Life Cycle Management Programme

• To document experiences on practical applications of Life Cycle Thinking and to highlight enablers and barriers for development and implementation of a LCM approach
• To develop a LCM framework for different tools and concepts, including e.g. IPP or EPR
• To take into account economic, social and ethical aspects, and occupational health and safety, risk management, community outreach and other related programs
• To identify needs and availability of training modules and dissemination
• To make recommendations on how to approach the needs of developed, emerging and developing economies as well as SMEs

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The following Task Forces (TFs) have been established under the Life Cycle Management (LCM) Programme:

1. LCM Handbook (LCM TF 1)
   In absence of an agreed upon definition for LCM, the handbook will introduce the LCM framework, discuss drivers and needs, describe the major underlying approaches and provides selected illustrative examples and successes while introducing and using LCM in practise. As part of the deliverables of this Task Force, a Training Kit on LCM for Trainers and Delegates has been developed and is in the Review Phase. Reviewer are kindly asked to access the drafted LCM Guide clicking here and of the Training Kit Materials here

2. Life cycle based product development (LCM TF 2)
   The integration of environmental considerations along the products life cycle in the product development process, rather than as an isolated function, is subject of this task force.

3. Communication of life cycle information (LCM TF 3)
   The task force will position the existing tools for the communication of life cycle information and identify the best options to initiate changes of consumption and production patterns. In particular the task force will examine the mutual reinforcement amongst the tools and within the larger LCM framework, specifically within management systems.

4. Management and Stakeholder engagement along the life cycle (LCM TF 4)
   Management along the life cycle is to approach and apply Life Cycle Thinking from the management system point of view i.e. using 14001 and 14004 but also other standards if appropriate e.g. ISO 14031 on indicators together with GRI indicators (for environmental reporting!) which are presently being discussed in conjunction with Global Compact, can be seen as check lists of potential environmental and other sustainability aspects to be included in a life cycle oriented management system (sometimes referred as Product-Oriented Environmental Management System); and from the life cycle perspective especially EMAS II with the unique (in many ways) list of indirect aspects should also be included. Another approach for the TF 3 will be the integrated management systems approach combining quality, environment, OHS, social accountability and other issues in the same management system and also integrated with the business and strategy circles of the organization.

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LCM Definition Study

Nov. 2003
Authors: Konrad Saur*, Gianluca Donato, Elisa Cobas Flores, Paolo Frankl, Allan Astrup Jensen,
Evans Kituyi, Kun Mo Lee, Tom Swarr, Mohammed Tawfic, Arnold Tukker
With contributions from Gerald Rebitzer and Bo Weidema

Life cycle management demands challenges decision makers to carefully consider potential risks across the full - life cycle associated with product innovations aimed at delivering new benefits to customers. This requires a balance between Type 1 errors ( impeding useful and safe innovations) and Type 2 errors ( putting an unsafe product on the market).

An online survey has been designed to evaluate how personal attitudes and values influence the ability to consider both of these perspectives in environmental decision making within the context of sustainable product development. No technical background or industrial experience is required for the study. The link below will take you to the survey. Your responses are completely anonymous.

The study is intended to explore how environmental concerns, risk perception, and self—regulatory focus (how we prefer to solve problems and achieve our goals) shape the way we identify and develop problems representations within the context of new product development projects. You will be asked to imagine yourself as team leader for a new product development project. Preliminary questions address the demographics and individual attitudes.

You will then be given a problem scenario and asked to choose among four options. There are no correct answers. Each option is a complex mix of benefits and potential liabilities.

The premise of this study is that because of these individual characteristics, different people will see the same problem differently.

This creates the potential for conflict even when we are all trying to achieve the same goal. It is hoped an improved understanding of how individuals frame the problem, we can improve communication and environmental decision- making.

If you would like to receive a summary of the study results, please respond to the author at the following email address: swarrte@comcast.net. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you feel would be interested. Thank you in advance for your contribution.

Dear members of the Life Cycle Initiative mailing list,

In the process of finalizing the activities within Phase 1 of the Initiative and designing the scope of the next activities of the Life Cycle Initiative we are opening a stakeholders' consultation on general and specific issues.

In order to know which the gaps and needs are for the effective integration of life cycle considerations of both environmental and social issues into routine product and business development practices, we have prepared several questions (see below). The discussion paper that provides a background and raises these questions was prepared by the Leader of this Task Force on Life Cycle Based Product Development: Tom Swarr (United Technologies Corporation - USA).

An additional contribution to the questions provided below was given by the SETAC representative in the Life Cycle Initiative and chair of Strateg Committee: Jim Fava (Five Winds - USA). Your answers to these questions will be extremely valuable to us. Send them please to sustainable.consumption@unep.fr. To acknowledge your support, we will mention those of you who have contributed to this consultation process in our website (http://lcinitiative.unep.fr/).

Introduction to questions 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d: There have been numerous Life Cycle tools (software and databases), materials (e.g. training manuals, textbooks, handbooks) and case studies or approaches developed to promote more effective integration of life cycle considerations of both environmental and social issues into routine product and business development practices. Yet there seems to remain a limited application of Life Cycle Approaches.

Question 1.a: Is the problem lack of awareness of the existing life cycle tools and resources or are these resources still lacking? If so how?

Question 1.b: If the tools, materials and resources are fine, what can be done to utilize them better to advance applications of life cycle approaches?

Question 1.c: Are their other gaps to be filled in the set of life cycle tools, materials, case studies and approaches to meet users' needs?

Question 1.d: Please add strengths and weaknesses to the tabulation of resources listed in Tom Swarr background document - page 2.

Question 2: Can corporate initiatives pave the way for sustainable options, or will it be necessary to build public support for proactive regulations or other institutional innovations- e.g.:

Thanks to the following persons and institutions for their contributions (they are listed in alphabetical order):

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