Life cycle thinking in Polish official documents and research

In Poland, the idea of implementing the methodology of life cycle thinking has been present in many official documents, i.e., ecological policy, development strategy, and even in the environmental protection law since the year 2001. The proposal of utilizing life cycle thinking included the assessment of new technologies, green public procurement, waste management and ecolabeling. In the successive years— together with the development of the strategy for implementing integrated product policy in Poland—its special importance was emphasized when an LCA was developed for a group of products characterized by high material consumption and waste production. At present, when applying for subsidies from structural funds in the Innovative Economy Operational Program, the decrease in harmful actions, limited energy, material and water consumption of products and services are in the focus of evaluation. Another criterion is the use of life cycle assessment. The proposal to use LCA can be found in the following documents in Poland: