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According to Bjørn et al. ( 2013 ), over 100 LCA networks had been developed by
2012, with at least seven new networks per year since 2008. However, 40 % of these
networks have less than 20 members, indicating that collaboration is still happening
in rather small circles. Furthermore, 68 % of these networks operate at a local level
and over a third are in Europe. So these small circles are mostly local, and concentrated on one continent.
Still, the positive growth of LCA networks, particularly in emerging economies
over the past few years is a success of efforts undertaken, for example, by the UNEP/
SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. It was launched in 2002 and has been key in boosting
collaboration around methodologies and tools since then. Similarly, SETAC has
provided the LCA community with some space, which has also been used primarily
to work on methodological issues. SETAC’s main focus, however, remains fi rst and
foremost on issues around environmental toxicology and chemistry (SETAC 2015 ).
And while these global players have invaluable strengths and played a great role in
advancing life cycle thinking around the world (Quiros 2014 ), they have so far not
focused on working closely with industry and businesses on establishing a global push
for consumer information on life cycle aspects.
In order to be successful, such a push should also be backed and driven by the
entire life cycle community, instead of a number of different stakeholders with
different priorities and interests. However, as outlined before, the current state of the
life cycle community is characterized by a fl urry of small circles, or nodes, at a local
level, and a handful of (historical) global players. The community as one clear
identifi able and organized stakeholder thus currently does not exist, mostly because
it has no home.
The lack of such a more organized and structured community that is visible and
has its own voice has, however, implications not only from a communications
perspective, but also from a collaborative point of view. As outlined above, collaboration happens mostly in small circles. Due to the discussed lack of national,
regional or even global coordination efforts, synergies get lost and opportunities for
collaboration are missed.
While this is mostly an issue for the community itself, the consequences are
relevant beyond the community. Communication is absolutely essential to help
spread the word, to inform people about the benefi ts of applying a life cycle
perspective and enable companies to put life cycle management into practice by
more easily communicating their efforts.
As shown over the past two decades, life cycle based thinking and methodologies
can help to operationalize sustainability efforts and are applied by companies to
identify cost and resource effective sustainability improvements and highlight them
to their potential clients (Box 20.1 ). However, in order to mainstream LCM and thus
have a tangible impact on the world, the life cycle community has to get out of the
small niche in which it is currently operating. Only then it can become a powerful
partner to companies and industry stakeholders and work towards effectively
informing consumers on the concept and advantages of taking a life cycle
perspective.
20 Communication and Collaboration as Essential Elements…
According to Bjørn et al. ( 2013 ), over 100 LCA networks had been developed by
2012, with at least seven new networks per year since 2008. However, 40 % of these
networks have less than 20 members, indicating that collaboration is still happening
in rather small circles. Furthermore, 68 % of these networks operate at a local level
and over a third are in Europe. So these small circles are mostly local, and concentrated on one continent.
Still, the positive growth of LCA networks, particularly in emerging economies
over the past few years is a success of efforts undertaken, for example, by the UNEP/
SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. It was launched in 2002 and has been key in boosting
collaboration around methodologies and tools since then. Similarly, SETAC has
provided the LCA community with some space, which has also been used primarily
to work on methodological issues. SETAC’s main focus, however, remains fi rst and
foremost on issues around environmental toxicology and chemistry (SETAC 2015 ).
And while these global players have invaluable strengths and played a great role in
advancing life cycle thinking around the world (Quiros 2014 ), they have so far not
focused on working closely with industry and businesses on establishing a global push
for consumer information on life cycle aspects.
In order to be successful, such a push should also be backed and driven by the
entire life cycle community, instead of a number of different stakeholders with
different priorities and interests. However, as outlined before, the current state of the
life cycle community is characterized by a fl urry of small circles, or nodes, at a local
level, and a handful of (historical) global players. The community as one clear
identifi able and organized stakeholder thus currently does not exist, mostly because
it has no home.
The lack of such a more organized and structured community that is visible and
has its own voice has, however, implications not only from a communications
perspective, but also from a collaborative point of view. As outlined above, collaboration happens mostly in small circles. Due to the discussed lack of national,
regional or even global coordination efforts, synergies get lost and opportunities for
collaboration are missed.
While this is mostly an issue for the community itself, the consequences are
relevant beyond the community. Communication is absolutely essential to help
spread the word, to inform people about the benefi ts of applying a life cycle
perspective and enable companies to put life cycle management into practice by
more easily communicating their efforts.
As shown over the past two decades, life cycle based thinking and methodologies
can help to operationalize sustainability efforts and are applied by companies to
identify cost and resource effective sustainability improvements and highlight them
to their potential clients (Box 20.1 ). However, in order to mainstream LCM and thus
have a tangible impact on the world, the life cycle community has to get out of the
small niche in which it is currently operating. Only then it can become a powerful
partner to companies and industry stakeholders and work towards effectively
informing consumers on the concept and advantages of taking a life cycle
perspective.
20 Communication and Collaboration as Essential Elements…