
“useful links” page on the Internet.
•
producing simple guidelines/a checklist for those who select, document and
disseminate best practice examples and publish collections: These guidelines would
aim to avoid typical shortfalls in quality and provide good advice for the selection,
documentation and dissemination of best practice examples.
•
increasing access to specific evaluated examples by surveying those that have already
been evaluated with regard to environmental performance, economics and user-
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friendliness. We also propose that evaluations in connection with e.g. the LIP
Programme (Local Investment Programme) should to a certain extent focus on
evaluating individual projects/systems in order to catalogue evaluated good examples.
•
We suggest that these activities be carried out by a working group with participants
from the Swedish Institute for Ecological Sustainability (EIH), the Association of
Swedish Local Authorities, the Swedish Business Development Agency (NUTEK)
and the Swedish EPA.
•
We also suggest that better links between best practice examples and other types of
sustainable development efforts be created by environmental authorities paying
greater attention to the incidence of best practice examples during their daily work
and emphasising best practice examples whilst applying the law and working with
environmental objectives and strategies. Enterprises and other operators should also
be able to use best practice examples in their environmental efforts.
•
In conclusion, we propose that the dissemination of experiences from large-scale
national and EU-based environment-related programmes be developed and improved,
not least in order to emphasise project results that may be regarded as good examples
or success stories. How experiences from the LIFE programme are disseminated
should be further developed in this context.
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1. Background
1.1 Why evaluate the use of good examples in the work
for sustainability?
Why evaluate the use of best practice examples in the work for sustainability? Considerable resources are being put into the concept not just in Sweden but in the world as a
whole.
There are also many different driving-forces which will cause the production of best
practice examples not only to continue but also to increase in the near future. Firstly,
there are many government authorities, county administrative boards and municipalities
compiling best practice anthologies, either as independent anthologies or as part of
reports within various areas of expertise, industries or societal sectors. These are often
aimed at inspiring or influencing different target groups to show that things can be done,
without describing in detail what is to be done or establishing a specific strategy.
Highlighting best practice examples – of methods, techniques, etc., - is also seen by
regional and local authorities as a way of fulfilling their role not just as a regulator but
also as a promoter of sustainable development.
Secondly, the selection and dissemination of best practice examples can in some cases be
consciously used as an element of traditional environmental protection. In guidance
documentation, for example, they show what is possible to achieve from a technology
point of view. Good example anthologies can also be compiled to develop working
methods, e.g. in environmental education or forms of cooperation, e.g. regarding different
types of water issues.
Thirdly, authorities and municipalities also have a self-interest in highlighting the results
of their own efforts, and in presenting their results as “best practice examples”, not least
as a consequence of Agenda 21 work. Industrial organisations also have the same selfinterest in highlighting best practice examples in environmental protection within their
own industry or member group.
Fourthly, companies developing new system solutions, new technology and new methods
also have an interest in highlighting their own services and products. Technology
competitions run by national or regional business agencies often concern green production or environmental technology in a broad sense, where the aim of the activity is to find
best practice examples – even if this aim is sometimes described differently.
Fifthly, there has been an increase of the use of best practices in EU-based policy
documents. The proliferation of best practices or good examples will probably continue to
be driven by recent programmes and policies on the European level. Foremost of them are
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the 6th Community Environment Action Programme decided by the European parliament
and the Council in July 2002. Information on best practices are explicitly pointed out in
several articles of the 6EAP.
Improved exchange of information on best practice on implementation of Community
legislation, guidelines on best practice for green procurement, promoting best practices
with respect to sustainable land use planning, promoting best practices and supporting
networks fostering the exchange of experience on sustainable development in urban areas
and in sensitive areas in nature and the exchange of best policy practices on incorporating
environmental data in financial reports are pointed out as a strategic approach to meeting
environmental objectives (article 3).
Promoting the use of best available techniques and of best environmental practices are
singled out as a mean to preserving biodiversity (article 6). Promoting the use of codes of
good practices relating to the use of pesticides is a mean mentioned in article 7, regarding
health and quality of life. In article 8 on sustainable use and management of natural
resources and wastes, programmes of best practice and indicators of resource efficiency
are priority actions.
Indirectly, the 6EAP will probably increase the use of best practices / good examples by
pointing out the need for technology transfer, encouraging technological innovation,
promoting eco-efficiency practices, promoting sustainable use of all types of natural
resources, demonstrating decoupling between economic growth and negative environmental effects – all of these activities are known to be related to the dissemination of
good examples or best practices.
A large number of EU-funded programmes related to the environment and/or economic
development, such as LEADER, LIFE and several of he Structural Funds Programmes
also make a heavy use of good examples, both in programmes directives, but also as a
tool for documentation of the results of the projects of the programmes, but also as a
general knowledge transfer tool. For instance, the LIFE programme has already produced
a fairly large collection of success stories documents, but is expected to stimulate product
innovation with the aim of greening the market through improved dissemination of results
of the programme.
The European Environmental Agency (EEA) also has during the last years produced
“success stories” and stressed the need for disseminating case studies on best practices.
Trends in the work for sustainable development mean it is likely that resources for this
type of environmental work will be further reinforced. The broadening of environmental
policy to increasingly more societal sectors, more and more actors, the importance of
sector integration, an emphasis not only on regulatory and economic policy instruments,
but also on “softer” policy instruments such as voluntary agreements and knowledgeenhancement efforts, are all positively correlated to a greater use, development and
dissemination of best practice examples.
In light of this, we believe it is very likely that the tendency towards the use of examples
will continue at least on the same level as today and will probably increase. It is however
not a foregone conclusion that the quality of the work done to select, document and
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disseminate good practice examples will improve to the same degree. This does not mean,
however, that the dissemination of good examples is a poor and ineffective instrument
itself. On the contrary, there is reason to believe that the development and dissemination
of best practice examples already constitute to a certain extent (and may to an even
greater extent in the future) an efficient environmental policy tool.
It is therefore essential that this instrument be applied in as efficient a manner as possible,
not least in order to quickly and easily disseminate the experiences gained by authorities
and companies in their own environmental efforts and the results of the various largescale programmes.
1.2 The aim and delimitation of the evaluation
The aim is to evaluate how best practice examples are used, disseminated and received
within the environmental field. The evaluation should increase our knowledge of best
practice examples as a policy instrument (their weaknesses, strengths and potential
impact).
The evaluation should help gain good practical experience, so that we improve the
efficiency of this policy instrument and ultimately increase its environmental effect. This
also includes putting best practice examples into context among other instruments,
especially other informative policy instruments such as guidance documents and
handbooks.
1.3 Are the “best practices” actually the “best”?
This is an issue which often came up during the planning and implementation stage of the
evaluation. It is important here to differentiate between both the question of whether one
specific “best practice example” really does represent best practice, and the question of
whether best practice anthologies are worthy of the title. These issues are partly
independent of each other and require different evaluation approaches.
The question of whether a specific example is a “good” one, and what can exactly we
might mean by it, is an important one, not least to be able to link the dissemination of best
practice examples as an informative instrument to other environmental measures and
other instruments of environmental policy. We suggest therefore that a project be initiated
so that groups of best practice examples can be evaluated systematically (see Analysis
and proposals).
In the evaluation, we have delimited best practice examples so that they include
documents and other material that explicitly call themselves “best practice examples”,
and material we have adjudged to be de facto best practice examples. The evaluation does
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not cover the issue of whether the best practice examples really are the truly “best”
practice or not.
1.4 The main issues of the evaluation and its
implementation
Good examples are intended to stimulate recipients to act and to provide guidance in
various issues. Target groups for best practice examples vary, but often they are intended
to stimulate local environmental efforts and convey and disseminate experiences and
knowledge. But are these best practice examples utilised? Are they documented in the
right way? Do they reach their target groups? What does a good ”best practice example”
look like? What strengths and weaknesses does the dissemination of best practice
examples have as a tool? How are the effects of best practice examples followed up? This
is just a selection of interesting questions concerning how best practice examples work or
should work as a policy instrument.
The main questions asked in the evaluation are:
•
Are best practice examples selected in an appropriate fashion?
•
Are best practice examples described in such a way so that they support decisions that
facilitate their dissemination?
•
How does dissemination work?
•
To what extent do the selection and level of detail correspond to the needs of the
target group?
To be able to answer these questions, we have examined two groups of hypotheses on
problems and opportunities. The first hypotheses are based on the theory that the impact
of best practice examples decreases if they are not deliberately selected as a policy
instrument.
The other group of hypotheses imply that the impact of the instrument would increase if
best practice examples supported the target group in its own decision-making.
To be able to answer the main questions asked in the evaluation, we have chosen to carry
out both a general survey of the scope and type of best practice examples within the
environmental field, as well as interviews with both producers and recipients of them. We
have also performed a short literature study, primarily focusing on how innovation is
disseminated and on information as an instrument within the environmental field.
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1.5 The expected results and effects of the evaluation
The evaluation is intended to provide:
•
An idea as to the scope and what type of best practice examples exist within the
environmental field and as to the potential for creating and managing some kind of
register of best practice anthologies.
•
A survey of how best practice examples are produced and how decisions on selection
and level of ambition are taken.
•
A description of how some central target groups, primarily the municipalities, view
and use best practice examples.
•
A better understanding of how best practice examples work in the context of
dissemination and innovation.
•
A clear picture of the problems associated with the policy instrument, its strengths
and weaknesses.
•
An analysis of how the tool can be rendered more effective - suggestions for
improvement regarding design, content and working methods.
