3
© The Author(s) 2015
G. Sonnemann, M. Margni (eds.), Life Cycle Management,
LCA Compendium – The Complete World of Life Cycle Assessment,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-7221-1_1
Chapter 1
Introduction: Life Cycle Management
Gerald Rebitzer
Abstract Environmental management practices in most business organizations
from the early 1990s were characterized by their focus on internal operations, cost
savings, and compliance and risk management approaches. Such a traditional view
of sustainability management, however, is not suffi cient to address current business
challenges – to create competitive advantages while contributing to sustainable
development. There is a need for a life cycle management practice that expands the
scope through including the complete value chain and that links sustainability management and performance of organizations and products to business value and value
creation. Being an extremely powerful concept and process, life cycle management
can ensure businesses deliver real-world improvements for all stakeholders. In the
long term, it can also help to transform the market by making sustainability a differentiator just as quality is today.
Keywords Business organization • Life cycle assessment • Life cycle management
• Life cycle sustainability assessment • Life cycle sustainability management •
Sustainability • Value creation
1 The Business Context
Paradigm shifts in the world of international business and economics and a shift
from a view that focuses purely on profi t to one that takes a more balanced and
long- term approach to also address environmental, governance, and social factors
have been discussed for many years now. There is a growing understanding that
businesses cannot only focus on short-term profi tability and internal factors such
as productivity improvements to be successful in the long run. On the other side,
G. Rebitzer (*)
Amcor , Affolternstrasse 56 , CH-8050 Zurich , Switzerland
e-mail: gerald.rebitzer@amcor.com
© The Author(s) 2015
G. Sonnemann, M. Margni (eds.), Life Cycle Management,
LCA Compendium – The Complete World of Life Cycle Assessment,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-7221-1_1
Chapter 1
Introduction: Life Cycle Management
Gerald Rebitzer
Abstract Environmental management practices in most business organizations
from the early 1990s were characterized by their focus on internal operations, cost
savings, and compliance and risk management approaches. Such a traditional view
of sustainability management, however, is not suffi cient to address current business
challenges – to create competitive advantages while contributing to sustainable
development. There is a need for a life cycle management practice that expands the
scope through including the complete value chain and that links sustainability management and performance of organizations and products to business value and value
creation. Being an extremely powerful concept and process, life cycle management
can ensure businesses deliver real-world improvements for all stakeholders. In the
long term, it can also help to transform the market by making sustainability a differentiator just as quality is today.
Keywords Business organization • Life cycle assessment • Life cycle management
• Life cycle sustainability assessment • Life cycle sustainability management •
Sustainability • Value creation
1 The Business Context
Paradigm shifts in the world of international business and economics and a shift
from a view that focuses purely on profi t to one that takes a more balanced and
long- term approach to also address environmental, governance, and social factors
have been discussed for many years now. There is a growing understanding that
businesses cannot only focus on short-term profi tability and internal factors such
as productivity improvements to be successful in the long run. On the other side,
G. Rebitzer (*)
Amcor , Affolternstrasse 56 , CH-8050 Zurich , Switzerland
e-mail: gerald.rebitzer@amcor.com