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Advancing Life Cycle Assessment: A shared vision for a Global LCA Platform

As Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) continues to gain relevance in policy, industry, and science, the need for a trusted global infrastructure to support its application has become increasingly clear. Building on ongoing efforts to address this gap, international experts convened from 10 to 11 July 2025 for the Global LCA Platform: Shaping the Future from Vision to Action Workshop in Milan, co-organized by Tsinghua University, the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative, and the University of Padova.

The workshop brought together representatives from government, academia, international organizations, and industry to agree on a shared vision for a Global LCA Platform: an inclusive, interoperable system that enables transparent data and methods exchange, quality assurance, and collaboration across regions and sectors. The platform aims to support science-based policy- and decision-making for sustainable consumption and production at scale.

Participants discussed key foundational aspects, including how such a platform should operate, how to promote interoperability among existing systems, and how to build mutual trust in the data and models it will rely on. The importance of transparent governance, stakeholder engagement, and long-term collaboration was a recurring theme throughout the discussions.

To carry the process forward, four technical working groups were defined, focusing on: 1) standards and methodologies; 2) data quality and curation; 3) governance and engagement; and 4) technical infrastructure. The workshop served as the foundation for this global effort, launching a collaborative process to design and implement the platform. In the coming months, the four technical working groups will initiate their work, progressively shaping the technical, governance, and engagement elements needed. This marks the beginning of a sustained effort to make life cycle data, methods and tools more accessible, consistent, and trusted worldwide.

Are you interested in contributing with your expertise to this global effort? Fill out this form indicating which working group you would like to contribute to, preferably by 20 September 2025.

Call for submission of resources: Sustainable Building Materials Hub

The Sustainable Building Materials Hub is a collaborative initiative to advance the transition to sustainable and circular material use in the built environment. It supports low-carbon, resource-efficient construction practices by curating and promoting solutions that address material sustainability across all stages of the buildings life cycle.

The Hub maintains a growing platform of case studies and good practices from around the world, aimed at informing policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working to decarbonize and circularize the built environment.

We invite you to submit resources that you see as relevant to the work of the Hub, especially those that can inform policy development, public procurement, and national decarbonization or circular economy strategies — whether focused on material innovation, policy implementation, design practices, or other impactful approaches.

Help strengthen the Hub by submitting a resource. Contributions are welcome from all stakeholders and do not require GlobalABC membership.

Open call for registration to the expert pool on chemical impacts measurability and indicators

We are pleased to share with you the registration link for the Expert Pool to support the work on measurability and indicators within the context of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC).

These specialists and experts are intended to help finalise a set of indicators ahead of the International Conference (November 2026) in a small group setting focused on the strategic objectives of the GFC. If you have expertise in developing or applying indicators for impacts from chemicals in economic and industry sectors (as done via LCA), we encourage you to apply via this link. Experts from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

In addition to completing the form, it is essential that all proposed experts send their curriculum vitae to unep-gfc.secretariat@un.org. The registration period is open until 16 September 2025.

Saying goodbye to our wonderful interns: Slaveya, Fernando, and Merci

As their internships soon come to a close, we must say goodbye to Slaveya Zaharieva, Fernando Giareta Cezar, and Merci Fourte Yusuf, whose valuable contributions have greatly enriched the Life Cycle Initiative. We deeply appreciate their commitment, efforts, and fresh perspectives across all our projects and activities. As they move on to their next chapters, we extend our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for the journey ahead.

We are now looking for our next group of interns! Three internship positions at the Life Cycle Initiative are now open. If you are passionate about using life-cycle approaches to inform decisions towards sustainable consumption and production, are in the final year or have just finished your Bachelors or Masters, and want to join a dynamic team, please apply on the UN Careers website here by 19 September 2025.

Life-Cycle Thinking drives change in Africa’s textile industry

While environmental talks at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) were unfolding in Nairobi in July 2025, change was already taking root across Africa’s textile sector. Powered by better life-cycle data and UNEP support, small and medium-sized clothing manufacturers in South Africa, Tunisia and Kenya are now embracing sustainability as the norm. With the help of the UNEP InTex programme, companies like Cape Union Mart in South Africa and Gonser Group in Tunisia are using Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to map their environmental impact and act on it, transforming textile production.

In a Cape Town factory, LCA revealed that over 80% of their jacket’s footprint comes from the fabric. That insight led to a change in their procurement criteria for more sustainable sourcing of fabrics. In Tunisia, real-time energy management system and the installation of solar panels are reducing waste, water use and emissions in denim production.

These efforts align with UNEP’s push for circularity in textiles, including designing better, more durable and recyclable garments to minimize pollution. With 32 businesses already supported, UNEP’s InTex proves profitability and planet-conscious practices can coexist. These efforts are thus helping businesses gain a competitive edge in a changing global market. InTex has now expanded its activities to production countries such as India and Indonesia.

Want to learn more about these developments? Check out the first piece of the Textiles pollution action series, “As fashion’s environmental toll mounts, these small clothes makers embrace sustainability”.