•
Proposals for how best practice examples can be linked to and strengthen other policy
instruments.
•
Finally, the evaluation is also intended to create a basis for a checklist/guidance
document on how best practice examples can be selected, described and evaluated.
All in all, the evaluation and its proposals are expected to contribute to:
•
A better overview of existing anthologies of best practice examples.
•
Quicker dissemination of experiences and faster innovative pace regarding environmental efforts through developing a better dissemination method.
•
Better anthologies of best practice examples as a result of greater understanding of
”the innovation context” and the “information context” among those compiling such
anthologies.
•
Better quality of best practice examples as the result of better selection criteria, better
adaptation to the needs of recipients, greater potential for environmental benefit and
better integration of ecological, economic and social sustainability.
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1.6 How the evaluation project has been organised
The project has been organised as a horizontal project within the Swedish Environmental
Protection Agency (Swedish EPA), as it in principle touches upon all the different remits
of the Agency’s departments. The project working group has consisted of:
Ulf E Andersson, Director-General’s staff (project manager), Peter Green, (deputy project
manager), AnnaKarin Lissel Swenning, and Marie-Louise Rydén.
An external reference group has also been linked to the project consisting of the
following participants:
•
Ola Engelmark, Swedish Institute for Ecological Sustainability (IEH)
•
Carl Naumburg, Vinnova (Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems)
•
Ylva Rönning, National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
•
Göran Uebel, NUTEK (Swedish Business Development Agency)
•
Peter Wenster, Swedish Association of Local Authorities
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2. The survey
2.1 A survey of good examples
2.1.1 What are good examples?
Good examples or best practices can be found in many areas:
•
Technical innovations, i.e. traditional technical inventions or new ways of using ecosystems
•
Organisational innovations in the environmental field, e.g. in the area of enforcement
and inspection.
•
New forms of cooperation, e.g. new ways of collaborating with actors both inside and
outside the environmental family
The importance of developing and disseminating best practice examples is often
highlighted in environmental policy documents, without a more precise definition being
provided of what best practice examples actually involve. In our survey, we have
therefore laid down a number of delimitations for what we mean by best practice
examples, and what can be seen as best practice anthologies.
First of all, we have by definition based our delimitation on the intention of the producer.
A document (reports, and other types of publications and web pages) constitutes,
according to our assessment, a best practice anthology if the producer explicitly indicates
that the document contains best practice examples. Sometimes this may well be quite
obvious if the title itself contains the phrase “best practices” (or something similar like
“success stories”, etc.) But sometimes it is not always immediately obvious and the
producer’s intention of conveying best practice examples only becomes evident in the
preface or introduction or it is mentioned on the back cover, etc.
But our opinion is also that other documents that have different names such as “anthologies of examples”, “catalogues of ideas” or case studies can also be defined as best
practice anthologies, if “best practice examples” are, in the author’s opinion, highlighted
in the text. Expressions such as “environmental gems” etc., indicate that the intention is to
communicate good examples.
Other reports can also very well be best practice anthologies in the main or at least to a
great extent, even if this does not become apparent until the whole document has been
reviewed. This means therefore that there is a large number of “hidden” best practice
anthologies, and that the boundary between best practice anthologies and other types of
documentation is not that easy to spot. The delimitation is always open to a certain
amount of interpretation.
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2.1.2 Collection and selection of best practice examples
To obtain an overview of the production and use of best practice examples in the
environmental field and of the prerequisites for creating and running some kind of
register of best practice anthologies, we began our evaluation by performing an Internet
search.
The Internet
We began our survey of best practice examples by searching for the combination “best
practice examples + the environment” (In Swedish: goda exempel + miljö) on the
Internet, using the Google search engine. We found about 4,000 Swedish sites within the
environmental field that mentioned best practice in some form or another. To obtain an
insight into what the material actually consisted of, we decided to take a closer look at the
first 400 hits in our search, i.e. about 10 per cent of the total number of hits.
After an initial review of the material, we divided it into three categories; approved,
borderline and rejected. To be approved, the website had to present or refer to examples
in the environmental field, which it has chosen to call best practice examples. Borderline
cases were websites that presented or referred to best practice examples but in some area
other than the environmental field, e.g. work environment. Websites that were rejected
contained no best practice examples and were only on the hit list because one of the texts
on the website contained the words “best practice” and “environment”. These websites
were mostly not about best practice examples in the environmental field but concerned
completely different subjects. The review indicated considerable variation in the material.
Reports and other printed material
We also searched for reports and other material that might contain best practice examples.
A search of the Swedish EPA Library’s ELIN database produced a large number of
reports with best practices, case studies, etc. as their theme. By contacting colleagues
within the Swedish EPA and obtaining information from report reference groups and
other networks, we also found reports that, although they did not explicitly refer to them
in the title or had the term as a keyword, paid a significant amount of attention to best
practice examples. This means therefore that there may also be many reports that
sometimes contain best practice anthologies, but this does not become evident until one
has read the whole document.
Internationally speaking
As already mentioned, describing and highlighting best practice is not something that
only occurs in Swedish environmental protection. For example, a number of programmes
within the EU have been involved with the production of best practice examples, success
stories, etc. Using the Google Internet search engine and entering the combinations “best
practice and environment” and “success stories and environment” produced 1,030,000
and 113,000 hits respectively. Without having examined the content of these hits in any
great detail, their large number does however suggest that the use of these concepts is
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considerably widespread. Among the international best practice anthologies within the
environmental field which we found in our general survey, two are worth a special
mention: www.bestpractices.org and www.sustainability.com which also has a wellconsidered structure and relevant additional information on the examples.
2.1.3 What have we found?
Based on the material we have collected, we can see good examples can concern many
different fields of expertise and phenomena within the environmental field. Best practice
examples are not always that easy to find merely by performing a simple search of the
Internet or a library database. Upon closer examination, we can soon establish that
descriptions of best practice examples vary considerably, e.g. concerning how easy it is to
obtain an overview of the content, the depth of the information and whether there are
links to further material and/or the names of contact persons available.
A few examples of what we found in our search are given below.
Firstly, we have found a number of reports, websites and other material that state
explicitly that they contain “best practice/good examples”.
We have also found anthologies that are to all intents and purposes best practice
anthologies, but do not explicitly say so.
There are also what we call “hidden” best practice anthologies, i.e. material that is shown
to contain best practice examples only upon close inspection.
Secondly, not only does our delimitation of good examples include technical systems or
environment-related solutions, but also working methods and forms of cooperation in
different types of environmental projects.
In many cases, the boundaries between these categories aren’t so clear and many best
practice anthologies and even individual best practice examples contain aspects that
concern technology, working methods and forms of cooperation alike.
Thirdly, we feel that an important delimitation is that best practice examples should
actually exist and be applicable in practice. This means that inventions, laboratory trials,
idea documents or action plans that have not yet to be realised are not defined as best
practice examples, even if they might very well be a valuable precursor to such an
example in practice.
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3. Interviews with producers of
information
The interviews were performed according to a questionnaire, designed around seven main
topics the reason why best practice anthologies are compiled, what producers wish to
achieve by them, the selection process, selection criteria, media and dissemination
methods and resource consumption.
3.1 Producers
A total of eleven interviews were performed with producers of the best practice
anthologies. The interviewees represented the following organisations and associations:
The Ministry of the Environment, the Swedish Business Development Agency (NUTEK),
the Swedish EPA, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the Swedish
Association of Environmental Managers (NMC), the Swedish Institute for Ecological
Sustainability (IEH), the Swedish Association of Local Authorities, the Association for
Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development, the Swedish National Coordinator on Agenda
21 and Habitat, and the National Road Administration. To examine the production of the
LIFE Programmes’ success stories anthologies, those heading the programme at NUTEK
and the Swedish EPA were interviewed. Several of the web-based anthologies are jointly
run by different actors, who often co-finance the website. Some of the interviewees
therefore represented more than one organisation in practice. The common factor for all is
however that they are involved in developing and disseminating examples of best
practice. It is best to consider the interviewees as intermediaries who often play the role
of collector, compiler and disseminator of best practice examples. There are both printed
and web-based anthologies. The websites that are jointly run by several organisations
display all their logotypes and visitors can then extend their search for good examples.
This leads to many cross-references in the web-based anthologies. The central authorities
that we looked at present best practice anthologies mostly in printed form. These can also
be available in e.g. pdf format on an authority’s website. To run the website on a day-today basis, some of those interviewed hire consultants to help them. This consultant
support mostly concerns the technical operation of the website, its design and in some
cases also production of best practice examples themselves. As part of their joint series of
best practice anthologies regarding the environmental aspects of municipal planning, the
Swedish EPA and the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning also hired
consultants to help them with the content of the anthologies.
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3.2 Why produce an anthology?
In the vast majority of cases, the organisations involved chose to compile an anthology to
show what they have achieved in their environmental work, either for their own sake or to
draw attention to new and innovative ways of solving environmental problems. Some
talked about “reaping the benefits of goodwill” (NMC), others about providing the
municipalities with ideas on how various regulatory guidelines can and should be applied
(National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and the Swedish EPA). The National
Road Administration emphasised the importance of showing what is happening in the
environmental sphere within their sector, and preferably in cooperation with other actors.
At the beginning, the Road Administration ran the website jointly with the Swedish
Association of Local Authorities and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. In
one case, the pressure of showing results was given as a reason for compiling an
anthology. Up to now, about SEK 6 billion (about EUR 660 million) has been distributed
as part of the EU LIFE Programme and based on this, two anthologies have been
presented within the framework of the programme, in which about one hundred LIFEfunded projects are described as success stories.
