An LCA Awards scheme was launched in 2017 by the Life cycle Initiative to support selected practical projects in implementing Life Cycle approaches. This activity leveraged support from LCA experts and providers of LCA software and data. 62 applications were received, out of which 44 were accepted and granted with LCA tools for implementing proposed projects from July 2017 to July 2018. Of the 14 final reports received, assessment varied across sectors including textiles, building materials, waste and agri-food products (coffee beans, cassava, etc.), covering social and/or environmental impact as well as mapping the hotspots. Based on the results of LCA tools applied, studies propose strategies and recommendations to mitigate impacts.
We would like to take the opportunity to thanks the great contribution from FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and WRF (World Resources Forum) for organising and monitoring the awards. We are also grateful for all the devoted sponsors who kindly provided free LCA software and data to awards winners: Gabi (thinkstep), SimaPro (PRé Consultants), Umberto (ifu Hamburg – member of iPoint Group), Ecoinvent, WebLCA+CLCD (IKE), PSILCA (GreenDelta), and SHDB (New Eearth B).
A special mention is given to the following completed projects with outstanding reports (alphabetical order of country concerned):
• Environmental LCA of cotton and jute based fabric production in Bangladesh
• Environmental LCA and economic assessment of different sewage sludge treatment and disposal ways in China
• Embodied environmental impact assessment for building materials in China
• Hotspots analysis in the pharma industry in Colombia
• Social life cycle assessment of rural cassava starch factories in Cauca-Colombia
• Environmental footprint of the export coffee sector of Honduras
• Environmental LCA coffee beans production by Ideal Commodities Ltd in Uganda
• Comparative environmental LCA of thermal and anaerobic treatment options for municipal for municipal solid waste in Zimbabwe
The Award scheme was able to strengthen capacities for putting life cycle thinking into effective practice in targeted regions (Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia), generate local Life Cycle knowledge while demonstrating the value of using Life Cycle Approaches in the context of a specific project.
