Annual Progress Reports
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2023
The Life Cycle Initiative continued mainstreaming life-cycle approaches and strengthening its practice in high impact sectors. Significant milestones were achieved during 2023 for ongoing initiatives. GLAD hit the 100,000 LCA datasets connected milestone, concluded the publication of the Guidance on GLAD’s Metadata Descriptors, and implemented improvement of the Lavoisier conversion tool. Sustainable consumption and production and circular economy were mentioned in the stocktake report at COP28, during which the integration of SCP-HAT in the “Building Circularity into NDCs Toolbox” was announced as a way to unlock the power of data in the problem assessment phase. This aims to assist countries in enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions through circular economy initiatives. GLAM hosted 11 virtual and one in-person consensus workshops to refine its technical and testing paper, approaching the launch of the consensus based GLAM Method.
2023 also marked the launch of new initiatives, such as the Biogenic Carbon Project to develop harmonised technical guidance to consider biogenic carbon in LCA and the kickstart of a LCA Network Community of Practice leading to launch of MENA LCA Network. These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the steadfast support of our Funding Partners and the Steering Committee. We acknowledge their collaboration and efforts and look forward to an exciting 2024, marked by increased integration of life-cycle approaches into sustainable development solutions.
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2022
2022 was a monumental year, marking the 50th anniversary of UNEP and the 20th anniversary of the Life Cycle Initiative. Life-cycle thinking as an approach to inform decisions, received unprecedented attention in the global policy arena, as reflected in the UNEA 5.2 resolution which initiated the process of negotiation of an international legally binding instrument to address the full life-cycle of plastic. Within UNEP also, life-cycle approaches provided the scientific foundation for the organization’s focus on delivering change in high-impact sectors including plastics, textiles, buildings, and construction, and mining.
All of this would not have been possible without the contribution of our committed Life Cycle Community that continued to bring life-cycle thinking to the forefront in conversations with both businesses and policymakers.
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2021
COP26 and COVID-19 have shown the relevance of solving the triple planetary crises of climate instability, nature loss, and rising pollution levels. The world is slowly moving forward towards circularity and to making sustainable consumption and production the norm. There is more focus now than ever before on sustainability. Life Cycle Thinking and a Life Cycle Approach is imperative to inform decision making and lead the world towards both environmental and social sustainability.
Together with our members, partners, funders and the wider life cycle community, a life cycle approach is building momentum, and its importance known.
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2020
Like elsewhere in the world, our work in 2020 was affected by COVID-19. With growing restrictions, we entered a virtual world. Thanks to our robust and dedicated network, most of our activities continued as planned. And while we missed the opportunity to meet in person, the move to a virtual space allowed more people from around the world to engage – whether through online consultations, webinars or e-learning opportunities – in our activities and projects, and contribute to our successful outcomes.
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2019
The 2019 Annual Progress Report of the LC Initiative is a great way to catch up with the progress of the Initiative across its 2017-2022 strategy through the achievements of various projects. 2019 was a landmark year for the Life Cycle Initiative, as we have received unprecedented attention to mainstream life cycle thinking at the global policy level.
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2018
2018 was an exciting year packed with many deliveries. Highlights include growth in our engaged and active membership base, the addition of two new funding partners, the election of three new Steering Committee members and good progress on our three main programme areas: Technical and policy advice, Capacity development, and Knowledge.
Get details on all the progress and achievements made in the 2018 Progress Report.
Life Cycle Initiative Progress Report 2017
The Initiative concluded its Phase 3 (2012-2017) and launched a new strategy, with the main objective to scale up the Initiative’s activities with a more ambitious linkage to global policies and business agendas, under a more transparent and open governance structure.
Get details on all the progress and achievements made in the 2017 Progress Report.