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Celebrating 2025’s Life-Cycle Milestones

As we embark on a new year, we take this moment to reflect on the progress achieved throughout 2025 in advancing life-cycle approaches globally. The past year marked important steps in strengthening the scientific, technical, and institutional foundations for life cycle assessment and its application in policy and high-impact sectors. A key milestone in 2025 was the initiation of structured work toward a Global LCA Platform, which aims to establish a shared vision to advance interoperable, trusted life-cycle data and methods worldwide. This initiative represents a significant step toward improving accessibility, comparability, and collaboration across the global life-cycle community.

In 2025, the Life Cycle Initiative also continued its work on strengthening the scientific and policy foundations for life-cycle approaches. Development of the Global Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method (GLAM) progressed through expert discussions on midpoint characterization factors and methodological choices. The Global Life Cycle Assessment Data Access network (GLAD) expanded its technical features with the launch of the Lavoisier converter tool. A Policymakers’ guide to Life Cycle Assessment – Policy Brief continued to be shared through policy-facing activities, supporting more informed use of LCA in environmental decision-making. In 2025, members of the Life Cycle Initiative also started to engage in the development and implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals, with a special focus on defining and advancing the application of chemical footprint approaches.

Life Cycle Initiative’s mission is to build life-cycle capabilities and enable the practical uptake of life-cycle approaches to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. We extend our sincere thanks to the global life-cycle community, partners, and funding partners for their continued engagement and support, and we look forward to building this momentum in the year ahead.

UNEA-7: life-cycle approaches move from principle to practical delivery

The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) took place in Nairobi from 8-12 December 2025, under the theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet”. Occurring every two years, UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, so it deserves an additional focus space in this newsletter to see how life-cycle approaches have been considered. Building on the life-cycle language reinforced at recent UNEAs, UNEA-7 moves a step further by tying life-cycle approaches more directly to product designs and policy delivery.

Already in the UNEA-7 Ministerial Declaration (UNEP/EA.7/HLS.1), ministers commit to advancing sustainable consumption and production (SCP) through circular economy and related approaches, and explicitly link this to product design “taking into account life cycle assessments.” This language matters, for it frames life cycle assessment (LCA) not only as an analytical method, but as a policy-relevant input to eco-design, resource efficiency, waste prevention, and pollution reduction, helping decision-makers manage trade-offs across stages of raw materials extraction, production, use, and end-of-life.

Some UNEA-7 resolutions also reinforce life-cycle thinking through value-chain interventions. In the Resolution on strengthening international cooperation on the environmentally sound management of minerals and metals (Resolution UNEP/EA.7/Res.3), UNEA-7 notes that tailings standards often focus on safety and risk, while rarely addressing resource recovery or valorization, and requests dialogue topics including resource recovery from mining waste and tailings through sustainable approaches such as circularity. In parallel, the Resolution on environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence systems (UNEP/EA.7/Res.9) links the emerging AI agenda to existing international work on ICTs, circular economy, and e-waste handling and treatment, situating digital systems within a broader life-cycle and materials-management context.

Another key outcome of UNEA-7 is UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2026-2029 (UNEP/EA.7/3). The Strategy embeds life-cycle language directly in implementation pathways, highlighting circularity and SCP as key action pathways and calling for reducing exposures to hazardous chemicals “throughout the life cycle.” The Strategy further emphasizes cutting environmental footprints of products via circular approaches “at every stage of the life cycle” with attention to plastics, textiles, building materials, and electronics, and explicitly states that UNEP will support demand-side measures (e.g., public procurement, consumer information, and digital product information systems) “informed by life-cycle approaches.” It also explicitly points to action on minerals and metals to reduce impacts across their life cycle, reinforcing how life-cycle approaches connect upstream resource governance to downstream circularity and pollution prevention.

Together, these UNEA-7 outcomes shift life-cycle approaches further into “delivery mode” by clarifying some areas where life-cycle evidence can inform decisions, from product design to value-chain governance and system-level sustainability priorities. The important next step for Member States and UNEP is to translate this mandate into clear guidance and comparable data that make life-cycle evidence routine in design and policy decisions.

