13
streams. The fundamental objective of SCP is to decouple socio-economic development from environmental degradation.
SCP policies cover all the areas highlighted in Fig. 2.3 . A core element linked to
SCP is resource effi ciency that is about ensuring that natural resources are effi -
ciently produced and processed, and consumed in a more sustainable way, as well
as about reducing the environmental impact from the consumption and production
of products over their full life cycles. By producing more wellbeing with less material consumption, resource effi ciency enhances the means to meet human needs
while respecting the ecological carrying capacity of the earth.
That means SCP is based on a life cycle approach but the link to how it is put into
business practice using multiple tools mentioned above is not addressed in the same
way as in LCM. Therefore, the question on how tools like LCA are actually used in
public policy making and hence might infl uence business operations has been covered under the heading of LCM in the past. Overall there seem to be high expectations of the future use of LCA in SCP policy areas such as sustainable public
procurement and eco-design directives as well as consumer information. However,
there are still certain challenges to overcome such as the lack of good quality and
available data, the lack of valid and internationally recognized calculation principle,
more capacity building and resources.
Fig. 2.3 SCP policies along the product life cycle (UNEP 2012 )
2 Life Cycle Management: Implementing Sustainability in Business Practice
streams. The fundamental objective of SCP is to decouple socio-economic development from environmental degradation.
SCP policies cover all the areas highlighted in Fig. 2.3 . A core element linked to
SCP is resource effi ciency that is about ensuring that natural resources are effi -
ciently produced and processed, and consumed in a more sustainable way, as well
as about reducing the environmental impact from the consumption and production
of products over their full life cycles. By producing more wellbeing with less material consumption, resource effi ciency enhances the means to meet human needs
while respecting the ecological carrying capacity of the earth.
That means SCP is based on a life cycle approach but the link to how it is put into
business practice using multiple tools mentioned above is not addressed in the same
way as in LCM. Therefore, the question on how tools like LCA are actually used in
public policy making and hence might infl uence business operations has been covered under the heading of LCM in the past. Overall there seem to be high expectations of the future use of LCA in SCP policy areas such as sustainable public
procurement and eco-design directives as well as consumer information. However,
there are still certain challenges to overcome such as the lack of good quality and
available data, the lack of valid and internationally recognized calculation principle,
more capacity building and resources.
Fig. 2.3 SCP policies along the product life cycle (UNEP 2012 )
2 Life Cycle Management: Implementing Sustainability in Business Practice