17
• Participating actively in setting up the strategic sustainability goals of the
organization
• Communicating explicitly throughout the organization regarding the
sustainability aims in an effective and clear manner
• Involving actively the employees with regard to ideas and suggestions for the use
of life cycle approaches
However, in order for LCM to be accepted and get continuous support from top
level management, it needs to highlight the economic benefi ts the company can
profi t from its implementation in addition to the social and environmental performance improvements.
A successful implementation of LCM also needs full participation by a range of
employees in order to ensure that the initiative will be deeply rooted in the organization and that the focus will be on concrete improvements to a product’s sustainability profi le, rather than mere talk and data collection. Furthermore, broad participation
ensures that the LCM program does not ‘die’ if a key employee involved leaves the
organization.
Leading companies will undertake initiatives to increase market share and
enhance the potential for product innovation. A business striving for increased
resource effi ciency may see a strategy for product sustainability as an opportunity
to reduce costs. In more conservatively operating companies, intrinsic factors will
include reduced penalties and risks since taking a life cycle approach can help identify important opportunities and risks. Other organizations may seek to gain competitive advantage through innovation, brand value enhancement and strategic
positioning in the market.
In the case of product design and development processes, for example, design
decisions take place within the broader corporate management structure. An integrated management system – covering quality, environment and health & safety –
with policies, goals, performance measures and a strategic plan that supports
continuous improvements will be a driver for integration of sustainability performance metrics and measures. In this context, life cycle (sustainability) management
offers a framework that allows management to organize and align the various
applied concepts and tools in such a way as to exploit the synergies and interrelations between them.
Another key factor for the success of LCM practices in an organization is the
involvement of all departments. Such an initiative could impact all functions and
departments of a company. For instance, an implementation of a new design idea may
need the support from procurement and marketing departments. Any decision that
changes the material composition of a product not only affects its quality, price and
environmental profi le but also raises questions regarding procurement of new material, potential new markets, consequences to the production process, new logistical
demands, etc. Therefore, communication and sharing ideas within and across
departments in an organization is key to LCM. Communication and interaction helps
generate a range of news ideas and helps push ideas into realization. It is important to
recognize also the environmental and social initiatives, which already exist in various
2 Life Cycle Management: Implementing Sustainability in Business Practice
• Participating actively in setting up the strategic sustainability goals of the
organization
• Communicating explicitly throughout the organization regarding the
sustainability aims in an effective and clear manner
• Involving actively the employees with regard to ideas and suggestions for the use
of life cycle approaches
However, in order for LCM to be accepted and get continuous support from top
level management, it needs to highlight the economic benefi ts the company can
profi t from its implementation in addition to the social and environmental performance improvements.
A successful implementation of LCM also needs full participation by a range of
employees in order to ensure that the initiative will be deeply rooted in the organization and that the focus will be on concrete improvements to a product’s sustainability profi le, rather than mere talk and data collection. Furthermore, broad participation
ensures that the LCM program does not ‘die’ if a key employee involved leaves the
organization.
Leading companies will undertake initiatives to increase market share and
enhance the potential for product innovation. A business striving for increased
resource effi ciency may see a strategy for product sustainability as an opportunity
to reduce costs. In more conservatively operating companies, intrinsic factors will
include reduced penalties and risks since taking a life cycle approach can help identify important opportunities and risks. Other organizations may seek to gain competitive advantage through innovation, brand value enhancement and strategic
positioning in the market.
In the case of product design and development processes, for example, design
decisions take place within the broader corporate management structure. An integrated management system – covering quality, environment and health & safety –
with policies, goals, performance measures and a strategic plan that supports
continuous improvements will be a driver for integration of sustainability performance metrics and measures. In this context, life cycle (sustainability) management
offers a framework that allows management to organize and align the various
applied concepts and tools in such a way as to exploit the synergies and interrelations between them.
Another key factor for the success of LCM practices in an organization is the
involvement of all departments. Such an initiative could impact all functions and
departments of a company. For instance, an implementation of a new design idea may
need the support from procurement and marketing departments. Any decision that
changes the material composition of a product not only affects its quality, price and
environmental profi le but also raises questions regarding procurement of new material, potential new markets, consequences to the production process, new logistical
demands, etc. Therefore, communication and sharing ideas within and across
departments in an organization is key to LCM. Communication and interaction helps
generate a range of news ideas and helps push ideas into realization. It is important to
recognize also the environmental and social initiatives, which already exist in various
2 Life Cycle Management: Implementing Sustainability in Business Practice