Biogenic Carbon Project – Phase 2 Kickoff Meeting

The Life Cycle Initiative will host an online meeting on 28^th January 2026, 14:00-15:30 CET, to launch Phase 2 of the Biogenic Carbon Project. It is aimed at re-engaging experts and stakeholders in the development of consensus-based guidance on biogenic carbon accounting in life cycle assessment (LCA). The meeting will present a synthesis of key findings from Phase 1, outline the objectives, scope, and work plan for Phase 2, and explain opportunities for expert engagement throughout the process. Registration is now open.

REGISTER HERE.

A warm welcome to the Life Cycle Initiative’s new intern: Yan

Yan Du is from China and is currently based in the United States. She recently completed her PhD in Environmental Engineering at Yale University, after earning dual Bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Engineering and International Studies (Global Environment and Health) from the University of Michigan. Since childhood, she has aspired to contribute to environmental work at the United Nations and other international organizations, driven by her belief that technical expertise is most powerful when combined with international understanding and collaboration.

Her research focuses on the water–energy–carbon nexus, using life-cycle thinking and quantitative tools to track the Sustainable Development Goals and align priorities in sustainable transitions to clean energy across key sectors, from agriculture to electricity systems. Her curiosity has also led her to explore finance, ESG, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, enabling her to better connect environmental metrics with multi-stakeholder, technology-enabled decision-making. She is very excited to contribute these skills to the work of the Life Cycle Initiative and UNEP. Fun fact: Yan is also a Ravenclaw alumna.

Welcome Yan!

Global LCA Platform

In 2025, work toward the Global LCA Platform was initiated and continued through a series of structured engagement and coordination activities. As part of International Industrial Ecology Day 2025, the Life Cycle Initiative hosted a dedicated session to present the vision for the Global LCA Platform, provide an update on progress to date, and outline next steps.

During the year, four working groups were established to advance preparatory work on key aspects of the platform, including governance and stakeholder engagement, standards and methodologies, data quality and review, and technical development and infrastructure. These working groups are contributing to the development of a shared blueprint for the Global LCA Platform, building on existing initiatives such as GLAD and GLAM, and aligning with UNEP’s Global Environmental Data Strategy.

Interested in contributing and shaping the Global LCA Platform? Register here

Stressing the importance of data for sustainable decisions: Roundtable Discussion at the 12th ‘India and Sustainability Standards (ISS)’ Summit

The UNEP InTex Programme in India and the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) co-hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Data is the New Thread: Weaving India’s Textile Sector into a Circular Powerhouse” during the 12th annual India and Sustainability Standards (ISS) Summit, held from 12–14 November 2025 in New Delhi, India. The session brought together representatives from brands, manufacturers, SMEs, research institutes, and solution providers to explore the growing importance of transparent and robust data systems in driving sustainability and circularity across India’s textile value chains.

UNEP shared insights from the InTex India project, including efforts to mainstream life-cycle approaches and develop India’s first open-access Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database for the textile sector, underscoring the need for credible, accurate, and locally relevant data.

Including regionalized impacts of microplastics in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments in LCA

MarILCA (Marine Impacts in LCA) started as a working group of the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative and is an integral part of the Global LCA Impact Assessment Method (GLAM). The project aims at integrating potential environmental impacts of litter, especially plastic, in Life Cycle Assessment results to  provide a more comprehensive picture of potential environmental impacts of plastic products and their alternatives.

The MarILCA group recently published in the Journal of Cleaner Production a new version of characterization factors for microplastics, which is regionalized and now integrates impacts in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, excluded in previous versions that only assessed impacts on marine ecosystems. This update was tested in an agricultural mulch film case study that considered plastic emissions to soil. This update is a stepping stone towards the next update, planned for 2026 and foreseen as the main outcome of this process by integrating several parallel developments (on degradation, marine currents, uncertainty, etc). Stay tuned for more on this in the coming months.

