LCM2007 — From analysis to implementation

ganized the conference, addressed in his keynote lecture in particular the implementation of LCM from an industry perspective. He presented a simplified approach for applied sustainability assessments in globally operating companies. His final plea was to view product stewardship or LCM as a management process similar to quality management and to consider the economic and social dimension of sustainability in addition to the environmental pillar. Stefanie Hellweg (ETH Zurich) provided facts and figures on the LCM conference, including an LCA study of the complete conference with all its associated services. The climate change impacts of the conference were highly relevant with the major contribution stemming from airplane trips of the international participants. As a consequence, the CO2 emissions were offset for the complete conference including all traveling activities. Werner Bosmans (European Commission) presented the EU strategy on sustainable use of natural resources with a focus on decoupling economic growth from environmental impact and the improvement of the EU resource strategy. He emphasized the demand for simplified indicators, such as the ecological footprint, initiating a lively discussion within the audience on appropriate indicator schemes for environmental assessments. Jürg Gerber (World Business Council for Sustainable Development, WBCSD) presented the activities of the WBCSD, highlighting specifically the Sustainable Value Chain Initiative. The initiative's overall objective is to promote, assist and support the use of life cycle thinking and life cycle approaches by WBCSD member companies and by their suppliers, customers and value chain partners. For this initiative WBCSD is partnering with UNEP and SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) in the context of the 'Life Cycle Initiative'. In the final keynote lecture, Ana Quiros (ECOGLOBAL and Association for LCA in Latin America) discussed a dissemination strategy towards a more sustainable development for the world. Next to the more traditional dissemination pathways, such as the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, she especially mentioned education and specific employment projects as viable options to promote life cycle thinking (e.g. a project on handbag manufacturing from food packaging waste).