When it comes to choice of medium for the anthology, the Ministry of the Environment
thought that the new technology that became available in the middle of the 1990s led to
us choosing the more interactive forms of reporting which web-based solutions could
offer. “It was typical of the day”, said the National Coordinator on Agenda 21 and
Habitat. Similar thoughts emerged from almost all those who have worked with webbased best practice anthologies. As is evident, many of the above-mentioned organisations have produced anthologies as a spin-off effect of their own day-to-day activities. In
the IEH’s case, the collection and dissemination of best practice examples is part of its
core activities, based on the commission the institute has received - to attract people to do
things that benefit the environment. In addition, the IEH stresses the voluntary aspect of
environmental work, which makes the dissemination of best practice examples a central
component of the dialogue with the relevant actors which the EIH wishes to establish and
support.
3.3 What are the target groups?
The municipalities are often grouped together as the main target group. Other categories
of target groups mentioned in the interviews are companies, business leaders, company
employees, authorities, politicians, students, interest groups, etc. The target groups can
also include more specific stakeholders, such as experts interested in new and innovative
solutions within their area. The printed anthologies often have a clearer target group. The
reason quoted by the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning for producing a
series of anthologies was to provide an overarching perspective of the work carried out by
municipalities in the field of physical planning. As a result, the main target group
consisted of local politicians and civil servants involved in physical planning activities.
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Many professions are involved in the planning work done by municipalities in different
ways, which led the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning to compile a
whole series of 12 good example anthologies. This was done to further narrow down the
subjects and target groups. The aim was also to point out new scope for cooperation when
working with comprehensive physical planning. Both NUTEK and the Swedish EPA felt
that the most obvious target group for the LIFE Programmes two anthologies might be
potential recipients of LIFE-subsidies.
NUTEK also pointed out another target group – the intermediaries. Intermediaries help
potential programme candidates to make decisions. Consultants and industrial organisations can be intermediaries in certain circumstances. They have the drive to absorb the
new information in the anthologies and disseminate it further to their customers. Both the
LIFE-programme anthologies lack a clearly defined target group, however. Neither does
the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s series have an explicit target
group. Another example is the Swedish EPA’s anthology Collecting household waste1
which contains a survey and analysis of different disposal systems for household waste
and packaging in Sweden in 2000, and which should act as background information for
municipalities and contractors planning to introduce a new collection system. The IEH
can mainly see five broad target groups for its examples; municipalities, researchers,
sector authorities, the business sector and NGOs.
3.4 What do producers want to achieve?
Apart from bringing attention to themselves from the outside world, producers often wish
to demonstrate and try to convey new and innovative knowledge to the target group. The
majority of those interviewed feel that best practice examples can inspire people to read
them since they don’t show what must be done but rather what can be done, if one wishes
to go beyond laws and regulations. They also illustrate the experiences other actors have
of a certain system or a certain practice and can then help municipalities to exchange
experiences among themselves.
The main focus is normally on innovative examples, which is why producers don’t
choose to perform total surveys within the areas that are the subject of the examples.
Specifically, it is the innovative aspect they wish to highlight. According to the Swedish
Association of Environmental Managers (NMC), producers also wish to put the spotlight
on the voluntary environmental initiatives taken by many companies. In many respects,
the NMC sees its anthology as a shop-window in which companies and organisations can
find inspiration to go beyond the requirements of environmental laws. Inspiration and
external visibility are the watchwords many producers use to describe the anticipated
effects. Concerning the LIFE programmes, an unabridged survey was performed and the
examples presented in both anthologies are those which the LIFE Unit/DG Environment
1
Swedish EPA 2001, Collecting household waste. A survey and analysis of systems for the disposal of
household waste and packaging, Sweden 2001. Swedish report no: 5145.
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feel are the best projects. The IEH sees the dissemination of good examples as a way of
overcoming the more dutiful attitude towards environmental issues they feel they can see
in environmental efforts. By demonstrating examples of smart solutions, good forms of
cooperation, local commitment, and new approaches, the IEH hopes to help highlight the
positive aspects of environmental work.
3.5 How should we follow up?
Follow-up takes on many different guises. The Swedish EPA did not perform a followup, but the interviewees feel that things went well since the reports sold well. The
National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (and the Swedish EPA) did no followup in the sense of an evaluation but they also noted that the anthologies sold well. They
were also used as study material at a number of higher education institutes. The National
Board of Housing, Building and Planning did establish, however, that the anthologies
were a perishable commodity. Neither has any systematic follow-up of the impact and
significance of the published anthologies as part of the LIFE Programmes been performed. They have however been received with a considerable amount of interest when
presented at exhibitions and other gatherings.
The web-based anthologies provide partly different follow-up problems. The National
Road Administration uses statistics on the number of visitors as an indicator of impact,
but feels it has not found a satisfactory follow-up method. The Swedish Association of
Environmental Managers (NMC) sends out a members’ questionnaire once a year to
evaluate activities on its website. The questionnaire in relation to the web-based examples
focuses on the benefit of NMC’s best practice examples. The results of the questionnaire
form the basis of further planning over the forthcoming years. NMC also follows up the
visitor statistics that indicate an average of 200 visitors a week. All the producers and
disseminators feel they get some feedback on their sites, mostly in the form of email and
telephone calls, even if no systematic follow-up or evaluation is performed. The IEH has
not performed any systematic follow-up, but it has conducted three questionnaires, the
aim of which was to examine the attitude visitors to the website adopted as regards the
information. The IEH also compiles web statistics and these show that the list of best
practice examples on its website is the IEH’s most popular web service.
3.6 How were the examples chosen?
The selection process also differs quite considerably among the various actors. The
National Board of Housing, Building and Planning developed selection criteria intended
to reflect geographical diversity in terms of town and country, coastal and inland
conditions. The examples were to reflect good planning quality according to the project
group’s understanding of the issue. The project managers agreed on a common level of
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the examples, i.e. a benchmark for the lowest acceptable quality of an example. The
selection criteria remained constant throughout the project. A number of overarching
criteria were chosen in the LIFE programmes, such as geographical distribution among
EU member states. To begin with, the Ministry of the Environment chose to hire a
consultant who was to sort out and compile the first examples that were presented on the
website. In time, it was felt that a list of criteria for the examples to be presented on the
web was necessary. Geographical distribution was seen as particularly important in the
selection process, since it makes it easier for e.g. municipalities to find relevant examples
in the neighbourhood. The Swedish Association of Environmental Managers (NMC), as
well as the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise has constantly called upon its members
to submit examples. There is also a description template on the site, which can be used by
someone wishing to publish a new example. A policy decision has also been taken,
according to which only companies may present examples on the site, since the
Confederation of Swedish Enterprise is co-financing the venture. The ÅF Group (A major
consulting firm), which is also involved in developing the project plan for NMC’s
website, also collects examples. The number of examples submitted recently has however
fallen off somewhat, which according to the NMC may depend on the fact that the level
for what is a good, new and innovative example has risen considerably over time. The ÅF
Group constantly monitors corporate environmental reports and environment-related
newsletters in its hunt for further examples. It also reviews the candidates and nominees
of the NMC’s annual “Excellent environmental leadership” prize. The National Road
Administration has no uniform selection criteria, but rather a series of general requirements. In its instructions, the IEH has formulated how an example should look in order
for it to be classed as an “environmental gem” and hence be published on the website. In
short, a so-called environmental gem should be a completed project, that uses a technique
and/or a working method that provides considerable environmental benefit and that is
considered by the project owners to be a successful project from the point of view of
implementation. Furthermore, the project must also be in line with Sweden’s environmental objectives as well as be categorised in one of the IEH’s fourteen subject areas.
There are special subject area coordinators and these are constantly collecting best
practice examples and documenting these with necessary factual information such as the
project owner and a contact person. The collected information is submitted every quarter
to the responsible information officer who approves the text. The text is then given to the
web coordinator for publishing.
3.7 What selection criteria are used?
All producers have some type of criteria or selection list. Some have a clear template for
selection, others deal with general, overarching criteria. The status of the criteria, and the
requirement that they be followed, also varies between clear statements to a more implicit
application. There is also variation between the interactive and open, web-based
anthologies and the printed versions. For its report on household waste, the Swedish EPA
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chose to focus on “interesting systems” or “systems that can be evaluated”2. When the
National Board of Housing, Building and Planning chose its selection criteria, it wanted
them to serve as guiding principles for selecting examples and it also felt there should be
a clear basis for planning. This plan should be well balanced, contain concrete recommendations on how the municipality should act and the example should also follow the
legislator’s intentions within the area in question. Regarding web-based anthologies,
NMC felt that the examples chosen had to be more proactive than the existing legal
requirements, that they were at the cutting edge and were innovative and that they were
taken from a concrete project run in a company, not just general descriptions of planned
environmental initiatives.
The National Road Administration feels that an example should have a positive effect on
the environment, though does not stipulate a clear level for what such a positive effect on
the environment might entail. The Administration also emphasises the importance of
naming a contact person. This contact person signs a letter of approval which gives the
National Road Administration the right to use and publish the example on its website.
The Swedish National Coordinator on Agenda 21 and Habitat at the Ministry of the
Environment has tried to develop an unambiguous list of criteria for the publication of
examples on its website. As mentioned above, geographical dispersion is the main and
most important selection criterion. Other important criteria are that the example has been
evaluated, that it is of a pilot/experimental nature and that it may be of interest to an
international audience. Furthermore, the project’s sustainability over time, its costefficiency and having an innovative management (i.e. chief responsibility for the project
may well lie outside the municipal sphere) are also key criteria. The LIFE programme
applies rather similar criteria to those that are included in the programme application
itself. In the case of the IEH, the selection criteria coincide with the instructions used in
the selection process.