Chemical footprint approaches based on life cycle assessment to support the Global Framework on Chemicals

The Global Framework on Chemicals, adopted in 2023, is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, industry, civil society, and international partners to combat chemical pollution worldwide. Based on 5 strategic objectives and 28 measurable targets, the GFC establishes a roadmap to reduce chemical impacts, promote safer alternatives, and protect human and environmental health across industries and supply chains.
Several members of the Life Cycle Initiative are actively involved in defining and advancing chemical footprint approaches based on life-cycle impact assessment methods, such as USEtox that can be used to measure progress toward achieving GFC targets on chemical use and impact reduction by companies and nations. Working groups are advancing towards specific deliverables for the First International Conference of the GFC, to be held in Geneva Switzerland.

Life Cycle Initiative E-Learning Modules – Call for University Experiences

The Life Cycle Initiative’s E-learning Modules provides self-paced online modules supporting learning and application of life-cycle thinking and life cycle assessment (LCA). Attendance for the web-based courses has remained consistent over the past three years, and in 2025 more than 1,000 students successfully completed the e-learning courses, with a notably higher registration rate. Several universities and university-led programmes have recommended or integrated the modules into their teaching activities, including President University (Indonesia), University College Dublin (UCD, Ireland), and the University of Balamand (Lebanon).

We invite universities and educators who have incorporated the e-learning modules into their courses or training programmes to share their experiences with the Life Cycle Initiative. These contributions will support the development of success stories illustrating how the modules are used in academic settings to build life-cycle capacity. Interested institutions are welcome to contact us at shuangjun.yu@un.org.

TianGong Forum 2026: Advancing a Globally Connected and Trusted LCA & Carbon Footprint System

The 3rd TianGong Forum will take place on 25–26 March 2026 in Nanjing, China, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and ecosystem partners to advance international collaboration on life cycle assessment (LCA) and product carbon footprinting. Centered on the theme “A Globally Connected, Interoperable and Trusted LCA & Carbon Footprint System,” the Forum will feature a main plenary, sectoral thematic sessions, and a dedicated LCA Developers Conference focused on data ecosystems, toolchains, and technical exchange. The Life Cycle Initiative will participate in the Forum, including contributions related to policy-relevant applications of LCA and the Global LCA Platform.

LCA Food 2026 – Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to 16 January

The abstract and workshop submission deadline for LCA Food 2026 has been extended to 16 January 2026 (23:59 CET). Researchers and practitioners interested in contributing are encouraged to take advantage of the extended deadline to submit their abstracts.

Two-Day Course in Applied Life-Cycle Thinking – April 2026

The Swedish Life Cycle Center will offer a two-day course in Applied Life-Cycle Thinking on 22–23 April 2026 at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. The course is designed for professionals seeking a practical understanding of life-cycle thinking and life cycle assessment (LCA), with applications across business and public sector contexts. Through real case examples and interactive sessions, participants will explore how life-cycle perspectives can support sustainable decision-making in areas such as procurement, environmental communication, and policy development. No prior experience in LCA is required.

Register now.

PAS 2090 Launched: A New Global Standard for Pharmaceutical LCA

A new BSI standard for conducting environmental life cycle assessments for pharmaceutical products has been launched.  PAS 2090:2025 – Pharmaceutical Products: Product Category Rules for Environmental Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) is a new international standard that provides a harmonised framework to measure and communicate the environmental impact of medicines across their entire lifecycle.

Find more information and download the new standard. 

In addition, the PharmaLCA Consortium has developed a technical guidance document which will support PAS 2090 implementation by providing practical recommendations and illustrative examples. An infographic is also available.

Download the technical guidance.

33rd CIRP Conference on Life Cycle Engineering (LCE 2026)

11–13 March 2026 • Kamakura, Japan

The 33rd CIRP Conference on Life Cycle Engineering (LCE 2026) will take place from 11 to 13 March 2026 in Kamakura, Japan. The conference brings together researchers and industry experts to discuss advances in life-cycle engineering and the integration of life-cycle thinking into manufacturing systems and product development. Key topics include life-cycle modelling, sustainable manufacturing, circular economy strategies, and digital solutions supporting life-cycle engineering.

More information

openLCA Conference 2026

21–23 April 2026 • Berlin, Germany

The openLCA Conference 2026 will be held from 21 to 23 April 2026 in Berlin, Germany. The conference focuses on practical and methodological developments in life cycle assessment (LCA), with an emphasis on tools, databases, and real-world applications. It brings together practitioners, researchers, and software developers to exchange experiences on LCA implementation across sectors.

More information

WasteLCA_5 Conference 2026

7–12 June 2026 • Cetraro (Calabria), Italy

The WasteLCA_5 Conference 2026 will be held from 7 to 12 June 2026 at the Grand Hotel San Michele in Cetraro, Calabria, Italy. The conference focuses on advances in sustainability assessment of municipal and challenging waste management, with particular emphasis on Life Cycle Management (LCM) tools and methodologies, including LCA, LCC, and S-LCA. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and policy experts to exchange insights on methodological developments, digital technologies for LCA, and real-world applications supporting circular economy strategies and sustainable waste management systems.

More information

10th International S-LCA Conference 2026 – First time in Asia Pacific in over two decades

17-19 June 2026 • Jakarta, Indonesia

The 10th International Conference on Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA 2026) will bring together researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to advance social sustainability in life cycle thinking. Under the theme “Unity in Diversity,” S-LCA 2026 will explore the role of social impact assessment in fostering inclusive sustainability, strengthening cross-industry collaboration, and addressing global challenges. The event welcomes stakeholders from academia, businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, media, producers, and civil society, representing diverse regions and industries.

More information

5th Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC 2026)

1–3 July 2026 • Berlin, Germany (hybrid)

The Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC 2026) will be held from 1 to 3 July 2026 in Berlin, Germany, with hybrid participation options. The conference highlights innovation in life cycle assessment and life cycle thinking, focusing on new methods, tools, and applications supporting sustainable production and consumption. It aims to strengthen links between research and practice.

More information

15th International LCA Food Conference

12-15 October 2026 • Montréal, Canada 

The 15th International LCA Food Conference will take place in Montréal, Canada, 12-15 October 2026. The 2026 edition will bring together stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy to share the latest insights, foster collaboration, and explore solutions for more sustainable food systems worldwide. For the first time, food packaging will also be included in the topics discussed!

More information

Senior EPD and LCA Specialist – IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet
IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet is recruiting a Senior EPD and LCA Specialist to join EPD International, its global environmental product declaration (EPD) arm. The role focuses on ensuring the quality, compliance, and integrity of EPD processes in line with relevant standards and regulations, as well as overseeing verification procedures and collaboration with third-party verifiers. Candidates should have substantial experience in life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental declaration standards and be able to contribute to process improvements and data quality oversight.

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Senior Consultant – Electronics Life Cycle Assessment (WSP)
WSP is recruiting a Senior Consultant in Portland, Oregon, USA, focusing on life cycle assessment (LCA) for electronics and product systems. The role includes research and collection of LCA inventory data, impact assessment, and contributing to sustainability advisory services.

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LCA Specialist – Stegra
Stegra is recruiting a temporary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Specialist to support its sustainability and decarbonization work in Stockholm and Boden, Sweden. The role runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 January 2027 and focuses on strengthening Stegra’s LCA and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) capabilities for hydrogen, iron, and steel products. Key responsibilities include developing LCA and PCF models, analysing life cycle data, supporting Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) preparation, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions monitoring under the EU Emissions Trading System. Ideal candidates will have a relevant master’s degree and experience with LCA methodologies and PCF modelling.

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Life Cycle Assessment Sr. Analyst – PepsiCo
PepsiCo in Purchase, New York, USA is offering a Senior Analyst position with responsibilities in life cycle assessment (LCA) and corporate and product greenhouse gas accounting. The role requires understanding of allocation approaches and experience with life cycle methodologies. More information available at the PepsiCo careers page via the Indeed listing.

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Note that we cannot accept contributions of a commercial nature. LCNet is released bimonthly in the beginning of January, March, May, July, September and November; please send us your piece approximately two weeks before the release date. We look forward to your contributions in disseminating life cycle knowledge from global policy and business agendas! 

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