7
© 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_2
Chapter 2
Life Cycle Management: Implementing
Sustainability in Business Practice
Guido Sonnemann , Eskinder Demisse Gemechu , Arne Remmen ,
Jeppe Frydendal , and Allan Astrup Jensen
Abstract Life cycle management is a business management concept applied in
industrial and service sectors to improve products and services, while enhancing the
overall sustainability performance of the business and its value chains. Life cycle
thinking and product sustainability is operational for businesses that are ambitious
and committed to reducing their environmental and socio- economic burden while
maximizing economic and social value. In this regard, life cycle management is
used beyond short-term business success and aims at long-term achievements. The
term “life cycle management” has been confused with other uses in engineering and
manufacturing (product life cycle management) and in software development
(application life cycle management), in buildings, plants, information management
and so on. There is a need to clarify this term and its defi nition more than a decade
since the concept was fi rst introduced. This chapter aims at elaborating the concept
and defi nitions of life cycle management as currently found in literature and as
extending it from focusing on implementation of life cycle sustainability assessment into business practice to include it as part of sustainable consumption and
production strategies and policies. Methods and tools used and the general framework for life cycle sustainability management covering environmental, social and
economic aspects in business practices are discussed in detail.
G. Sonnemann (*) • E. D. Gemechu
University of Bordeaux, ISM, UMR 5255 , 33400 Talence , France
CNRS, ISM, UMR 5255 , 33400 Talence , France
e-mail: guido.sonnemann@u-bordeaux.fr
A. Remmen
Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark
J. Frydendal
Ecolabelling Denmark
Danish Standards Foundation
A. A. Jensen
Nordic Institute of Product Sustainability, Environmental
Chemistry and Toxicology (NIPSECT) , Copenhagen/Frederiksberg , Denmark
© 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_2
Chapter 2
Life Cycle Management: Implementing
Sustainability in Business Practice
Guido Sonnemann , Eskinder Demisse Gemechu , Arne Remmen ,
Jeppe Frydendal , and Allan Astrup Jensen
Abstract Life cycle management is a business management concept applied in
industrial and service sectors to improve products and services, while enhancing the
overall sustainability performance of the business and its value chains. Life cycle
thinking and product sustainability is operational for businesses that are ambitious
and committed to reducing their environmental and socio- economic burden while
maximizing economic and social value. In this regard, life cycle management is
used beyond short-term business success and aims at long-term achievements. The
term “life cycle management” has been confused with other uses in engineering and
manufacturing (product life cycle management) and in software development
(application life cycle management), in buildings, plants, information management
and so on. There is a need to clarify this term and its defi nition more than a decade
since the concept was fi rst introduced. This chapter aims at elaborating the concept
and defi nitions of life cycle management as currently found in literature and as
extending it from focusing on implementation of life cycle sustainability assessment into business practice to include it as part of sustainable consumption and
production strategies and policies. Methods and tools used and the general framework for life cycle sustainability management covering environmental, social and
economic aspects in business practices are discussed in detail.
G. Sonnemann (*) • E. D. Gemechu
University of Bordeaux, ISM, UMR 5255 , 33400 Talence , France
CNRS, ISM, UMR 5255 , 33400 Talence , France
e-mail: guido.sonnemann@u-bordeaux.fr
A. Remmen
Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark
J. Frydendal
Ecolabelling Denmark
Danish Standards Foundation
A. A. Jensen
Nordic Institute of Product Sustainability, Environmental
Chemistry and Toxicology (NIPSECT) , Copenhagen/Frederiksberg , Denmark