English text

Brief description of the product

At the end of the project, beneficiaries should pro-duce a Layman’s report. This is targeted at a non-specialist audience and serves to inform decision-makers and non-technical parties of the project objectives and results. It should be clear and concise. Although media coverage, for example at project closure, can have a high impact, this is often transitory. However, this printed report pro-vides a permanent record of your project that can be filed for future reference.

Requirements

Length: ideally, 5 - 10 pagesLanguages: the beneficiary language, plus Eng-

lish or FrenchFormat: print and electronicPlease note: the use of LIFE and Natura 2000

logos is obligatory (for reimburse-ment)

Content

There are no specific requirements for the con-tent of the Layman’s report. But ideally, it should include:

• the problem • the methods used to tackle the problem• the results • the long-term environmental benefits and/

or socio-economic impacts.

Also, to ensure the project is well publicised, clear mention should be made of:

• the beneficiary name• name(s) of contributor(s)• the project duration• total cost and EU contribution• contact (address, tel, e-mail website, etc).

Aims

Dissemination of the report, aimed at a broad tar-get group, is essential. This can be done by:

• providing an electronic version of the report on the project website

• providing the electronic version in all rel-evant emails

• ensuring the print version is distributed at all public exhibitions or other contact opportunities

Tips and good examples

Tip 1

Define the general presentation of the report and your page setting:

If the Layman’s report has to be presented in two languages, either opt to publish two sepa-rate reports or publish one (dividing each page into two).

a contractor’s obligation (CP §11.4)

The Layman’s report

Italian text

Tip 2

Ensure that the Layman’s report is attractively presented:

• using photos and boxes can help • pay attention to the cover page; a con-

cise summary of the project on the same page or page two, will make it particularly attractive

Tip 3

Be clear and concise:• don’t insert over-long technical explana-

tions or scientific data in the main text: preferably use boxes

• also use boxes to highlight some of the key aspects of the project (a methodol-ogy, technology, a species, etc)

• avoid over-long technical explanations; these could be provided on your website (+ references)

• diagrams should be clear and simple• avoid writing text on the photographs

(unless the background colour is light)

Tip 4

The Layman’s report is part of your public refer-ence documentation. Therefore, please clearly indicate any useful reference - (for example on the cover or at the end of the report).

> > > 1 c l e a n | d e c o

INTRODUCTIONNowadays there are many galvanic processes– such as chrome plating, nickel plating, cop-per plating, zinc plating – that are used in theproduction of mass produced metal compo-nents. This technology is considered ever-growing crucial and expensive in term of: en-vironmental impact, waste handling, opera-tors’ safety and health, raw materials manipu-lations (allergies) so that many countries arelimiting the use of these techniques by intro-ducing regulations.

Because of the use of exavalent chromium(CrVI), chrome plating is considered one of themost polluting galvanic processes.The most important consequences are:– gas emissions (alkaline vapours and haz-ardous acids that are dangerous for the healthand for the environment)– waste water emissions and related sludge– injuries for the population and for the oper-ators working on chrome processes, becauseof the use of toxic and carcinogenic agents– process water and raw materials high con-sumption rates

The galvanic industry is spread all over Eu-rope, America and Japan as a subsidiary of themechanic, decorative and electronic industry.Some years ago, the galvanic technology hadno alternative in particular in the decorativesector. Recently some innovative companiesand R&D centres in the U.S.A., Japan and Ger-many are testing new “clean” coating process-es in order to replace the traditional galvanictechnology and to introduce on the marketnew products with better features (e.g. intro-duction on the US market of coated handleswith a guaranteed life of 15-20 years or othertypes of products with life-time warranty).Moreover some companies, in order to avoidecological matters and to fulfil environmentalstandards, are transferring their productionplants in developing countries or in nationswhere environmental regulations are lessstrict. That involves only a transfer of the pol-lution sources and a loss of a traditional Eu-ropean-areas market.

At an international level, the research in thisfield is very active. The new deal is represent-ed by the replacement of galvanic processesby PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition), a treat-ment that can afford thin coatings (1-10 mi-crons) at low temperature with very highphysical and mechanical characteristics. Thisnew technology can be used in different in-dustrial sectors and both on metal and nonmetal supports giving to the products specialproperties like wear resistance, anticorrosion,bio-compatibility and particular colours re-quested by designers and fashion.The PVD technology is an innovative tech-nique developed at an industrial level duringthe last 20 years that only now is consideredvalid and efficient for decorative applications.

The CLEAN DECO project faces these two is-sues by promoting innovative, competitiveand eco-efficient solutions. It represents animportant occasion for the European and Pied-montese industry in terms of employment andreduction of environmental impact.

Nella produzione di componenti metallici di grande serie attualmentesono utilizzati diversi pprroocceessssii ddii rriivveessttiimmeennttoo ggaallvvaanniiccii, quali la cro-matura, la nichelatura, la doratura, la ramatura, la zincatura. Questiprocessi però sono ccoonnssiiddeerraattii sseemmpprree ppiiùù ““ccrriittiiccii”” e costosi in terminidi: impatto ambientale, smaltimento dei rifiuti, salute degli operatori,problemi di utilizzo (possibili allergie), e molte nazioni stanno adottan-do diversi provvedimenti per limitare l’utilizzo di queste tecniche.

Uno dei processi galvanici più critici dal punto di vista am-bientale è sicuramente quello della cromatura con cromo esavalente.

LLee rriiccaadduuttee più pesanti sono identificate in: – emissioni gassose con la produzione di vapori alcalini e acidi dan-nosi alla salute e inquinanti;– emissioni liquide dannose con la produzione di acque reflue (e con-seguente produzione di fanghi inquinanti);– danno alla salute della popolazione e degli operatori agli impian-ti di cromatura (utilizzo di materiali tossici e cancerogeni);– elevato consumo di acque di processo ed elevato consumo di ma-terie prime (cromo esavalente).

Le industrie galvaniche sono presenti in modo massiccio in tut-to il mondo industriale europeo, americano e giapponese come sup-porto all’industria meccanica, decorativa ed elettronica. Fino a qual-che anno fa non esistevano alternative ai processi di rivestimentogalvanici nel settore decorativo, mentre da qualche tempo ssii ssttaannnnoossppeerriimmeennttaannddoo in alcune nazioni avanzate (USA, Giappone, Germa-nia) pprroocceessssii ddii rriivveessttiimmeennttoo “ppuulliittii” in sostituzione di quelli tradi-zionali, anche con lo scopo di fornire sul mercato nnuuoovvii pprrooddoottttii ccoonnccaarraatttteerriissttiicchhee mmiigglliioorraattee (un esempio è l’introduzione sul mercatoamericano di maniglie rivestite con garanzia di 15-20 anni e di altriprodotti garantiti a vita). Inoltre alcune nazioni, per problemi ecolo-gici ed ambientali, stanno trasferendo una parte dei processi di ri-vestimento in paesi asiatici o del terzo mondo determinando unatraslazione delle sorgenti di impatto ambientale e la perdita di areedi mercato tradizionalmente appannaggio delle regioni europee.

A livello internazionale sono in corso differenti studi e ricercheper sostituire i processi galvanici con i pprroocceessssii “PPVVDD” (Physical Va-pour Deposition o Deposizione Fisica in Fase Vapore) che permetto-no la produzione a bassa temperatura di rivestimenti sottili (1-10 mi-cron) ddii eelleevvaattiissssiimmee ccaarraatttteerriissttiicchhee ffiissiicchhee ee mmeeccccaanniicchhee, per appli-cazioni antiusura, anticorrosione, biocompatibili e decorative in varisettori industriali e su differenti tipi di materiali metallici e non me-tallici. La tteeccnnoollooggiiaa ddii rriivveessttiimmeennttoo PPVVDD è una tteeccnnoollooggiiaa iinnnnoovvaattii--vvaa sviluppata a livello industriale negli ultimi 20 anni e solo recen-temente riconosciuta come potenzialmente vvaalliiddaa ed eeffffiicciieennttee perapplicazioni di tipo decorativo.

IIll pprrooggeettttoo CClleeaann DDeeccoo affronta queste problematiche promuo-vendo tecnologie innovative e competitive, offrendo soluzioni tecni-che eco-efficienti che rappresentano uunnaa iimmppoorrttaannttee rriiccaadduuttaa ssuull--ll’’aammbbiieennttee ee ssuullll’’ooccccuuppaazziioonnee nneellll’’iinndduussttrriiaa ppiieemmoonntteessee eedd eeuurrooppeeaa.

introduzione

RRIINNGGRRAAZZIIAAMMEENNTTIIIl Progetto CLEAN DECO è finanziato dallaCommissione europea nell’ambito del Pro-gramma LIFE Ambiente. Si ringraziano per lacollaborazione tutti i partner di progetto (TTFerioli & Gianotti SpA - Divisione Genta-Pla-tit, Paini S.p.A., RMP2 S.r.l., Thermi Platin edEnvironment Park S.p.A.), la CommissioneEuropea, Timesis, la Regione Piemonte As-sessorato all’Ambiente e l’Associazione degliIndustriali di Novara che hanno fattivamentecollaborato alla riuscita del progetto.