Bringing Life-Cycle Thinking to the classroom at the American University of Beirut

On 3 July 2025, Ms. Mona Mohammed, a Programme Officer at the Life Cycle Initiative, presented as a guest speaker for the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) course within the “Sustainability in the Built Environment” online graduate professional diploma at the American University of Beirut (AUB). During her presentation, she spoke about the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative, its key projects and activities, life cycle tools such as Environmental Product Declaration (EPDs), Product Environmental Footprint, Digital Product Information System (DPIS), the Global LCA Data Access (GLAD), as well as the Whole Life Cycle Policy Coalition, and the 10 Whole Life Cycle Recommendations for the Buildings Breakthrough by the Materials Hub (supported by the GlobalABC, One Planet Network and the Life Cycle Initiative).

GLAM consensus virtual workshops

On 4 July 2025, the Life Cycle Initiative hosted a half-day virtual workshop to advance the Global Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method (GLAM), a comprehensive framework for assessing the environmental impacts of products and services on human health, ecosystem quality, and natural resources. The first version, GLAM 1.0.2024.10, was launched in October 2024 at the SETAC Europe 26th LCA Symposium.

Based on integrating stakeholder feedback to GLAM 1.0, the workshop focused on the newly developed GLAM midpoint version and the latest normalization results, aiming to gather further feedback from experts and industry stakeholders and identify potential modifications. Around 40 participants, including LCA experts, industry representatives, academics, and policymakers, engaged in discussions to refine the midpoint-oriented methodology.

The feedback collected is now informing the next iteration of GLAM, with a follow-up consultation workshop planned for 19 November 2025.

Engaging with LCA progress in China

Dr. Llorenç Milà i Canals represented the Life Cycle Initiative in dedicated multi-stakeholder workshops co-organized by Tsinghua University, the Carbon Footprint Alliance (CFA) and UNEP covering several cities in China: Beijing (11 August); Nanjing (12 August); and Shanghai (15 August). The sessions introduced life-cycle approaches and international expectations for LCA in policy and markets and featured the Policymakers’ Guide to LCA, along with examples of how LCA is being embedded in policy frameworks globally. Overall, around 150 participants — including national and provincial government officials, academics, researchers, and industry leaders — joined the discussions. A key interest that emerged among workshop participants was the need for a global, interoperable system that facilitates access to transparent data, quality assurance, and interregional and intersectoral collaboration – this is precisely the gap the Initiative is aiming to fill in with its Global LCA Platform (see Focus piece).

On August 13, the Life Cycle Initiative participated in the Green Low-Carbon Innovation Conference 2025 in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Dr. Llorenç Milà i Canals delivered a keynote speech on the importance of international cooperation in strengthening credible LCA-based policies. The Chinese version of the Policymakers’ Guide to LCA was also officially launched there, generating strong interest among the audience. As China has accelerated the uptake of LCA in policymaking and industrial action towards decarbonization, the Guide will serve as an essential tool for policymakers interested in establishing effective, evidence-based strategies.

Circular Fashion meets Life-Cycle Thinking

On 14 August 2025, Archana Datta delivered a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Masterclass for the Circular Design Challenge (CDC) 2025 finalists, a group of fashion designers committed to embedding sustainability and circular economy principles in their work. The Masterclass explored what LCA is and why it matters in textile value chains, and addressed key questions that LCA can help designers and entrepreneurs answer. Archana also shared industry examples where LCA is driving meaningful change, while reflecting on both the challenges and opportunities of applying it in design. By equipping them with tools and knowledge to embed circularity into their practices, the session reinforced UNEP’s commitment to advancing circularity in the fashion industry.

Moderating global dialogue on sustainable built environments at WRF 2025

At the World Resources Forum 2025, Ms. Mona Mohammed represented the GlobalABC as a moderator of the panel titled “Building for All: Global Strategies for a Fair and Sustainable Built Environment”, held on 3 September 2025.

The session brought together diverse voices to explore how sustainability strategies need to adapt to regional contexts. Shared concerns between countries on the importance of sustainable affordable housing, and the differing scales at which that will need to be achieved was at the center of the conversation. Discussions addressed the role of finance, innovation, and governance in enabling this transformation, and emphasized the need for global cooperation to support decarbonization of the built environment.

With in-person and online participation, the panel contributed to advancing global dialogue on fair, sustainable construction and implementation of the Déclaration de Chaillot.

European Commission launches consultation and call for evidence for upcoming Circular Economy Act

The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence for the upcoming Circular Economy Act, an important step in its impact assessment process. Collecting input from stakeholders and the wider public will help identify key bottlenecks and opportunities for advancing the circular economy.

Planned for adoption in 2026, the Circular Economy Act seeks to accelerate the transition to a more circular economy, establish a single market for secondary raw materials, increase the availability of high-quality recycled materials and boost demand for these materials within the EU.