3.8 Do the examples represent best practice?
A vital point when compiling anthologies is of course whether the examples presented
can really be said to be best practice. In all the interviews, we asked whether the
interviewee knew that the examples presented were best practice. The aim of this
question was not primarily to obtain information on any possible environmental effects
but rather to find out how the interviewee made sure of the quality of the examples. Most
interviewees feel that the examples presented are best practice if they fulfil the selection
criteria used. The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning feels that if the
examples fulfil the criteria, they are in line with the working hypothesis on good planning
quality. Since the aim of the 12 anthologies was mainly to inspire and illustrate new
approaches to the Planning and Building Act in municipal comprehensive planning
activities, the issue of environmental effects did not play much of a part. The examples
were to have political support and to have been implemented, i.e. be already up and
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running. This constituted a best practice example. When the Swedish EPA was producing
its report on household waste, there were no explicit criteria on whether an example was
best practice or not, instead, the Agency chose to discuss the examples presented in terms
of whether they were interesting and possible to evaluate. This anthology also stressed the
importance of the waste disposal systems that were illustrated as examples being already
up and running. If the examples presented are interesting and possible to evaluate, they
represent best practice, according to the Agency’s stipulated definition. Regarding the
web-based anthologies, the NMC feels that an example is best practice if it fulfils the
criteria. It is also of the opinion that companies do not wish to display untrue or poor
examples. The National Coordinator on Agenda 21 and Habitat at the Ministry of the
Environment feels it is difficult to say whether an example is best practice or not and asks
itself the question whether the chosen example really is the best one. Good or even better
examples that merit dissemination may be overlooked or neglected by us giving our
support to those examples presented on the web. Since there is a lack of clear criteria, the
Coordinator feels that it is difficult to say whether the examples presented are best
practice or not. The National Road Administration chooses to rely on the expertise of the
contact persons and feels that they vouch for the quality of the example. The contact
persons for each example are themselves responsible for any detailed information
required. On its website, the National Road Administration makes it clear that it has not
evaluated the examples presented. If such an evaluation has been carried out, however, a
summary of it is presented alongside the illustrated example. The Administration reflects
on the unfortunate situation that there are currently only a few evaluations and that their
quality varies considerably. In the case of the IEH, all the examples presented have not
been tried and tested and this is a deliberate educational intention by the Institute. The
IEH sees its role as the supporter of change and hence cannot lend its unqualified support
only to well-tried examples. It may be enough for the solution in the example presented to
be innovative.
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4. Interviews with recipients of
information
The interviews were performed according to a questionnaire, designed around three main
areas. The questions concern how recipients look for and use best practice examples and
how examples should be compiled and designed to be of use. The questions we put in the
interviews with recipients are much more oriented towards knowledge and information
retrieval than those put to the producers. Those interviewed represented the following
organisations:
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), the Ecocycle
Council for the Building Sector, Svenskt Vatten AB -The Swedish Water & Wastewater
Association, the Stockholm County Association of Local Authorities, the National
Chemicals Inspectorate, the Stockholm Local Investment Programme Secretariat, the
municipalities of Västerås, Huddinge, Falun, Sollentuna, Örebro, and the Swedish Society
for Nature Conservation.
The recipient category is not as clear as the producer category. Above all, the two
categories often run into each other. Many of those interviewed belong to organisations
that are both producers of best practice examples and a target group for best practice
anthologies. This is particularly true of the representatives of trade organisations we have
interviewed.
4.1 How do we search for information on new
innovations in the environmental field in general?
The aim of our interviews with recipients was to find out how they searched for
information in general. We did this in order to ascertain what role best practice examples
play in information and knowledge retrieval.
Several of the interviewees said they didn’t actively search for innovations themselves,
but were supplied with knowledge via newsletters such as Environment Daily and
Roundtable on Cleaner Production, and via networks and colleagues. Seminars and
conferences may also be useful to create and maintain contacts. Networking in Sweden
and the EU was also singled out as important. Personal contacts are also important. The
Internet also plays a certain role. The International Institute for Industrial Environmental
Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University points out that searching for information isn’t
difficult, but screening it is.
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One of the companies interviewed mentioned that knowledge about new technology often
comes from salesmen, and that information on new forms of cooperation is mostly
obtained through working together with other countries.
4.2 Do you search for collections of good examples,
best practices, success stories?
When answering this question, most answered that they didn’t search for these kinds of
knowledge anthologies very often. If they did, the most common tool to use was the
Internet. Some stressed that the anthologies they had seen were not of the kind of quality
they had hoped and that the information had to be reinterpreted to fit the given knowledge
context in which it was to be used, a process that takes time – time they often don’t have.
Some did say they searched for best practice examples, and mentioned some of the
websites talked about above.
They also pointed out the problem of screening the information and a lack of time
sometimes prevented a more active assimilation of the anthologies in question.
4.3 Does your own organisation produce some type of
anthology which might be termed “best practice”?
Most recipient interviewees answered yes to this question. Either they had already
produced an anthology or were planning to do so. The degree of dissemination varies
however; from printed or web publications to lists of best practice examples distributed at
conferences and in professional networks. There are also reports from large-scale
projects and inventories that might be seen as best practice examples and which they are
trying to publish. In general, they feel they are bad at informing people about what they
do, but by being involved in various national projects, they constitute an indirect basis for
the best practice examples that are distributed centrally. Environmental and public health
reports are also mentioned. The Municipality of Örebro mentions that when performing
inspections, its Environment Office uses templates that it considers to be best practice
examples of how the inspected operators can manage their environmental affairs in order
to be approved.
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation runs three different campaigns on its
website. In all these campaigns, the Society uses best practice examples as a way of
encouraging companies to make voluntary commitments.
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4.4 Searching for and using good examples
What do those interviewed feel helps or hinders them in their search for information on
best practice examples? One obstacle is lack of time. It is mostly a question of screening
the information one finds uninteresting.
Some also mention the problem of access to information, for example the problem of
getting companies to disclose certain information and that small companies often don’t
document and analyse the results of their environmental efforts.
Other impeding factors mentioned include the problem of finding the right search pattern
in relation to the information needed, such as badly arranged or confusing documents
and/or Internet websites. The fact that examples are difficult to find or are not kept up-todate is also seen as an obstacle. Some haven’t even thought about searching for examples
when they are looking for or need new knowledge.
Finally, the fact that examples have not always been critically evaluated is also mentioned. According to most of the interviewees, the examples should be evaluated before
they are disseminated. When the City of Stockholm was involved in a large national
programme (The Local Investment Programme, LIP, which often used anthologies as a
tool) on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment, many municipalities refused point
blank to consider best practice examples that had not been scientifically evaluated.
Several of those interviewed feel that presentations of the financial and technical
prerequisites for a project should be made comparable and be based on scientific fact, and
that the source or other information guarantor must be impartial. And regarding “soft”
projects (forms of cooperation, organisational structure, etc.), those interviewed feel
methods rather than technology should be presented.
The Swedish Water and Wastewater Association, Svensk Vatten AB, suggests a way of
strengthening the evaluation aspect when producing examples. The association proposes a
partnership with, for example, technical institutes and universities. This should be done to
facilitate the evaluation of examples and ensure that evaluation and follow-up are
implemented using scientific methods.
If we turn our attention to the factors those interviewed feel are helpful, these centre on
timing, access to information and clarity of presentation. It is helpful if the information is
appropriate to the issue one is currently faced with and that it comes from what one feels
is a reliable producer. Reliability is a key term in this context. The information must be
reliable and come from a trustworthy source, such as the chief executive or chief
environment officer of a company.
Most of those interviewed pointed out that the Internet is an excellent solution because it
is fast and inexpensive to publish and keep material up-to-date. To remedy the confusion
that prevails on the Internet, some interviewees suggest a kind of portal divided up into
subject areas so that it is easy to find what you are looking for. The Technical Office of
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the Municipality of Falun mentions the structure of the LIFE reports as a benchmark of
structure and design. This would encourage clear, well-considered websites with
condensed information. A well-arranged website with clear, understandable links is also
important, and generally it is good if the visitor obtains a quick, introductory picture of
what the information is about first and then is able to find more detail when necessary.
Some of those interviewed would like to see the Swedish EPA take on the responsibility
for coordinating and running a portal for evaluated and reliable best practice examples,
similar to the Agency’s handbooks and general guidelines. This, they feel, would make it
easier to find areas of interest, e.g. with the aid of a keyword search engine or table of
contents. Compiling the existing anthologies, for instance, in the form of a website with
links would be valuable and would serve the purpose of disseminating the information to
stakeholders. Concerning web-based solutions, the Ecocycle Council for the Building
Sector suggests a link system where trade associations could help with the links and
information classification by providing knowledge on what might be of interest to their
own members. Some emphasise that drop-down menus with search categories would be
better than free word searches. Another suggestion that emerged from the interviews is to
have search options classified according to field of activity, such as water, wastewater, air
quality etc.
The Technical Office of the Municipality of Sollentuna points out a more general obstacle
not just to searching for best practice examples but also their possible implementation,
namely the relative sluggishness of municipal activities. The office believes it takes time
to introduce a different way of thinking, and even longer to change existing practices.