AACCKKNNOOWWLLEEDDGGEEMMEENNTTThe CLEAN DECO project has been suppor-ted by the European Commission within theLIFE Environment Programme. We wish tothank all those who contributed to the rea-lisation of the LIFE project. Thanks is, in par-ticular, due to the authorising bodies, insti-tutions (Regione Piemonte Assessorato al-l’Ambiente), industrial associations (Associa-zione Industriale di Novara) suppliers, engi-neering consultants, scientific institutes, theladies and gentlemen of the European Com-mission, Timesis as well as those working inour offices. Without their kind support wewould not have been in the position to im-plement our environmental project.

• Progetto Nr. LIFE00 ENV/IT/000213

Massimo Perucca: Responsabile LaboratorioClean NT LAB Environment Park S.P.A.Parco scientifico e tecnologico per l’ambientevia Livorno 60 - 10144 TORINOwww.envipark.com | www.cleandeco.com e-mail: massimo.perucca@envipark.comtel. +39 011 22.57.234 | fax +39 011 22.57.225

> > > c lean |deco

TTHHEERRMMII PPLLAATTIINN

Life: 4 years at a glance 6

What did you do to inform the people in Kimolos about the project? Ans: V. Paravas One of the key objectives of the project was to inform the local public on the importance of the natural environment of this site. So, we renovated a traditional house, within the island’s Venetian castle, into an Information Centre. The Centre was decorated accordingly and an audio-visual exhibit was prepared with a variety of texts and photographs on the monk seal, the rare species and habitats found in the area, the key cultural characteristics of the island, and information about the LIFE project and MOm. A 3-D model of a marine cave, made of pebbles, dried plants and sea shells represented realistically a typical monk seal breeding shelter. Part of the Centre was dedicated to a children’s environmental library, with more than 500 titles, mostly on environmental topics. The local children responded with enthusiasm and borrowed more than 600 books, while several times CD ROMS and videotapes were projected in the Centre especially for the children.

The campaigners, selected from the local population, running the Information Centre with the help of 24 volunteers, informed the visitors about the natural and human environment of the area, the biology and ecology of the Mediterranean monk seal and the need to protect the last populations of the most endangered marine mammal in Europe.

During the project more than 3.000 locals and Greek and foreign tourists visited the information Centre in Kimolos.

Environmental education constituted a vital part of the overall awareness campaign in this project area. So, in collaboration with the local educators, a series of environmental education activities were organised for the local pupils: Slide presentations to the children and

their parents on the Mediterranean monk seal.

Presentations on “The effect of fisheries on the marine environment” in collaboration with the department of marine biology of the University of Athens.

Participation in the European “Green Days” events.

“Book Battles”, reading contests with prizes related to the environment (telescopes, binoculars, cameras).

Drawing contests, encouraging the children to express, through art, their relation to the natural environment of their island.

Bird-watching field trips in collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society.

“Treasure hunts” on environmental topics in collaboration with WWF-Hellas.

LLiiifffeee::: 444 yyyeeeaaarrrsss aaattt aaa ggglllaaannnccceee L

LIFE – Nature 2000

«THE MONK SEAL: Conservation actions in two Greek Natura 2000 sites»

Life: 4 years at a glance 4

What were the results of the monitoring of the monk seal in Kimolos? Ans: V. Paravas/ Kimolos site manager First it is important to briefly describe the methodology used. In terms of monitoring the local seal population, the researchers, members of the field team, were surveying the shelters/marine caves, where the Monk seals live, throughout the duration of the project. This species uses well-protected marine caves, which lead to beaches were the animals rest or give birth. The objective was to record and photograph the presence of the animals or any other signs of use within the caves. We visited all the caves swimming, using minimum light so not to disturb the animals and recorded their characteristics or any evidence of past animal presence, such as tracks, hair, faeces, smell etc. Additionally, we used the methodology of the National Rescue and Information Network, to collect reports of seal observations from other people, fishermen, local, tourists, port authorities, etc. Even though, such information comes from non-specialists, it is an important data, that if carefully evaluated, complement the data directly collected by the researchers.

The analysis of all the data in combination with the photographs collected, allows us to identify individual animals, and to estimate the size of the local population and of other key parameters (i.e. births, death rate, etc.).

The overall results, from all the data collected during the last four years, prove the great importance of the local monk seal population for the species at the international level. It is important to mention that,

during the project, 32 pups were born in the Kimolos-Polyaigos area, giving for the population an annual birth rate of 8 pups per year. It is the second highest number of pups ever recorded - in such a period - in a single area within the Mediterranean. Moreover, this area constitutes one of the most important habitats for the species in the world, since it has a large number of suitable resting and breeding caves, used with high frequency throughout the year.

Finally, using all the available data we can estimate that at a minimum 43 individual animals (without counting the pups)

use this project area.