1. Dr. Sophie Parsons, CEng CEnv
Life cycle thinking in environmental management: Methods, standards and IEMA survey results
Dr. Sophie Parsons, CEng CEnv

2. Sustainable Energy Research Team (SERT)
Based in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Bath
Multidisciplinary team with research areas including:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Embodied energy and carbon
Energy demand reduction in industry
Bioenergy
Environmental footprinting
Environmental economics

3. Life cycle thinking
Organisation
Upstream
Downstream
Understanding the whole system associated with an organisation and the provision of its product portfolio
Qualitative approaches = life cycle thinking
Quantitative approaches = LCA, water footprinting, carbon footprinting………

4. Methods Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Carbon footprinting: DEFRA, GHG Protocol, PAS 2050, ISO
LCA: ILCD handbook, ISO
Carbon disclosure project for water
Sector-specific methods
CE principles, BS 8001
Methods

5. Data management Life cycle data sources
Internal EMS, supplier management platform
Open source databases: ICE (Univ. Bath),ELCD database, PlasticsEurope, EPA, US Life Cycle Inventory Database, BRE, DEFRA….
Paid access databases: GaBi, Ecoinvent, Simapro, Granta….
Data management

6. IEMA survey Surveyed IEMA members back in March 487 respondents
Range of questions relating to the application of life cycle thinking and life cycle assessment including:
Type of data collected
Type of impacts assessed
Scope of impacts assessed
Methods used
Databases used
Perceived advantages and barriers to implementing LCA

7. Almost half (48.5%) led ISO 14001 implementation in their organisation
Over 60% had +5 years experience with ISO 14001
Who we surveyed
At what stage of implementing the revised standard are you?

8. 45% of respondents include the use phase or end-of-life in their EMS
Over 80% felt the had full or partial understanding of life cycle thinking in the context of the revised standard
Almost 70% of respondents request environmental data from suppliers
EMS Scope and Planning
What is the scope of your EMS and what environmental aspects do you consider?
45% of respondents include the use phase or end-of-life in their EMS

9. Supplier data collection
What type of information do you request from suppliers?
Supplier data collection
Other:
Waste information FSC information Health and Safety
Environmental policy Recycled content Packaging
ISO certification RoHS/WEEE information Materials/ethical sourcing

10. Environmental impacts
Which type of assessment method do you most regularly work with?

11. Environmental impacts
What type of environmental aspects do you assess?
Environmental impacts

12. Environmental assessment tools
Which environmental assessment tools do you use regularly?
43.7% use these tools at a product and organisational level

13. Environmental assessment standards
We asked participants about the following standards:
ISO – Environmental management systems - guidelines for incorporating eco-design
ISO – GHGs Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organisational level for quantification and reporting of GHG emissions
GHG protocol – Corporate standard
European Commission Organisational Environmental Footprint (OEF)
Bilan Carbone
PAS 2050 – Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services
ISO – Carbon footprints of products – Requirements and guidelines for quantification and communication
Environmental assessment standards

14. Environmental assessment standards
ISO 14044/40 – Environmental management – Life cycle assessment
ISO – Environmental management – Water footprint – Principles, requirements and guidelines
International Reference Lifecycle Data System Handbook (ILCD)
GHG protocol – Corporate value chain (Scope 3) accounting and reporting standard
GHG protocol - Product life cycle accounting and reporting standard
Global water footprint assessment standard
EN Sustainability of construction works. Assessment of environmental performance of buildings
EN Sustainability of construction works. Environmental product declarations. Core rules for the product category of construction products
Environmental assessment standards

15. Environmental assessment standards
What is the level of your practical application of the following standards?
Environmental assessment standards

16. Environmental life cycle databases
From which of the following databases do you source life-cycle data?
Environmental life cycle databases

17. Benefits and barriers to applying LCA
65% of respondents believe that LCA could be useful in supporting their organisations EMS
Over half of those who responded to the survey felt that recent regulations have not been a driver in increasing a life cycle focus within their organisation
Benefits and barriers to applying LCA
Perceived benefits to applying LCA

18. Benefits and barriers to applying LCA
Perceived barriers to applying LCA within you organisation

19. Key outcomes
The majority of respondents consider a wide scope within their EMS that takes in aspects greater than just their sphere of control
Respondents collect a wider range of data from suppliers
The most common types of information collected are: direct energy use, waste, and materials use
Carbon footprinting is the most common assessment method used followed by energy/embodied energy assessment
The GHG Protocol - Corporate Standard was the commonly used assessment standard

20. Key outcomes
Environmental databases were not commonly used to collect data from
Respondents were broadly positive about how LCA could benefit their organisation
The main drivers for implementing LCA were to enhance ISO compliance
Customer demand featured highly as a driver and as a barrier to implementing LCA
Many respondents saw relevance to the organisation as a barrier to implementing LCA

21. What approaches have you taken to taking a life-cycle perspective?
What are the key practical challenges you face in your organisation to taking a life-cycle perspective?
What, if any, value have you derived?
What guidance and support would you most value?
Discussion