111
For companies that already use LCA, top management is not only committed to
sustainability, but also to LCA. The survey PRé conducted in 2014 shows that in
57 % of the companies that use LCA, management is aware of LCA. So, LCA is on
the agenda in the majority of the companies. Finding an internal sponsor in the (top)
management can accelerate the use of LCA in the business. That will defi nitely help
you to deliver value for the business.
4.3 Shared Language
Business and LCA have two totally different languages, or as we would say in
LCA – nomenclature. As LCA practitioners we know what happens when you do
not have the nomenclature right; things get mixed up. So, make sure you understand
and capture the language from the people that use your studies (Fig. 9.1 ).
As Gregory Unruh ( 2014 ) puts it in a series “Each functional area has its own
conversation built on terminology and jargon suited to their specifi c business concerns. ….tap into these functional conversations and help managers develop what
can be called a sustainability dialect that translates corporate sustainability goals
into the local functional discussions and thinking.”
Speaking the same language also helps to embed LCA in the core processes of
these departments. Only if it is embedded the full potential can be achieved. Only if
it is embedded these departments will see and experience the potential of LCA or
even sustainability. If not, LCA will probably stay a staff driven “exercise”.
Fig. 9.1 Different needs and language of departments in a company
9 How to Make the Life Cycle Assessment Team a Business Partner
For companies that already use LCA, top management is not only committed to
sustainability, but also to LCA. The survey PRé conducted in 2014 shows that in
57 % of the companies that use LCA, management is aware of LCA. So, LCA is on
the agenda in the majority of the companies. Finding an internal sponsor in the (top)
management can accelerate the use of LCA in the business. That will defi nitely help
you to deliver value for the business.
4.3 Shared Language
Business and LCA have two totally different languages, or as we would say in
LCA – nomenclature. As LCA practitioners we know what happens when you do
not have the nomenclature right; things get mixed up. So, make sure you understand
and capture the language from the people that use your studies (Fig. 9.1 ).
As Gregory Unruh ( 2014 ) puts it in a series “Each functional area has its own
conversation built on terminology and jargon suited to their specifi c business concerns. ….tap into these functional conversations and help managers develop what
can be called a sustainability dialect that translates corporate sustainability goals
into the local functional discussions and thinking.”
Speaking the same language also helps to embed LCA in the core processes of
these departments. Only if it is embedded the full potential can be achieved. Only if
it is embedded these departments will see and experience the potential of LCA or
even sustainability. If not, LCA will probably stay a staff driven “exercise”.
Fig. 9.1 Different needs and language of departments in a company
9 How to Make the Life Cycle Assessment Team a Business Partner