The Municipality of Örebro thinks it is helpful if the contact persons can be reached and
if they can supplement the information with details that are important for the recipient’s
own case but which is perhaps inappropriate for broad publication (financial details,
setbacks during the project, political pitfalls and how to avoid them, etc.). The Municipality is of the opinion that it can be difficult to get past the flattering description and find
the real core when following up best practice examples. For many of those interviewed, it
is important that there is a contact person to get in touch with for more information since
the examples need to be updated and more clearly specified.
4.5 How should best practice examples be selected and
documented?
How could best practice anthologies be designed to be of more benefit, according to the
interviewees?
Several interviewees want to see a greater number of detailed case studies in which
problems and obstacles are also properly highlighted. They also feel that bad examples
can be instructive and can illustrate what went wrong and how this has been rectified.
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This is seen to be of crucial importance to avoid mistakes in the future. And many
interviewees stress that the most important function of best practice examples is to inspire
people to change their behaviour.
The users’ perspective should be the focal point so that the examples can illustrate the
work processes of the users, where in these processes the information can be useful and
how the process can be modified to pave the way for changes. Issues of this type should
be analysed before best practice examples and other information are disseminated if they
are to be beneficial. Those compiling and presenting best practice anthologies should bear
clarity in mind so that the material is valid for several perspectives. Some of the
interviewees feel, however, that those who publish their reports on their website mostly
do so to show how clever they are.
Concerning comparability and the level of detail, many stress that the introductory
description should not be too technical, but should emphasise the economic and social
aspects in the form of e.g. an improved image, reduced fees and charges and in the long
run lower raw material costs. The presence of hard facts is desirable but must not disturb
the introductory overview. And it is good if the reader first of all obtains a brief picture of
what the information is about, and then where necessary can find more details. The more
detailed information may by all means include aggregated technical and economic data.
The economic prerequisites should be presented so that the reader knows how much it has
cost to implement and where the money came from.
The quality of the examples are highly dependent of the basic goals of the searcher’s
current project. An university department also points out that all cases are unique which
means it is problematic to set up a template for how best practice anthologies should be
designed to be of maximum benefit. In addition, it was pointed out that producers must
ask themselves what the objectives are of conveying and presenting the examples. If they
are to inspire people to make better product choices and prove in practice that it is
possible to achieve things, it is not always certain that best practice anthologies are suited
to that particular purpose.
The idea of a portal and/or search engines that could help to rank and screen best practice
examples also emerged when we asked these questions.
Some also suggested that project reports from county administrative boards and
municipalities should be compiled together since they are often instructive and provide
new ideas.
Some feel that the best time to publish is when the examples are presented in connection
with a new legislation, for example, in the bio fuel field.
Many are positive, however, and say they have found examples that have worked well
and been of real value.
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The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNF) points out the importance of the
comparability aspect. Comparable data and comparability in the examples presented are
key aspects. Otherwise, it is difficult to relate to the examples presented and compare
them with one’s own experiences and with other examples.
SNF points out that the best practice examples must extend beyond current laws and
regulations. A best practice example should clearly demand more than what is required
under the law, and try to achieve more. The Society also points out that the way best
practice examples are presented must be well balanced so that it is quite clear that they
are to be seen as inspiration and not as requirements laid down by the authorities.
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5. To disseminate the good
examples
We see the production and dissemination of best practice examples partly as an
informative policy instrument, partly as a tool for spreading innovation. This chapter
contains a somewhat more detailed discussion of the character, potential and limitations
of informative policy instruments (the innovation context is also discussed).
5.1 The potential and limitations of information
It goes without saying that information is a necessary though insufficient policy
instrument for solving problems. A problem analysis needs to be performed for
information to be effective. Is it an information problem or is it an economic, legal,
technical or organisational problem that is to be solved? To provide results, information
needs to be combined with other instruments and measures most of the time.
Mass media research indicates that information in general and mass media communication in particular are ineffective means of influencing people. On average, the effect of a
campaign in the form of a consolidated change in behaviour is less than one per cent
(McGuire 1989 3). This applies primarily to information campaigns aimed at large
heterogeneous recipient groups such as “the general public”. According to communication researchers, information campaigns of this nature do not constitute a cost-efficient
way of influencing people. Good knowledge as to the interests, attitudes and experienced
need of the target group brings success on the other hand to information initiatives.
A survey performed at the Swedish EPA regarding local information efforts in the
environmental field highlighted some of the factors that lay behind successful information
campaigns.
•
The participation of several actors
•
Direct contact with the target group was an important element
•
Enterprising project managers played a crucial role
•
The combination of several information channels
•
Good timing in relation to relevant decision-making agendas characterised the
successful projects
3
McGuire, W. J. 1989. Theoretical Foundations of Campaigns. Ur Rice, R. E. & Atkins, C. K. (Eds), Public
Communication Campaigns. Sage: Newbury Park.
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Having direct contact with the target group, primarily in the form of “local senders”, and
face-to-face meetings. The information methods recommended by many communication
researchers are:
•
Highly targeted information, for which the target group has been analysed and
segmented. The message must be is in line with the target group’s ideas and attitudes.
The producer also needs to have good knowledge of the experienced needs of the
target group, and the recipient must see the producer as appropriate and reliable
•
Training programmes, conferences and seminars where the recipients can be reached.
•
Measures that facilitate personal communication and relationship-building
•
The aim of communication must be to support other types of measures, such as
legislation.
In conclusion, we can say that the best results are achieved if the target group is itself
involved in the information campaign, and if the communication is reversed, i.e. the
recipients themselves specify the information they require, the obstacles they feel are
standing in their way, etc. In addition, the recipient’s attitude to the producer is of vital
significance in all communication.
5.3 Information theory and knowledge transfer
concerning best practice examples as an informative
policy instrument
Producing and disseminating best practice examples to a certain extent represent an
attempt by some knowledge-producers to solve some of the problems illustrated in
section 5.1, especially the issue of recipient- and user-friendliness in connection with the
dissemination of new, innovative knowledge. They try to customise the information in the
form of best practice to the target group in by developing it in consultation with
stakeholder recipients, making it specific and by timing the presentation of the required
knowledge to suit the recipients’ experienced and actual needs. The information is often
presented in connection with new legislation so as to help the actors to develop new
practices. Several actors often cooperate both in producing best practice examples and in
disseminating them, and our interview survey shows that face-to-face meetings at, for
example, conferences play a crucial role for how the example in question will be
received, as does the credibility of the producer. The Internet also plays an important role
in making best practice anthologies more interactive and can therefore be said to be a
more relationship-building form of communication than many traditional information
initiatives.
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5.4 Best practice examples - part of an innovation
process
The selection and dissemination of best practice examples is not just an information
campaign, but also represents a way of spreading innovations. For this reason, we should
be able to enrich best practice example initiatives with general experiences of success
factors and obstacles that can be found within the innovation policy area. Sweden now
has a special authority, charged with the task of monitoring and supervising a new policy
area – that of innovation policy. The central agency responsible for this policy area –
Vinnova – the Swedish Agency for Innovative Systems - defines environmental
innovation thus:
Innovation that serves to prevent or reduce environmental impact or to take care
of damage that has already occurred in a new way or to diagnose and monitor
environmental problems in a new way (Vinnova 2001 4).
As we see it, this comprises three components:
•
Technical innovations, i.e. traditional technical inventions or new ways of using
eco-systems
•
Organisational innovations in the environmental field, e.g. in the area of enforcement
and inspection.
•
New forms of cooperation, e.g. new ways of collaborating with actors both inside and
outside the environmental family.
Since actors in all the above-mentioned fields often have to deal with rapid changes,
many of them choose to present innovations in the form of good example anthologies.
Most of these tend to focus on technical innovations, where the final “innovation” is
reduced environmental impact measured in the natural environment. But as is stated
above, we should also include organisational and process-related innovations developed
in the environmental field. Even “soft” change processes, such as organising old activities
in a new way to achieve reduced environmental impact should be included in the concept
of environmental innovations.
A report produced by Vinnova, Drivers of Environmental Innovation (2001), states that
environmental innovations should be conceptualised in two ways, firstly as those that
reduce environmental impact, and secondly innovations that aim to reduce this impact in
the natural environment, in other words the intentions of the innovator. In the first case,
we are talking about types of (mainly) technical inventions that (may) lead to reduced
environmental impact as a main or side-effect. We are not interested in this case in the
intentions that lie behind the innovation. In the other case, it is the innovator’s intentions
4
Vinnova 2001:1 Drivers of environmental innovation. VF 2001:1 Review of current knowledge. Vinnova,
The National Energy Administration, NUTEK.
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that are in focus; what was the point of the change/the new product? If it was to reduce
harmful environmental impact, it can be categorised as an environmental innovation.
When discussing process innovations, definitions become more difficult. Firstly, it is not
so easy to ascertain who or what lies behind, for example, a new way of carrying out e.g.
enforcement and inspection. Is it an individual or an entire organisation? To what extent
is a new practice an innovation? Perhaps producers are just using previous organisational
forms in a new context. Can we then speak of an innovation? In the case of these
examples, we are most often talking about innovations that are not directed at a market,
but inwardly in a larger organisation, e.g. a government or municipal authority, or
outwardly, towards those with an obligation to supervise. The aim of innovation in this
non-commercial context is to find a more effective route to achieving the objectives for
activities, as laid down by the Swedish parliament and government, and not to introduce a
new produce or service on the market. This presents even greater definition problems;
can, for example, the way in which a government agency combines its arsenal of policy
instruments be called an innovation? Most certainly not, instead we might talk of
exercising official authority in an “innovative” way.
It is clear in any case that all the actors in the field of environmental innovation are trying
to disseminate their innovations. Government authorities, municipalities and companies
that develop new working methods, forms of organisation or technology themselves
naturally want to highlight the results of their efforts.
5.5 Our assessment of the information and innovation
context
Since there is both an information and an innovation perspective to how best practice
examples are used, it is important to make use of experiences from these areas in order to
render this instrument of environmental policy more effective.
Best practice examples can probably be more effective if using them is based to a greater
extent on firmly targeted information to specific target groups, where the producer is also
considered credible by the recipient. Neither can communicating best practice examples
be based solely on reports or websites, but must also be seen in a larger context that
facilitates communication among people by, for example, presenting good examples in
those arenas where recipients can actually be found. The purpose of communicating best
practice examples should be to support other types of measures, such as the environmental quality objectives adopted by the Swedish Government or legislation.
Information channels need to be developed so that recipients of best practice examples
can specify what information and knowledge they require. General experiences of
disseminating documentation methods and distributing innovation should improve the
effectiveness using good examples in the environmental field.
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6. Problems and advantages
6.1 The problems
From the interviews we have conducted with producers and recipients of best practice
examples, the following problems emerged concerning their production and use.
Do actors deliberately choose best practice examples as an instrument?
The interviews show that best practice examples were not normally chosen deliberately as
a policy instrument, i.e. no analysis of why best practice examples as an instrument are
used to influence actors was carried out. Neither is it usually the case that an analysis has
been performed as to how best practice examples can be used to reinforce other policy
instruments of environmental policy. In the interviews with producers of best practice
examples, it was observed that they have mostly chosen to produce them because they are
a relatively simple and fast way of showing what has been achieved in environmental
work, either for the producers’ own sake or to point out new and innovative ways of
solving certain environmental problems.
How are best practice examples selected?
The selection of examples seems to be governed by supply rather than by demand and is
not customised to a specific target group. Most of the producers interviewed specify
different target groups for their example anthologies, but few seem to have actually
carried out any kind of target group analysis. The municipalities are often grouped
together as the main target group. The printed anthologies often have a somewhat more
focused target group than those that are web-based. Concerning how examples are
selected, most of the producers interviewed say they have some kind of selection criteria
or overall requirements. Some have a clear template for selection, others use more
general, overarching criteria. Geographical dispersion seems to be a commonly recurring
selection criterion. Other criteria that are highlighted are e.g. that the examples must be
new and innovative. Selection criteria do therefore exist, but they often appear to be
rather poorly thought-through and not based on an analysis of the needs of the target
group.
Can we generalise about best practice examples?
Best practice examples are normally based on the specific context, which makes it
difficult to generalise about them. Many cases are unique which means it is not all that
easy to set up a template for how examples should be designed to be usable. The
interviewees point out however that examples have a better chance of being used if, for
example, their descriptions are not too theoretically or technically oriented. It must be
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possible to obtain a quick overview of what the example is about, and then find more
detailed information as and when necessary, either through contact persons or links to
additional material.
Do the examples really represent best practice?
Most interviewees feel that the examples presented are best practice if they fulfil the
selection criteria used. As mentioned above, however, there is often a lack of any clear
and well-considered selection criteria. The best practice examples described are normally
neither followed up nor evaluated. The way the examples produced are followed up
varies quite considerably. The producers interviewed said that a certain amount of
feedback was received in the form of email and telephone conversations from those who
have come into contact with the examples, but there doesn’t seem to be any systematic
follow-up. Evaluating the examples would also demand more resources, which explains
part of the reason why it doesn’t happen. Recipients of information would however like to
see more evaluated best practice examples and say that this is very important if they are
to be disseminated and be useful.
How do recipients find best practice examples?
The target groups or recipients we asked often do not know that the collections of best
practice examples exist nor where they can find them. They also feel it is difficult to find
the right search strategy in relation to the information they require. The interviews we
conducted with producers of information also show that it is not common for them to
have developed some kind of communication strategy for how to market and disseminate
the examples. In many cases, the examples are assumed to speak for themselves. Many of
those interviewed would like to see a portal and/or search engine that would facilitate the
search for best practice examples. Search options must be more customised to the needs
of the users.
6.2 The advantages of using best practice examples
Promoting good examples is seen by most as a way of inspiring and promoting sustainable development initiatives. The spotlight is turned on the positive side of environmental
protection. Inspiration and external visibility are among the key words used by many
interviewees to describe the anticipated effects of their work with best practice examples.
It is a relatively easy and quick way of showing what one has achieved and of conveying
new and innovative knowledge. Several interviewees feel that it is interesting to see best
practice examples not only as a way of pushing through legislation, but also perhaps of
achieving higher environmental objectives. It is also interesting to consider the use of best
practice examples as a complement or alternative to other policy instruments such as
regulations and general guidelines. In the work for sustainability, it is important to be
concrete and to show that solutions really do exist and work – something to which best
practice examples can make a contribution.
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6.3 Our assessment
The production and use of best practice examples is an encouraging aspect of environmental protection, but their application can certainly be improved. Greater awareness is
needed of how best practice examples can function as a policy instrument and what one
can achieve by using this tool. We see a need for a better overview of existing best
practice example anthologies, for highlighting and analysing the needs of potential target
groups in order to make best practice examples more governed by demand, for guidance
on how best practice examples can better be described and presented so that they can be
made use of and for more evaluated best practice examples to be made available.
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7. Our assessment – how
should best practice examples
be selected and documented?
The producers and recipients of best practice examples we interviewed were given the
opportunity to put forward their views on how best practice examples should be selected,
compiled and disseminated. These views can be grouped under the headings below. We
have considered the feasibility and effectiveness of these suggestions, and below we give
our assessment of them.
The content and level of detail in best practice anthologies
In general, interviewees would like to see better-considered case studies where problems
and obstacles are also properly highlighted; “the examples must not give the impression
of merely being manufactured fairy tales”, as one interviewee put it.
If templates and design prototypes for best practice examples are developed on a central
level, we must be careful not to make them too time-consuming and expensive to follow
up. The descriptions must not be too theoretical – they must be able to be applied directly.
Concerning comparability and level of detail, many stress that the description should not
be too technical. Examples should be chosen and presented from a broad perspective.
Compilers and presenters of best practice anthologies should bear clarity in mind so that
the material is valid from several perspectives. The presence of aggregated hard facts is
desirable but must not disturb the introductory overview. And it is good if the reader first
of all obtains a brief picture of what the information is about, and then is able to find
more details as and when necessary. The more detailed information may by all means
include aggregated technical and economic data. The economic prerequisites should also
be highlighted.
All cases are unique, which means setting up a design template for best practice
anthologies is problematic if they are to be of the best possible use, according to many
interviewees. They also think that inspiration is more important than hard facts.
The need for an overview
The idea of a portal and/or search engine to help rank and screen the examples emerged
from the interviews. Compiling the existing anthologies on a website with links would be
valuable. A common website with links to best practice examples from different sources
would be a very good initiative. An Internet-based solution where the Swedish EPA was
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responsible for the reliability and comparability of the best practice examples would be
very well received. Search options must be customised to the needs of the users, with e.g.
their areas of expertise or the environmental objectives as categories. Examples from
outside Sweden would also be appreciated.
Comparable data and comparability in the examples presented are key aspects. Comparability should also cover an economic perspective. Otherwise, it is difficult for recipients
to relate to the examples presented and compare them to their own experiences and with
other examples.
Evaluation of best practice examples
Evaluation and follow-up should be carried out using scientific methods. To effectively
disseminate environmental technology, it is important for both new and old solutions to
be critically evaluated, and for the information concerning such evaluations to be
distributed as well, for example in the form of best practice examples.
The link between best practice examples and other instruments of environmental
policy
The focus should be on the users’ perspective. How are the users’ work processes
designed and where in these processes is the information appropriate? The information
should be customised to the target group.
A best practice example should clearly demand more than what is required under the law,
and try to achieve more. Best practice examples can be a way of not just carrying through
legislative requirements but also perhaps of achieving more demanding environmental
objectives. Supervisory authorities should use/refer to best practice examples to a greater
extent in their work.
7.1 Our assessment of the interviewees suggestions
Our assessment is that the majority of the suggestions for improvement put forward by
interviewees are based on previously experienced problems and opportunities, and could
very well form the basis of our recommendations and proposals.
The views of those interviewed do however contradict each other; a case in point being
the requirement for comparability set against the emphasis on the uniqueness of each
individual best practice example. The need for best practice examples that are both well
produced and evaluated is contradictory to the need to produce case descriptions without
consuming too much time and resources is another contradiction. The claim that
providing inspiration is more important than presenting hard facts is to us somewhat of a
contradiction as well. Details of hard facts about important environmental performance
can be a rich source of inspiration if put in their proper context.
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Some of the users’ requirements may very well be desirable, but they would demand such
significant resources that the pace of introduction and the terms of responsibility would
be crucial elements of realistic proposals. This includes the requirement for a central
agency (e.g. the Swedish EPA) to guarantee credibility and comparability of best practice
examples, as well as the similar requirement for the evaluation of best practice examples
using scientific methods. To place far-reaching demands on the documentation and
analysis level for each best practice example would also jeopardise one of their key
advantages, namely rapid information dissemination. On the other hand, unsystematically
selected best practice examples, which have not been evaluated in any way, would have a
low catalytic effect for change and little legitimacy as instruments. It would also be more
difficult to link them to other environmental policy instruments.
