News for the Global Life Cycle Community • LC Net • May/June 2018 Edition

May/June 2018 Edition

• LC Net Focus

• Activity Updates

• Announcements

• Our calendar of upcoming events

• Jobs

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LC Net Focus

Final Conference of Environmental Footprint Pilot Phase

In the context of the Single Market for Green products initiative, the European Commission proposed the Product Environmental Footprint and Organisation Environmental Footprint methods as a common way of measuring environmental performance. Since 2013, the EU, alongside 260 volunteer companies and other organisations, have tested the calculation methods against a number of products and services to ensure that they allow for viable comparison. The EU Environment Footprint has the potential to deliver significant benefits across the entire value chain of a variety of products, on improving their environmental performance.

During 23-25 April 2018, the final Conference of the Environmental Footprint Pilot Phase was held in Brussels. It took stock of the Environmental Footprint journey, by reviewing and discussing the results, experiences and lessons learned from the pilot phase. Participants also discussed the challenges and opportunities linked to such a tool: common rules for measuring impacts, reducing companies’ costs, and stimulating fair competition. The conference explored potential future applications for the Environmental Footprint methods, towards creating a circular economy and meeting EU’s climate change targets, as established by the Paris Climate Agreement. During the conference, the work of the Life Cycle Initiative was praised, particularly in relation to the consensus-building on life cycle impact assessment methods (some of the Initiative recommended impact indicators are already incorporated into the Environmental Footprint methods).

For more information on the EU Environmental Footprint, please check http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/index.htm

Updates of Life Cycle Initiative activities

Our Steering Committee members meet for the first time!

The Steering Committee members of the Initiative gathered in Brussels and also online for a very fruitful meeting on 26 April, hosted by courtesy of our member and funding partner PlasticsEurope! This was the first physical Steering Committee meeting since the launch of our new strategy in September 2017.

In a friendly and constructive atmosphere, the Steering Committee approved in principle three new projects within the Initiative Programmes, and provided specific guidance to further improve their planning: 1) Linking Sustainable Development Goals to life cycle impact pathway frameworks; 2) Updated guidelines on Social LCA and scaling up through road-testing; 3) Developing life cycle costing methodology and capacity for sustainable public procurement. During the meeting, budget allocation for 2018 was approved and operating procedure on the rotation of the Steering Committee was agreed. Minutes of the meeting will be shared in due time with all members of the Initiative via email.

A full list of the Steering Committee of the Initiative can be found here.

Launch of the Global LCA Data Access network

On 26 April 2018, the Global LCA Data Access network (GLAD) was launched during the 6th meeting of the International Forum on LCA Cooperation in Brussels, Belgium. With this, GLAD is now open for new dataset providers to join the network.

While the process of connecting datasets (i.e. nodes) to GLAD is currently ongoing, users can access a limited number of datasets. The process is expected to be finalized by September 2018 at which point users will be able to explore a more comprehensive set of globally available LCA datasets via GLAD. Datasets currently being connected to GLAD include: IDEA (Japan), USA LCA Digital Commons, SICV Brazil (Brazil, IBICT), ELCD (European Life Cycle Data Network) and ecoinvent.

With many of the international GLAD partners present at the meeting, the launch of GLAD constitutes a highlight in an extensive international consensus-building process around access to data and interoperability. In the future, the GLAD community will continue to work on these aspects under the structure of the Life Cycle Initiative.

GLAD can be accessed at: http://www.globallcadataaccess.org/

Announcements

GLAM stakeholder meeting on life cycle impact indicators to be held at SETAC ROME meeting

The Life Cycle Initiative is implementing a global process to provide Global guidance on environmental Life cycle impact Assessment indicators and Methods (GLAM), as a project in the programme area on knowledge.

You are invited to join a project stakeholder meeting organised by the Initiative, back-to-back with the SETAC Europe 28th Annual Meeting on Wednesday 16 May 2018, 5:00-7:00 pm. This meeting will take place at the Rome Convention Centre La Nuvola, Viale Asia, Session Room N (Rome, Italy).

During this meeting the project Task Forces will present the current draft of the white papers on Crosscutting issues, Acidification & Eutrophication, Human toxicity, Primary mineral resources, Ecosystem services and Ecotoxicity. These white papers are the input to the SETAC Pellston Workshop that will take place in late June 2018 in Valencia, Spain (see below). You will have the opportunity to provide feedback and discuss with the Task Force representatives.

Please send an indication by email if a) you are interested and available to join the Rome stakeholder meeting on Wednesday, 16 May 2018 or b) if you would be interested to join the online meeting via GoToMeeting. 

 The agenda of the workgroup meeting can be found here.

GLAM project, and Pellston Workshop® on Life Cycle Impact Indicators, Part 2 in Valencia

The Initiative’s project “Global Guidance for Life Cycle Impact Assessment Indicators and Methods” (GLAM) aims to create a library of recommended impact assessment factors linked through a global nomenclature system, to improve the consistency and harmonization of LCA studies.

GLAM will hold a one-week Pellston Workshop® in Valencia, Spain on 24-29 June 2018. Participation in this workshop is by invitation only. The aim of the workshop is to provide the scientific grounds for harmonised environmental indicators and characterization factors in acidification & eutrophication; eco-toxicity; human toxicity; mineral primary resources; ecosystem services (focus on soil quality); as well as overall LCIA framework and crosscutting issues.

We would like to thank all funding partners of the Life Cycle Initiative as well as the International Copper Association, and ifu Hamburg - member of iPoint Group, for their financial support to this workshop. There are still 2-3 sponsor slots available, so please get in touch with us if you would like to support (and get high visibility through) this important event!

>> Read more

Our 2017 Activity Report is online!

2017 was an exciting and landmark year for the Initiative to wind down its Phase 3 and kick off a new strategy. We have made a short summary for all the progress and achievements made.

>>Access the 2017 Activity Report

Wide-group online meeting on the revision of S-LCA guidelines

In September 2017, the Social LC Alliance launched a revision process to update the 2009 Social LCA Guidelines. A number of working groups have been working since September to discuss the updates to be implemented and develop draft documents. In April, the Life Cycle Initiative formally launched a new project on Social LCA, to include the revision of the guidelines, and also to road-test it in different organisations for practical application.

Since last September, many milestones have been achieved and we now have a clear view on the future activities of the project. At this stage, we would like to invite you all to a wide-group online meeting, open to anyone who is interested in the project, to update you on our progress to date and share with you our plans for future activities. All working group participants, prospective revisers, and people who are interested in being kept up to speed are welcome. Please fill out the Doodle so we can plan the meeting at a moment that works for a maximum number of people.

https://doodle.com/poll/2ikr6i7b3uzq3gff

Meeting dates are between May 18th and 31st 2018.

Life Cycle Initiative releases a new introduction video!

A video introducing the strategy and structure of the Life Cycle Initiative is available now! Please watch and share this video among your network!

Meeting Report of World Resources Forum 2017 now available

Last year’s World Resources Forum was a success by one of the Life Cycle Initiative’s members. The report from this conference is based on inputs from participants, workshop reporters, speakers and volunteers and it includes the main highlights of the conference.

>> Access the report by following this link.

Our Calendar: where we and our partners will be active

SETAC Rome | 13–17 May 2018 | Rome, Italy

SETAC Rome is a 5-day event featuring a variety of training, networking and learning opportunities. You cannot miss this event if you are interested in emerging research, regulatory developments and the latest methodologies in environmental toxicology and chemistry, including as usual several sessions on Life Cycle Assessment.

>> More info on LCA related sessions

The Gordon Research Conference on Industrial Ecology | May 20–25, 2018 | Les Diablerets, Switzerland

The theme of the conference is “The role of Industrial Ecology in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals”. The Life Cycle Initiative (represented by UN Environment) and many of its members will be at the conference discussing the role of the Initiative in the specific topics of LCA Data access and interoperability, as well as on the importance of stable and consensus based life cycle impact assessment indicators.

>> More event details

Brazilian Conference on Life Cycle Management (GCV2018) | June 17–20, 2018 | Brasilia, Brazil

Life Cycle Initiative sponsors Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (IBICT) and the Brazilian Life Cycle Association (ABCV), in cooperation with the University of São Carlos (UFSCar), are organizing the sixth Brazilian Conference on Life Cycle Management (GCV2018). The theme of the conference will be “Management of Technological Information for Sustainability” and in addition to academic discussions, the event will also address the business uses of LCA.

>> More event details
>> Contact the organizers

II Chilean Conference of LCA | August 8-10, 2018 | Santiago, Chile

The Chilean Conference of LCA will be organized by the Chilean Network of LCA (RedACV Chile) with the support of the Ibero-American Network of LCA (RICV), and in collaboration with national agencies and international organisms.

>> More event details

1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference - LCIC 2018 | 29-31 August 2018 | Berlin, Germany

The 1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference is organized by our latest member, the Forum for Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation e.V. and will bring together a diverse crowd of change-makers, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, practitioners and decision-makers who share a passion for sustainable innovation.

>> More information

International Conference on Social Life Cycle Assessment | 10–12 September 2018 | Pescara, Italy

The University “G. d’Annunzio” of Pescara-Chieti, in collaboration with Ecoinnovazione srl, is organising the 6th International Conference on Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). The theme of the conference is “Social LCA: People and Places for Partnership”.

>> More event details

Argentina’s Annual Life Cycle National Meeting | 4-5 October 2018 | Rosario, Argentina

The VI Argentine Meeting of Life Cycle and V Meeting of the Argentine Network of Water Footprint, ENARCIV-2018, will be held at the Amphitheater of the Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, National University of Rosario (Parque Villarino, Zavalla, Santa Fe) on October 4 and 5, 2018.

>> More information

Indian Life Cycle Management Conference (ILCM) | 4-5 October 2018 | New Delhi, India

Join the Life Cycle Initiative Steering Committee member, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in association with India LCA Alliance, as they host the 7th edition of the Indian Life Cycle Management Conference (ILCM) later this year.

Call for abstracts and special sessions is open until July 1, 2018.

>> Download the conference brochure
>> Contact the organizers

Ecobalance 2018 | October 9-12 | Tokyo, Japan

The Institute of Life Cycle Assessment Japan is hosting the 13th Biennial International Conference on EcoBalance the theme being, “Nexus of Ideas: Innovation by linking through life cycle thinking.”

>> More information

11th International Conference Life Cycle Assessment of FOOD |17-19 October 2018 | Bangkok, Thailand

The 11th International Conference Life Cycle Assessment of FOOD 2018 is organized by KU-JGSEE-NSTDA-FTI, Thailand in conjunction with 6th LCA AgriFood ASIA and 7th ICGSI: International Conference on Green and Sustainable Innovation from 17-19 October in Bangkok.

>> More event details
>> Contact the organizers

The Indonesian Life Cycle Assessment Network (ILCAN) Conference | 24-25 October 2018 | Jakarta, Indonesia

Life Cycle Initiative member ILCAN, is hosting the 3rd Conference on Life Cycle Assessment in October 2018. Organized by the University of Indonesia, the conference will be held in collaboration with the Centre of Environment and Forestry Standardization within the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The theme of this event is “Life Cycle Assessment as a Metric to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.

>> Contact the organisers for more event details

6th International Seminar of the Ibero-American Network of LCA | 24-26 October 2018 | Tegucigalpa, Honduras

The 2018 RICV Seminar will be held in the city of Tegucigalpa, from 24 to 26 of October. The Seminar is being organized by the Honduran Life Cycle Network main co-founders: the National Council for Sustainable Development (CONADES), CICOMER and LAC Footprint Initiative. The Seminar is being supported and co-organized with the RICV, the support and collaboration of the Life Cycle Initiative and UN Environment with the dissemination of this Seminar and other international organizations.

For more information please contact Xiomara Cubas or Svetlana Samayoa.
>> Event website: www.rhcv.com

Latin American Congress of Eco-design (EcodAl 2018) | 29-31 October 2018 | Cholula (Puebla) Mexico

EcodAl, the Latin American Congress of Eco-design will take place in México, from 29 to 31 October. Our motto: Kuali Nextiyotl, Nahuatl expression for “good design”; a good design that aims to lower the environmental footprint of products and services, through life cycle assessment.

Deadline for submission of abstracts is May 15. Themes include: eco-design, life cycle assessment, education, FabLab, ancient technologies, behavioral design for sustainability and much more.

>> Event website: www.ecodal.org/ecodal2018/ 
>> Contact the organizers

You can also consult our Events page for more information about the events above. Is there an event coming up in your area? Just let us know and we'll add it to our list.

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Jobs

Pre-doctoral Research Fellowship

As part of the Martí i Franquès COFUND Fellowship Programme (MFP-COFUND), the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in cooperation with IRTA has opened the call for applications for a predoctoral research fellowship on Life Cycle Assessment and Agriculture.

The call for applications is open from 20 March to 20 May 2018.
Candidates should apply to Martí-Franquès COFUND Fellowship Programme with reference 2018MFP-COFUND-6.

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On-going Call for LCNet Contributions!

Members of the Life Cycle Initiative, please feel free to submit your event, job vacancy, news, capacity development opportunities, topics and stories related to life cycle thinking and LCA, to be shared with the global life cycle community. We are always looking for featured coverage on the experience how life cycle thiking contributes to different policy agendas, sustainable business and decision making, in various countries and regions. You may send your content to info(at)lifecycleinitiative.org and copy Feng Wang. Note that we cannot accept contributions of a commercial nature.

LCNet is released bimonthly in the beginning of January (apologies for the lateness of the current issue due to a technical issue with our new hosting server!), March, May, July, September and November, so please send us your piece approximately at least 2 weeks before the release date.

We look forward to your contributions in disseminating life cycle knowledge from global policy and business agendas!

Secretariat of the Life Cycle Initiative

For more information, please visit our website, or feel free to contact us by email.