This consultation ensures alignment of the Circular Economy Act with major EU initiatives, including the Competitiveness Compass, the Single Market Strategy, the Steel and Metals Action Plan and the implementation of recently adopted legislation such as the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the Critical Raw Materials Act.

Stakeholders are invited to contribute to the online consultation via the Have Your Say portal, with the feedback period open until 6 November 2025.

Call for feedback on the first “Guidance for applying absolute environmental sustainability assessment on activities at different scales”

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), University College London (UCL), and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) have collaboratively developed the first “Guidance for Applying Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessment (AESA) on Activities at Different Scales”.

This guidance represents a major step in advancing Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessment (AESA), integrating the concepts of Planetary Boundaries (and other carrying capacities) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental burdens of activities against these absolute references.

The beta version of the guidance is available here, and the LCA community is invited to provide feedback, which will be instrumental in refining the guidance, expected to be published in early 2026. The feedback survey is available here and can be completed by 31 October 2025.

Calculating Marine Impacts of materials shedding in LCA

Under the recently approved EU’s Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Apparel and Footwear, evaluating fibre shedding and its potential effects on the marine environment is now required when presenting PEF study outcomes. These assessments are based on data from The Microfibre Consortium and are further enhanced using marine impact factors developed by MarILCA (Marine Impacts in LCA). Initially launched as a project under the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative and a key part of the Global LCA Impact Assessment Method (GLAM), MariLCA enables the inclusion of environmental impacts of marine litter, especially microplastic and microfibers, in LCA results. This integration helps build a more complete understanding of environmental impacts on marine ecosystems and supports the identification of trade-offs linked to the use of plastics and other materials in product systems.

The current version of the microfibre (and microplastics) impact assessment method, just published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, includes new characterization factors (CFs) for the physical effects on biota of microplastics, including impacts in both water and sediments. This recent paper demonstrates a simplified fate model between marine water and sediments, showing the accumulation of high-density microplastics in sediments, an exposure and effect factor for microplastics in sediments, found to be much lower than in water, updated CFs for microplastics of various shapes, materials and sizes, and a textile LCA case study with applied CFs, which indicates that microfibers could be a major contributor to ecosystem quality damage over the life cycle of textiles.

Find out more about MarILCA: https://marilca.org/

Find out more about the PEFCR for Apparel and Footwear: https://pefapparelandfootwear.eu/

Call for abstracts for S-LCA 2026

Abstract submission for the 10th International Conference on Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA 2026), that will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 17–19 June 2026, is now open. Submissions will be evaluated by a Scientific Committee, and selected authors will be invited to present their work. Under the theme “Unity in Diversity”, the conference invites researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to contribute insights that strengthen the role of Social LCA in addressing global sustainability challenges. Deadline for submissions: 15 October 2025.

More information

Special Issue: Prospective Life Cycle Assessment: Recent Advancements and Future Directions

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (IJLCA) invites submissions for its Special Issue on Prospective Life Cycle Assessment: Advances and Future Pathways. This issue aims to enhance prospective LCA knowledge and practice by tackling key challenges. The IJLCA welcomes research articles, short original communications, reviews, and case studies exploring innovative methods, tools, and applications for prospective LCA. Contributions can focus on methodological advancements, practical case studies, comprehensive reviews, or critical viewpoints to shape the future of LCA.
Deadline of submission: 30 November 2025.

More information

From Less Bad to Good Enough: Conference on Absolute Sustainability

30 September – 2 October 2025 • Elsinore, Denmark

The Centre for Absolute Sustainability at Denmark’s Technical University announces its first conference addressing the transition from incremental improvements to absolute sustainability. This three-day event will bring together experts to explore how society can thrive within Earth’s ecological limits. The conference features renowned speakers on science-based targets and cross-sectoral sustainability challenges.

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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.

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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!

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Consultancy opportunity with the Life Cycle Initiative

The Initiative will soon be seeking a consultant to apply life cycle assessment as a systematic approach to analyze environmental hotspots in the waste management systems of Saudi Arabia, the environmental impact of full implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy versus Business-as-usual scenarios, and the economic value of those impacts. Consultants with expertise in LCA and life cycle costing in the context of waste management systems and policy evaluation, with a focus on all waste streams under the mandate of MWAN in Saudi Arabia, are welcome to apply once the job listing becomes available online later in September. So keep your eyes open for the consultancy opportunity that will open for applications on the UN Careers website soon!

Tsinghua University – Fully-funded PhD in Environmental Data Science and Systems Engineering

The TianGongLCA team at the School of Environment, Tsinghua University, is inviting international candidates to apply for a fully funded PhD position for Fall 2026. The student will develop and apply methods in life cycle assessment (LCA), data science, and AI to support net-zero and sustainability transitions, including renewable energy, ecosystem service valuation, and low-carbon water systems. Applicants should have a background in environmental engineering or related engineering fields. Experience in programming (R, Python), data science (e.g., machine learning), and LCA is highly desirable. The working language is English, and fluency in Chinese is not required.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Prof. Ming Xu directly (xu-ming@tsinghua.edu.cn).

More details

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!