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8. Conclusions and proposals
for further work
Considerable amounts of money are being put into development efforts and projects
within the environmental field by government authorities, municipalities, companies and
trade associations, environmental and other NGOs. The production and dissemination of
good examples (though sometimes going under another name) are an important part of
this work. We have already ascertained, however, that considerable deficiencies are
apparent in how the dissemination of best practice examples is currently used as a policy
instrument. But this evaluation of best practice examples has also turned the spotlight on
the advantage of best practice dissemination as a fast and less resource-demanding way of
spreading project results, and of showing the various actors in society what is actually
possible to do in practice.
Evaluation, the dissemination of experiences and knowledge-building concerning all
efforts to achieve a sustainable society are very important to the development of this kind
of environmental work and to the utilisation of results achieved up till now. The fact that
learning about what is possible to do in practice in the environmental field is increasing
throughout society furthers our overall aim of achieving a sustainable society. It is
therefore important that this work is carried out in the best possible way, that beneficial
spin-off effects are achieved and that best practice examples interact positively with other
types of environmental measures.
It is our assessment that a better overview is needed of existing best practice anthologies,
at the same time as the quality of future overviews or anthologies should be improved,
primarily concerning selection and level of detail. This requires in turn an increase in
access to evaluated best practice examples – when it comes to technical solutions,
working methods and forms of cooperation alike.
Furthermore, we feel that there is a need for better links between the application of best
practice examples and traditional environmental work and for better ways of making use
of experiences from large national and EU-based programmes.
Our proposals do not imply any reprioritisation between the production and dissemination
of best practice examples and other types of environmental work in general, but should
rather be seen as improvements to existing activities. Neither do our proposals imply any
significant cost increases for organisations that are financing projects since they do not
involve any noteworthy increase in resources, but will rather lead to quality improvements by “looking” somewhat more carefully “before leaping”.
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8.1 Proposals that improve the quality and functionality
of best practice examples
8.1.1 A better overview
Our survey of material has uncovered considerable difficulties in obtaining an overview
of existing best practice anthologies or similar documents, even if we restrict our review
only to material produced in Swedish. This problem was clearly confirmed by those
interviewed during the evaluation. The difficulties in obtaining an overview and of
getting access to relevant information on the web are exacerbated by the high proportion
of irrelevant or peripheral documentation, which may mention best practices as a
phenomenon but which does not actually document them. For printed books and reports,
the opposite is true – a lot of material is either completely or partly devoted to describing
good examples, but this is not apparent from the book/report titles or from the summaries
that are available in literature databases. Only when the reader has read through or has
prior knowledge of the material does it become clear that best practice examples make up
a substantial part of the content.
The difficulties in obtaining an overview will probably be exacerbated by the pressure to
increase production of best practice examples, not least internationally. Large-scale
programmes not only within the environmental field but also in areas focusing on
technical, economic and social development will probably yield material that can be
identified as best practice anthologies.
It is clear from our interviews that a substantial obstacle to obtaining an overview, or to
finding best practice examples in the first place, is, according to the interviewees
themselves, the lack of time. Despite the rather large number of best practice anthologies,
many (potential) users say that this lack of time coupled with the absence of an overview
mean that they don’t look for best practices on the Internet nor in library databases. It is
our assessment that this severely restricts the utilisation rate of technical, methodological
and organisational innovations in the environmental field.
Compiling a user-friendly, searchable register of best practice anthologies could simplify,
and above all accelerate, information retrieval. The natural ways ands methods of
retrieving information that are available to the various potential stakeholders should guide
our efforts. One way of achieving this could be to place links to this register on the
various stakeholder websites.
Since best practice examples are naturally time-framed, it is important that such a register
is frequently updated, and that the information in it is clearly dated.
We propose that a working group be formed with participants primarily from the
Swedish Institute for Ecological Sustainability (EIH), the Association of Swedish
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Local Authorities, the Swedish Business Development Agency (NUTEK) and the
Swedish EPA. This group should be given a mandate to affiliate other suitable
members. Producers of good examples will be invited to add new material to the
register. Each producer, and not the register’s principal, is responsible for assuring
the quality of the material in the long run with the support of the guiding principles
proposed below.
8.1.2 Better best practice anthologies
Our survey indicates that the existing best practice anthologies often display significant
shortcomings, normally unclear and poorly considered selection criteria, superficial levels
of detail and a lack of important information for many target groups, such as economic
aspects, user aspects and references as to where those interested can find more detailed
information on the described examples.
The process of disseminating the anthologies could also in many cases function more
efficiently. Informing people about the actual existence and availability of anthologies
could also be effected in a better way.
One explanation for this is that intended target groups, and the information requirements
they may have, are seldom analysed. The reason for occasionally inefficient practice is
seldom due to the producers’ lack of resources or expertise but more to an insufficient
understanding of the information and innovation context in which the best practice
examples actually occur. The existence of such shortcomings can partly be explained by
the fact that the production of best practice examples is a rather new working method
within environmental protection, where the vast majority of the anthologies have been
produced in the latter part of the 1990s.
We believe that a simple and easily accessible guide, basically in the form of a checklist,
would help to improve current working practices concerning the production and
dissemination of best practice anthologies. Most of the individual check points of such a
guide would be the result of a positive inversion of the shortcomings and problems
uncovered during the evaluation. We believe that the guide should not only cover the
format and level of detail of examples included in the anthologies, but also broach such
aspects as target group analyses, selection processes and dissemination methods.
Such a guide should also be user-friendly, producer-neutral and signal a reasonable level
of ambition regarding the production of best practice anthologies. Different contexts and
aims can justify different levels of ambition concerning the scope and depth of detail in
the various anthologies.
The guide should also call attention to the importance of best practices not only being
communicated by text, but also via social arenas (training programmes, meetings, etc.)
where potential users can be found.
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We propose that such a guide be produced by the same group of stakeholders
described in our proposal above.
8.1.3 More evaluated examples
A recurring theme during our interviews is the need for more evaluated best practice
examples, often expressed as the question: “how can we know how good the best practice
examples actually are?”
This is of course a perfectly justified question, both from compilers of best practice
anthologies and from those involved in the more operative side of environmental
protection. Without having clear evidence not only of the positive environmental effects
of the examples but also of economic effects, user issues and social aspects, it is difficult
to justify their dissemination and application outside the context in which they were
developed.
It is not altogether obvious, however, that there should be an overarching requirement for
all the main aspects of best practice examples to have been evaluated without exception.
There is a contradiction here between this requirement or request on the one side and on
the other the simplicity, (relative) resource-efficiency and speed that are needed to be able
to disseminate experiences from projects and activities easily and rapidly.
We see good examples as an important and indispensable component of a development
cycle that begins with a need or idea for a project and leads to implemented activities in
the form of a new technical solution, a new working method or new form of cooperation.
Follow-up and evaluation highlight advantages and disadvantages of this best practice
example both regarding environmental performance and economic consequences and as
far as impact on the user and the effects on society as a whole are concerned. Only then is
there a sound basis for integrating individual best practice examples into more traditional
components of environmental protection such as application of the law and the design of
strategies and action programmes to eventually become an integral part of day-to-day
activities. When companies, municipalities and the general public have adopted this “best
practice” so that it has become “the norm”, a new development cycle can start though on
a much higher level in our quest towards the sustainable society.
A natural context in which the evaluation of best practice examples can be said to belong
is the benchmarking activities that have become increasingly more important within the
public sector. Benchmarking is a method of “systematically comparing oneself to others
that are at the cutting edge in a specific field, or that can function as best practice
examples within an area one wishes to develop”. The benchmarking process can be
simply described in the following steps:
•
Choosing an area that should be developed and improved
•
Conducting a survey of the selected area
•
Developing benchmarks within the selected area
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•
Looking for good examples and develop contacts
•
Benchmarking (compare performance)
•
Analysing differences in working methods and performance
•
Initiating change management and set new, challenging targets
We see the benchmarking process and developing and evaluating best practice examples
as approaches that display obvious structural similarities, and which can enrich each
other.
It should also be possible to link the evaluation of best practice examples to the various
tools for analysing environmental systems that either already exist or are under development. These not only include environmental performance-related tools such as LCA
(lifecycle assessment) or other types of ecological footprint analyses, but also other tools
such as strategic environmental assessments, cost-benefit and input-output analyses.
Evaluating individual good examples is therefore an indispensable component in the
development context to which they belong, if they are to become a part of other types of
environmental work, or can be linked to other policy instruments such as legislation, the
15 Swedish environmental objectives and the development of measures and action
strategies. We have established however that the vast majority of individual best practice
examples have not been evaluated, not even in relation to the most obvious environmental
criteria in the context in question, and even less so in relation to the more general
environmental effects or economic and social consequences.
A requirement for best practice examples to be evaluated must nevertheless be applied
with a certain amount of caution. Firstly, we do not want to bring about such an increase
in the general level of ambition regarding how best practice examples are described that
will slow down their production and demanded resources to such an extent that the
positive aspects of the current practice (above all making project results available both
easily and quickly) disappear. And secondly, we do not want the requirements on
individual best practice examples to be so far-reaching as to make it basically impossible
to find any at all. How many examples of new technology or new natural resource use
imply substantial improvements with regard to all 15 environmental objectives?
We feel nevertheless that it is essential in the long run for more individual best practice
examples to be evaluated, mainly so that they can be linked to other tools and measures
for sustainable development. Implementing such evaluations demands a relatively large
amount of resources and should hence be seen as part of a long-term strategy to build up
knowledge. It is important that our efforts reach all the way along the chain of effects –
especially concerning environmental performance/impact. It is also important that the
economic consequences of the implementation of best practice examples are documented.
