Tools and Models
REAP belongs to a family of models created by the Future Sustainability team at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). These models convert the best available science into evidence that supports sustainable development. REAP supports SEI’s mission to bridge the gap between science and policy in a number of ways.
Making use of cutting edge research
REAP translates cutting edge research in the field of sustainable consumption and production into data which can be directly applied to the UK policy context. The creation and development of REAP is underpinned by SEI’s expertise in areas such as life cycle accounting and the measurement of embodied greenhouse gas emissions.
The REAP methodology tracks product groups through every stage of their lifecycle and attributes the associated environmental consequences to ‘end users’ – government or households. It uses a binary Environmental Extended Input Output Model and is based on government statistics and socio-economic modeling. This makes up the hidden side of REAP that users don’t see.
Beyond REAP
The methodology behind REAP has been used to create a suite of models all promoting sustainable development.
New Indicators
The input-output model used behind REAP can be applied to other inidcators besides Ecological and Carbon footprint. REAP version 2.0 will show Greenhouse Gas footprint measured in tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalence. In the future we hope to provide water footprint estimates.
Different sectors
REAP is unique in the way it takes a complete view of the economy and associated enviornmental impacts. This holistic view allows different sectors of the economy to be looked at in more detail. Rather assigning the impact to households and individuals, the data can be cut in a different way to look at the contribution of other sectors. The team has created models for the Education Sector which models the carbon footprint of activities asscociated with schools now and in the future. Current projects involve the creation of scenario modelling tools looking at tourism and the NHS.
Different User Groups
Whereas the REAP model disaggregates the total national footprint down to regions and local authorities, our other models consider the environmental impacts of different scales of geographies and different types of people. Footprint calculators have been created for WWF and Bioregional for interested indivuals to assess their own environmental impact and investigate ways of reducing it. REAP petite allows communities to see their collective footprint and pledge to take action to make it smaller.
How the models are used
The data generated by REAP models have been used in a number of formats, in a range of government publications and reports. These include:
- Environment in Your Pocket 2006 & 2007. Defra Statistics
- State of the Countryside Report 2007
- Regional State of the Environment Reports (Yorkshire & Humber, North East etc)
- Local authority health profile indicator set 2007
- Local authority community strategies & consultation documents
Current Projects
- NHS Carbon Calculator
- REAP Tourism - a visitor Footprint Tool
Recent Projects
2007-2008
- Scottish Housing Energy Scenario Calculator
- Carbon Calculator for the Education Sector
2005-2006
- TravelCal
REAP Petite has been updated and improved.
To download a free copy click here
If you are a license holder, contact SEI to get your new version.
SEI have just released a policy brief on Scotland's Footprint.
Our study has shown that Scotland's carbon footprint has grown by 11 per cent since 1992.
The figure includes greenhouse gases released overseas during the production of goods later consumed in Scotland and so is the most accurate gauge of the country's emissions to date.
While emissions generated in Scotland fell by 13 percent between 1995 and 2004, when trade is taken account, greenhouse gases rose by 11 per cent over the same period.
The full policy brief can be found on SEI's website.
An article has also be published in the Sunday Herald and can be found here.
The NHS England successfully launched their Carbon Reduction Strategy ‘Saving Carbon, Improving Health' on 27th January 2009. SEI contributed to the evidence base for the strategy, carrying out a consumption-based carbon footprint of the NHS England, who represents 25% of England's public sector emissions. The first part of the project examined historical emissions and identified the drivers behind a rising carbon footprint. This forms the first report published in 2008. The second phase of the project projects future emissions and models a range of policy options and their carbon reduction potential.
Further information can be found at the NHS Sustainable Development Unit website
Our phase 1 report for the NHS England carbon analysis project is available online.
This report provides a 2004 baseline for the NHS, a time series and a supply chain analysis of the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors (the highest impact procurement sectors of the NHS England).
We are in the process of developing a carbon scenario tool to contribute to the NHS England Carbon Strategy and target setting. The deadline for this is January and another report will be issued. We are also looking into repeating the study for the NHS Scotland, Wales and NI.