279
© 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_20
Chapter 20
Communication and Collaboration
as Essential Elements for Mainstreaming
Life Cycle Management
Philip Strothmann , Jodie Bricout , Guido Sonnemann ,
and Jim Fava
Abstract This chapter addresses two major challenges for mainstreaming life
cycle management that are intrinsically linked: collaboration and communication.
To this end it is argued that in order to radically increase the take up of life cycle
based approaches in business and government, life cycle professionals need to
enhance global collaboration among themselves, as well as with others and communicate to a wider set of stakeholders. The chapter makes the case that the life
cycle community does not have a home, and thus currently does not exist as one
coherent and clearly identifi able stakeholder. It concludes that successful communication on behalf of and with the community can only be achieved when the community is formally organized. To this end the newly established Forum for
Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation is presented as a possible way to overcome the outlined gaps and challenges.
Keywords Forum for sustainability through life cycle • Life cycle assessment •
Life-cycle based approaches • Life cycle community • Life cycle innovation • Life
cycle management • Life cycle sustainability management • Sustainability
P. Strothmann (*)
FSLCI , Berlin , Germany
e-mail: philip.strothmann@fslci.org
J. Bricout
[avniR] Platform – cd2e, Rue de Bourgogne , Base du 11/19 , 62750 Loos en Gohelle , France
G. Sonnemann
University of Bordeaux , Bordeaux , France
J. Fava
thinkstep , West Chester , PA , USA
© 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_20
Chapter 20
Communication and Collaboration
as Essential Elements for Mainstreaming
Life Cycle Management
Philip Strothmann , Jodie Bricout , Guido Sonnemann ,
and Jim Fava
Abstract This chapter addresses two major challenges for mainstreaming life
cycle management that are intrinsically linked: collaboration and communication.
To this end it is argued that in order to radically increase the take up of life cycle
based approaches in business and government, life cycle professionals need to
enhance global collaboration among themselves, as well as with others and communicate to a wider set of stakeholders. The chapter makes the case that the life
cycle community does not have a home, and thus currently does not exist as one
coherent and clearly identifi able stakeholder. It concludes that successful communication on behalf of and with the community can only be achieved when the community is formally organized. To this end the newly established Forum for
Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation is presented as a possible way to overcome the outlined gaps and challenges.
Keywords Forum for sustainability through life cycle • Life cycle assessment •
Life-cycle based approaches • Life cycle community • Life cycle innovation • Life
cycle management • Life cycle sustainability management • Sustainability
P. Strothmann (*)
FSLCI , Berlin , Germany
e-mail: philip.strothmann@fslci.org
J. Bricout
[avniR] Platform – cd2e, Rue de Bourgogne , Base du 11/19 , 62750 Loos en Gohelle , France
G. Sonnemann
University of Bordeaux , Bordeaux , France
J. Fava
thinkstep , West Chester , PA , USA