Tangible results with SkyttelPASS
Earlier this spring, Terravera announced its partnership with the AutoPASS-approved tag issuer SkyttelPASS and their toll tag, known as the SkyttelPASS tag. The Terravera platform has already delivered tangible results for the company.
CO₂ Estimate
SkyttelPASS is a subsidiary of Skyttel, which provides payment solutions for tolls and ferries. The collaboration with Terravera began by creating an overview of Skyttel’s value chain, including the CO₂ emissions associated with producing the SkyttelPASS tag.
Identifying the parts of the value chain that required data to estimate emissions per tag turned out to be more challenging than anticipated.
“This is a specific product, yet it was difficult to find literature on emissions related to the production of this type of electronics,” explains Andreas Jørgensen, Model Lead at Terravera.
“Skyttel assisted us by connecting with the tag supplier, the Austrian technology company Kapsch TrafficCom AG. We were positively surprised by the internal sustainability assessments already conducted by the supplier,” Jørgensen adds.
A life cycle analysis of the tag conducted by the supplier became Terravera's starting point. The analysis was independently certified by TÜV Austria, a major inspection and certification company in Austria. It was certified according to ISO 14067:2018, an international standard for calculating environmental impact over a product’s life cycle.
The results, combined with transport data for tags shipped from SkyttelPASS to customers in Norway, allowed Terravera to calculate the CO₂ emissions per SkyttelPASS tag.
“The estimate concluded at 508.7 grams of CO₂ equivalents per tag. This includes emissions from material extraction up to the point when the tag is received by SkyttelPASS customers,” says Jørgensen.
Reuse Yields Results!
In addition to estimating emissions, Terravera gained valuable insights into potential savings in SkyttelPASS's value chain. Data provided by Kapsch TrafficCom AG showed that up to 73% of the total emissions associated with the tag come from the electronics.
This presents a significant opportunity for savings if the tag can be reused after what is currently considered the end of its lifespan, at which point it must be discarded as electronic waste (EE waste).
“Internal studies by Kapsch TrafficCom AG estimate that it is possible to achieve up to 69% CO₂ emission savings if the tag is reused, compared to producing a new one,” Jørgensen explains.
Based on these findings, promising discussions around reuse are now underway, bringing SkyttelPASS a step closer to a more sustainable solution for their product.
Commitment to Environmentally Friendly Tag Development
Vidar Raa, Managing Director of SkyttelPASS, believes it is time to assess how environmentally friendly the toll tag industry truly is.
“Most vehicles in Norway use a toll tag, and currently, tags need to be completely replaced at the end of their lifespan. As an Eco-Lighthouse certified company, we believe it is important to explore what SkyttelPASS can do to improve resource use and reduce environmental emissions associated with our tag,” says Raa.
“As an office-based company, it’s often hard to see how we can contribute to achieving society’s sustainability goals. In this context, we are grateful for our collaboration with Terravera.”
SkyttelPASS already offers the smallest tag available in Norway, significantly reducing plastic usage in production. The company is also exploring ideas such as tags with replaceable or rechargeable batteries.
“The research conducted in this project gives us greater leverage to influence the supplier market, both in terms of tag production, delivery, and distribution to the end customer. The project has also generated new ideas and suggestions for how we can directly contribute to reducing emissions,” Raa concludes.
