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Keywords Hotspotting • Hotspots analysis • Life cycle assessment • Life cycle
management • Sustainability • UNEP/SETAC life cycle initiative
1 Introduction
The information-age has led to a proliferation of content, ranging from the assimilation and analytical challenges associated with ‘big data’ through to ever-increasing
publication lists of research and innovation fi ndings. The major challenge for
businesses, policy-makers, academic researchers and consumers is deciding where
and how to act to have the maximum impact. For any action a balance must be
struck between speed of response and pragmatism and the need to be informed by
reliable and trustworthy science-based evidence.
This prioritization method is called ‘hotspotting’ or ‘hotspots analysis’ and is an
emergent technique being used in a growing number of different analytical
disciplines.
This technique belongs to the toolbox life cycle management (LCM). LCM is the
application of life cycle approach including LCA and related methods as SLCA and
LCSA in business to drive business improvement. Life cycle management essentially
embraces many applications of life cycle approaches, including product – as well as
company-related approaches – to ensure that the full range of risks and opportunities
are known and actions taken to reduce impacts across the value chain.
We believe there is now an opportunity to collate existing techniques from
around the world to develop a proven methodology for hotspots analysis. This can
be adopted by multiple research disciplines and functions within organizations
(e.g., R&D, new product development, procurement) and in diverse geographies, in
support of the green economy and the United Nations post-2015 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). It can be used to inform government policy priorities,
drive growth and innovation in business and empower citizens.
Due to the growing interest of various stakeholders in applying hotspot analysis
methodologies, the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative decided in 2012 to focus its
Flagship Project 3a on the topic under the title of “Global Principles and Practices
for Hotspot Analysis”. During the fi rst phase of the project, a study was conducted
to map existing hotspots analysis methodologies and studies world-wide, which
culminated in the report: Hotspots Analysis: mapping of existing methodologies,
tools and guidance and initial recommendations for the development of global
guidance
1 (Barthel et al. 2014 ).
This chapter draws on knowledge derived from this report and presents a number
of relevant fi ndings.
1 The report can be accessed at: http://lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/
Flagship3a-Hotspots-Mapping.pdf
M. Barthel et al.
Keywords Hotspotting • Hotspots analysis • Life cycle assessment • Life cycle
management • Sustainability • UNEP/SETAC life cycle initiative
1 Introduction
The information-age has led to a proliferation of content, ranging from the assimilation and analytical challenges associated with ‘big data’ through to ever-increasing
publication lists of research and innovation fi ndings. The major challenge for
businesses, policy-makers, academic researchers and consumers is deciding where
and how to act to have the maximum impact. For any action a balance must be
struck between speed of response and pragmatism and the need to be informed by
reliable and trustworthy science-based evidence.
This prioritization method is called ‘hotspotting’ or ‘hotspots analysis’ and is an
emergent technique being used in a growing number of different analytical
disciplines.
This technique belongs to the toolbox life cycle management (LCM). LCM is the
application of life cycle approach including LCA and related methods as SLCA and
LCSA in business to drive business improvement. Life cycle management essentially
embraces many applications of life cycle approaches, including product – as well as
company-related approaches – to ensure that the full range of risks and opportunities
are known and actions taken to reduce impacts across the value chain.
We believe there is now an opportunity to collate existing techniques from
around the world to develop a proven methodology for hotspots analysis. This can
be adopted by multiple research disciplines and functions within organizations
(e.g., R&D, new product development, procurement) and in diverse geographies, in
support of the green economy and the United Nations post-2015 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). It can be used to inform government policy priorities,
drive growth and innovation in business and empower citizens.
Due to the growing interest of various stakeholders in applying hotspot analysis
methodologies, the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative decided in 2012 to focus its
Flagship Project 3a on the topic under the title of “Global Principles and Practices
for Hotspot Analysis”. During the fi rst phase of the project, a study was conducted
to map existing hotspots analysis methodologies and studies world-wide, which
culminated in the report: Hotspots Analysis: mapping of existing methodologies,
tools and guidance and initial recommendations for the development of global
guidance
1 (Barthel et al. 2014 ).
This chapter draws on knowledge derived from this report and presents a number
of relevant fi ndings.
1 The report can be accessed at: http://lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/
Flagship3a-Hotspots-Mapping.pdf
M. Barthel et al.