Charting the Future of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Special Issue

Thomas, Gerald; Guinée, Jeroen B.; Kau, H.W.; Singh, Bachan; Lifset, Reid

doi:10.1111/jiec.12711

Cited by 22 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(82 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For instance, UK has a target of recycling a minimum of 50 per cent (by weight) of its household waste by 2020 (Smith and Bolton, 2018). In addition, when one thinks of living sustainably, environmental friendliness is the first thought (Gloria et al , 2017). Yet sustainability as per the SDGs cover an array of sustainable practices (Griggs et al , 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning by sustainable living to improve sustainability literacy

Qureshi

2020

IJSHE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose By using experiential learning theory, this study aims to examine how students engage in sustainable living practices that can improve their sustainability literacy and behaviours. It also explores their motivations and enablers. In doing so, the research seeks to develop a curriculum model that may assist educators in designing learning activities for sustainable living. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study is conducted with 38 second-year undergraduate students on a sustainability-related module. Students are asked to engage in sustainable living practices for a six-week period. Descriptive statistics and inductive/thematic analysis are carried out on students’ reflective reports. Findings The results reveal five top sustainable living practices for students. The use of technology is revealed as an important enabler. Sustainable living motivations and approaches, and new skills are revealed. A sustainable living curriculum model is developed as a student-centric approach for fostering sustainability values. Practical implications The findings have implications for those teaching sustainability on the design of their learning content and activities by taking a student-centric approach to sustainable living. It also encourages active reflection throughout using an incremental learning process. Originality/value The research contributes to the existing literature by showing different choices and approaches for students’ sustainable living that can be considered when designing curriculum and educational activities to encourage maximum interaction in sustainable living. It develops a new curriculum model specific to sustainable living, and also builds on the concept of “learning by living”, an extension of learning by doing.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning by sustainable living to improve sustainability literacy

Qureshi

2020

IJSHE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To determine the potential contribution of chemical recycling of residual municipal solid waste to the SDGs, Voss et al (2022) developed a consequential approach to LCSA using agent-based modeling. However, one of the core tasks in the evolution of the LCSA methodology remains the development of appropriate, quantitative, and practical indicators (Gloria et al, 2017). In this context, Eberle et al (2022) presented an indicator framework to assess the potential contribution of products to a selection of 61 SDG targets considered to be relevant at the product level.…”

Section: Critical Reflection Of Existing Methodological Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Streamlined benefit analysis of products based on the Sustainable Development Goals: Integrating the voice of society into life cycle sustainability assessment

Möller,

Grießhammer

2024

J of Industrial Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conducting benefit analyses used to be a controversial endeavor. In the absence of a consistent normative framework, indicators had to be determined on a case‐by‐case basis, requiring time‐consuming stakeholder workshops. The 2030 Agenda provided the missing normative basis to enable the inclusion of benefit aspects in life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA). However, given the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their 169 targets, it has remained unclear which of these targets relate to products and services and should therefore be used as indicators in benefit analyses. Against this background, this paper presents a consistent and well‐defined indicator framework for product‐related benefit analyses, developed through a detailed alignment with the 2030 Agenda and comprising a set of 30 indicators. It also describes how benefit analysis can be integrated into the LCSA methodology to provide a sound, evidence‐based framework for research and policy making: First, it outlines a sustainability self‐assessment tool for corporate researchers and designers, embedded in a Stage‐Gate process as a “voice‐of‐society” perspective. Second, it discusses approaches to improve regulatory impact assessment for policy making, particularly in the area of chemicals management. An illustrative case study shows how the developed benefit indicators can address current shortcomings in socio‐economic analysis methodology, such as an unbalanced focus on the economic impacts and insufficient information on human and environmental impacts. Despite its limitations, such as the inherent focus on societal benefits and existing “blind spots” in the 2030 Agenda, the indicator set has the potential to enrich LCSA studies with previously neglected aspects.

show abstract

“…A recent special issue on social LCA (Gloria et al. ) clearly demonstrates advancements in this growing field. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) guidelines on social LCA, currently being updated (Ekener ), and the accompanying methodological sheets (Benoit‐Norris et al.…”

Section: Indicator Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of particular relevance to this review are the articles published in the special issues: “Frontiers in footprinting” (Lifset ), “Charting the future of life cycle sustainability assessment” (Gloria et al. ), “Exploring the circular economy” (Bocken et al. ), and the DESIRE Project focusing on the use of MRIO tables for assessing resource use and resource efficiency (Tukker et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancements in Input‐Output Models and Indicators for Consumption‐Based Accounting

Malik

McBain

Wiedmann

et al. 2018

J of Industrial Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of global, multiregional input-output (MRIO) analysis for consumption-based (footprint) accounting has expanded significantly over the last decade. Most of the global studies on environmental and social impacts associated with consumption or embodied in international trade would have been impossible without the rapid development of extended MRIO databases. We present an overview of the developments in the field of MRIO analysis, in particular as applied to consumption-based environmental and social footprints. We first provide a discussion of research published on various global MRIO databases and the differences between them, before focusing on the virtual laboratory computing infrastructure for potentially making MRIO databases more accessible for collaborative research, and also for supporting greater sectoral and regional detail. We discuss work that includes a broader range of extensions, in particular the inclusion of social indicators in consumptionbased accounting. We conclude by discussing the need for the development of detailed nested MRIO tables for investigating linkages between regions of different countries, and the applications of the rapidly growing field of global MRIO analysis for assessing a country's performance toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Keywords:consumption industrial ecology input-output analysis social footprints sustainability assessment virtual laboratoryConflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

show abstract

Charting the Future of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Special Issue

Cited by 22 publications

References 17 publications

Learning by sustainable living to improve sustainability literacy

Learning by sustainable living to improve sustainability literacy

Streamlined benefit analysis of products based on the Sustainable Development Goals: Integrating the voice of society into life cycle sustainability assessment

Advancements in Input‐Output Models and Indicators for Consumption‐Based Accounting

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About