If possible, social aspects (user aspects in particular) should also be highlighted. Since
best practice examples normally belong to a particular context, the situation-specific
conditions should also be described.
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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
The impact of thematically coherent, evaluated best practice anthologies would increase
considerably if an introduction was added to each anthology respectively pointing out the
relevant environmental objectives, legislation, policies or strategies.
In the long term, therefore, an evaluation strategy should be developed aimed at assuring
the quality of the information, above all concerning the environmental performance,
economic and user aspects of well-defined groups of best practice examples. The strategy
should also include levels of ambition and responsibility and remit issues for the field in
question.
We propose
* that a survey of existing evaluated best practice examples (that concern not only
new technology but also working methods and forms of cooperation) be conducted
by the same interest group mentioned in our proposals above, supplemented
perhaps by representatives from higher education, Formas (the Swedish Research
Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning), and other
R&D stakeholders.
* that the information on the evaluated good examples is added to the proposed
web-based register.
8.2 Proposals that improve the link between best
practice examples and other sustainable development
initiatives
8.2.1 Better coupling between best practice examples and other sustainable
development initiatives
For the dissemination of best practice examples (i.e. an informative policy instrument) to
have a positive impact, it should be possible to link them to other instruments of
environmental policy or sustainable development initiatives. Previous experience
indicates that information is a relatively ineffective policy instrument, if it cannot be
linked to others, such as regulations and economic incentives.
The possibility of being able to link best practice examples to other policy instruments
depends naturally on the nature of such instruments and the central processes involved.
This varies substantial between environmental authorities, who play a regulating,
standardising, guiding and supporting role in environmental protection, compared to the
roles of companies and other operators (their own core activities/business idea, business
development, marketing and streamlining). We have therefore decided to divide the
discussion into the two parts below.
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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
8.2.1.1 Environmental authorities
In a broad context, environmental authorities cover both central and regional government
authorities as well as county councils and municipalities in their role as authorities. The
types of environmental initiatives to which we feel best practice examples have a natural
connection are primarily:
•
Application of BAT (Best Available Technology) in the Environmental Code.
•
The design of measures and action strategies regarding sector integration
•
The design of measures and action strategies regarding the implementation of the 15
environmental objectives
A common requirement for all these three tasks is that the best practice examples should
be sufficiently evaluated to achieve maximum impact.
The principle similarities and link between BAT and best practice examples are quite
clear. The BAT principle is normally applied in the assessment and licensing of industrial
operations, based on the Environmental Code. To facilitate his work, the administrator
has access to documents developed jointly within the EU (BREF, BAT reference
document developed by the BAT office in Seville, Spain). Best practice examples and the
BAT application partly belong to different contexts, in that BAT is normally applied to
high-tech issues in a specific industry, whereas best practice examples normally concern
low-tech applications or working methods and forms of cooperation. This does not
however conflict with the potential of increased interplay between best practice and BAT
applications. Best practice examples can increased the selection base of new solutions and
innovations, whereas BAT applications could lead to best practice examples having a
more technical emphasis.
Best practice examples could also in more general terms be part of the handbooks and
guidance documents developed by the environmental authorities. This however requires
the best practice examples to be sufficiently well documented and their most important
aspects sufficiently evaluated so that their incorporation into guidance documentation
does not detract from the overall quality. Further, the guidance documentation must quite
clearly specify that the given best practice examples should be seen as exemplifications
and positive opportunities, rather than prescribed solutions. It may also be possible to
structure the guidance documentation, so that some of it is of a more permanent character
with recommendations and guidelines and some is more of an appendix describing
possible solutions and best practice examples, which can then be updated more frequently
and easily than the rest of the guidance documentation.
Concerning measures and action strategies relating to sector integration, it is even more
important that both the positive and negative experiences from the production of the best
practice examples be utilised, especially those examples that concern working methods
and forms of cooperation.
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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
Initiatives on the environmental objectives can also be enriched by the experience gained
from best practice examples, not only those concerning working methods and forms of
cooperation, but also concerning more detailed levels of such initiatives. New technical
system solutions or new methods concerning natural resource use can be important to
utilise in order to accelerate achievement of the environmental objectives.
Environmental management systems can now be found in the majority of government
authorities and in many municipalities and companies. The ultimate aim of environmental
management systems is to continuously improve environmental work. More attention
than previously should be paid to any mutual synergy effects between the development of
environmental management systems and best practice applications.
The majority of best practice examples that can be found today concern new operations,
technical system solutions or other projects of a seemingly concrete nature. Best practice
examples that concern the actual work carried out by environmental authorities, such as
the application of the Environmental Code, sector integration strategies or environmental
objective initiatives, are far less common. In all likelihood, there are many examples of
successful practices in environmental authorities within these areas, but they have yet to
be documented to any great extent.
We propose:
•
that environmental authorities examine any relevant best practice examples prior to
new projects or programmes being initiated (or prior to amending work plans within a
specific area of expertise) on a more regular basis.
•
that environmental authorities conduct more surveys of their own activities concerning the application of the Environmental Code, sector integration and environmental
objective initiatives, etc., to be able to describe best practice examples regarding
working methods and forms of cooperation within these areas.
8.2.1.2 Companies and other operators
Within companies, environmental efforts can primarily be linked to:
•
The company’s own core activities
•
Business development
•
Marketing
•
Streamlining of the business
The development, dissemination and application of best practice examples can not only
further the environmental work done by companies, but also contribute to rendering their
own activities more efficient, create additional revenue or save costs, or help develop and
differentiate their own business ideas using the sustainability perspective as a driver (cf.
environment-driven business development versus business-driven environmental
development).
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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
In contrast to the authorities, the purely economic aspects are more important for this
target group, which means that the need for the evaluation and documentation of
individual best practice examples with respect to running and investment costs as well as
revenue/cost-saving is considerable.
It is also the case that many companies have a substantial self-interest in not only
developing, but also implementing best practice examples, both for economic as well as
marketing reasons, where sound environmental policy can create both goodwill and
customer benefit.
Since “the environment” as an industry (to which such activities as environmental
technology, ventilation and waste management as well as consultancy and training within
the environmental field belong), is the second-fastest growing industry after IT in the
OECD countries according to an OECD survey, these circumstances are a driving force
not only for the production of best practice examples but also for their implementation
within the environmental field.
We propose that a working group from NUTEK, Vinnova, the Swedish EPA
and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities be formed to examine how
best practice examples can be used to develop and accelerate the environmental efforts of companies.
8.2.2 Making use of experiences from large-scale programmes
A growing proportion of all environmental efforts in Sweden are pursued within the
framework of what can be termed large-scale programmes. Examples include the Baltic
Sea Programme, the Sustainable Development Support Fund programme, the Local
Investment Programme, many EU environment-focused programmes, etc. Taken as a
whole, the amount of funding put into these programmes is approximately equivalent to
the size of all the environmental authorities’ budgets put together.
This is probably true in most EU member states.
These large-scale programmes create a considerable number of new experiences, not only
concerning new technology and working methods within environmental protection, but
also more general experiences concerning project implementation and stakeholder
cooperation. There is clearly a substantial need to make use of the experiences from
large-scale national and international programmes in the environmental field. These
large-scale programmes need to be better at yielding experiences more quickly and more
customised to target groups. Selecting and describing best practice examples can play an
important part in disseminating these experiences.
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THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
An important factor that influences this dissemination of experiences from large-scale
programmes is whether they from the outset incorporate a requirement to evaluate the
programme results and/or contain a requirement for some kind of dissemination strategy.
Our opinion is that the quality of these evaluation requirements and/or dissemination
strategies would improve if the checklist we proposed earlier were applied. The Swedish
Government Offices or other Swedish representatives in large-scale international
programmes should call attention to this issue when discussing programme guidelines
(i.e. set up guidelines for how large-scale programmes should be managed), when new
programmes are initiated or reports on ongoing projects are submitted.
We propose that a working group consisting of the Swedish EPA and
NUTEK be formed to review how experiences for the LIFE programme and
other relevant EU-funded programmes with an environmental angle are
disseminated.
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Report 5283
The Power of Example
An evaluation of how examples of best
practices, good examples and success stories
are used in the work for sustainability
Highlighting best practices, good examples of success stories is becoming an
increasingly common element of sustainable development both nationally and
internationally. More and more reports and websites contain best practice
anthologies not just regarding new technology and innovative ways of utilising
our natural resources, but also concerning new working methods and forms of
cooperation.
This evaluation report “The Power of Example – evaluating how best practices,
good examples and success stories are used in the work for sustainability”
presents a review of best practice anthologies and interviews conducted with
both their producers and users.
The report not only presents common shortcomings and pitfalls regarding the
selection, compilation and dissemination of best practice examples, but also puts
forward proposals to provide us with a better overview of them and improve
their functionality. Evaluation and the dissemination of both experiences and
knowledge are important elements of all environmental efforts – handled
correctly innovative good examples can be an important tool for sustainable
development.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is using evaluations in different
ways to render environmental policy tools more effective, and aid our efforts
towards sustainable development. This report has been produced by the Swedish
Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the Swedish Association
of Local Authorities, the Swedish Business Development Agency (NUTEK), the
Swedish Institute for Ecological Sustainability (IEH), the Swedish Agency for
Innovation Systems (Vinnova) and the National Board of Housing, Building and
Planning.
ISBN 91-620-5283-7PDF
ISSN 0282-7298
SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY