scholarly journals The EU Circular Economy Package – Life Cycle Thinking to Life Cycle Law?

Procedia CIRP ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
The Eu

scholarly journals The evolution of life cycle assessment in European policies over three decades

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serenella Sala ◽  
Andrea Martino Amadei ◽  
Antoine Beylot ◽  
Fulvio Ardente
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
General Concept ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Policy Domain ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Purpose Life cycle thinking (LCT) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are increasingly considered pivotal concept and method for supporting sustainable transitions. LCA plays a relevant role in decision support, for the ambition of a holistic coverage of environmental dimensions and for the identification of hotspots, possible trade-offs, and burden shifting among life cycle stages or impact categories. These features are also relevant when the decision support is needed in policy domain. With a focus on EU policies, the present study explores the evolution and implementation of life cycle concepts and approaches over three decades. Methods Adopting an historical perspective, a review of current European Union (EU) legal acts and communications explicitly mentioning LCT, LCA, life cycle costing (LCC), and environmental footprint (the European Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint PEF/OEF) is performed, considering the timeframe from 1990 to 2020. The documents are categorised by year and according to their types (e.g. regulations, directives, communications) and based on the covered sectors (e.g. waste, energy, buildings). Documents for which life cycle concepts and approaches had a crucial role are identified, and a shortlist of these legal acts and communications is derived. Results and discussion Over the years, LCT and life cycle approaches have been increasingly mentioned in policy. From the Ecolabel Regulation of 1992, to the Green Deal in 2019, life cycle considerations are of particular interest in the EU. The present work analysed a total of 159 policies and 167 communications. While in some sectors (e.g. products, vehicles, and waste) life cycle concepts and approaches have been adopted with higher levels of prescriptiveness, implementation in other sectors (e.g. food and agriculture) is only at a preliminary stage. Moreover, life cycle (especially LCT) is frequently addressed and cited only as a general concept and in a rather generic manner. Additionally, more stringent and rigorous methods (LCA, PEF/OEF) are commonly cited only in view of future policy developments, even if a more mature interest in lifecycle is evident in recent policies. Conclusion The EU has been a frontrunner in the implementation of LCT/LCA in policies. However, despite a growing trend in this implementation, the development of new stringent and mandatory requirements related to life cycle is still relatively limited. In fact, there are still issues to be solved in the interface between science and policy making (such as verification and market surveillance) to ensure a wider implementation of LCT and LCA.

Life Cycle Thinking in a Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
pp. 35-53
Author(s):  
Shabbir H. Gheewala ◽  
Thapat Silalertruksa
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking

Life cycle thinking and the circular economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 216-230
Author(s):  
Octavio Ibarra ◽  
Maria Carolina Ovalle ◽  
Maria Palazzo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking

scholarly journals Green marketing today – a mix of trust, consumer participation and life cycle thinking

Management ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lewandowska ◽  
Joanna Witczak ◽  
Przemysław Kurczewski
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Green Marketing ◽  
Marketing Management ◽  
Consumer Participation ◽  
Consumer Trust ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Green Business ◽  
Conceptual Study ◽  
Lca Results

SummaryA transition for a green, circular economy has encouraged companies to use new tools which boost sustainability. The purpose of this article is to discuss the consideration of life cycle thinking in green marketing as realized by companies. This theoretical-conceptual study aims to analyze life cycle assessment (LCA) as a useful tool for assessing green marketing goals. We also intend to highlight the importance of creating consumer trust for green business by displaying the green credentials of the products and activities. The article presents t he virtues and shortcomings of the LCA results relative to marketing management. As a result, the literature presents some gaps in terms of addressing life cycle thinking in marketing management and linking with consumer participation and trust.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Thinking for Sustainable Consumption and Production towards a Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 202 ◽  
pp. 01003
Author(s):  
Shabbir H. Gheewala
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Product Systems ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Responsible Consumption

The current model of a linear economy with end-of-pipe waste treatment is not sustainable. Cleaner production helps reduce resource use and emissions, but is still not an optimal solution without considering a life cycle perspective. Life cycle-based tools such as life cycle assessment and life cycle costing are useful for identifying optimal environmental and economic options for product systems. SDG 12 dealing with responsible consumption and production is key for sustainability. Developing of a circular economy requires life cycle thinking and life cycle-based tools for assessment. All these issues are discussed along with illustrative examples.

scholarly journals Education in Circular Economy: Focusing on Life Cycle Thinking at the University of the Basque Country

2021 ◽  
pp. 360-365
Author(s):  
Rikardo Minguez ◽  
Erlantz Lizundia ◽  
Maider Iturrondobeitia ◽  
Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki ◽  
Estibaliz Saez-de-Camara
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Master's Degree ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Or Economics ◽  
Product Manufacturing ◽  
Master’S Degree ◽  
The University

AbstractSince 2002, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has supported several teaching experiences related to the so-called Life Cycle Thinking or Ecodesign in collaboration with local Institutions. The kick off was the Ecodesign Learning Center aiming to promote environmental education at the Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao. In this framework, the last effort has been the implementation of a Master’s Degree entitled Circular Economy: Business Application. This course has been successfully implemented in the 2019–2020 academic year and has been specifically designed to provide training in circular economy for people with backgrounds as varied as product manufacturing engineering, environmental engineering or economics. These studies are aimed to become a European reference in its goal of promoting circular economy, life cycle thinking, ecodesign and sustainable development. This paper analyzes the learning issues and characteristics of this Master's degree placing a special emphasis on its novel competencies and learning outcomes for our society. It can be concluded that the Master's degree is a pioneering teaching experience, being the forefront of Circular Economy Education in Southwestern Europe.

scholarly journals End-of-life management as a design tool: the case of a dry wood envelope

2021 ◽  
pp. 260-270
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Palumbo ◽  
Francesca Camerin ◽  
Chiara Panozzo ◽  
Massimo Rossetti
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Construction Techniques ◽  
Environmental Product Declarations ◽  
Dry Wood

This paper is part of the design strategies of reassembly and reuse of buildings according to the transition to circular economy. Specifically, the paper addresses the issue of architectural envelopes made of drywall and their executive design according to a Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) approach, based on a case study of a temporary wooden housing unit for which there are several scenarios of use and end of life once the first cycle of use of the components of the envelope has come to an end. In particular, the paper, based on the collection of environmental profiles of products through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), wants to define a balance between the environmental impacts incorporated in the used materials and the benefits related to the adoption of dry construction techniques.

Coherence in law: A way to stimulate the transition towards a circular economy? A critical analysis of the European Commission's aspiration to achieve full coherence between chemicals legislation and waste legislation – and product legislation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1023263X2110486
Author(s):  
Ida Mae de Waal
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Eu Policy ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
The Eu

This article examines the (lack of) coherence between the legislative fields that govern the life cycle of materials and products and thus are relevant to the transition towards a circular economy in the EU: EU chemicals, product and waste legislation. After examining the notion of coherence in law, it provides insight into the role of coherence in EU chemicals, product and waste legislation in light of the transition towards a circular economy. The article examines the (possible) issues that exist at the interface between these three legislative fields by reviewing literature and EU policy documents and looks into the relation between these issues and the (lack of) coherence between EU chemicals, product and waste legislation. It is argued that, when looked at in light of the transition towards a circular economy, several issues might be related to a lack of coherence. Nonetheless, the aspiration to achieve full coherence should be looked at critically.

scholarly journals Fostering Education for Circular Economy through Life Cycle Thinking

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikardo Minguez ◽  
Erlantz Lizundia ◽  
Maider Iturrondobeitia ◽  
Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki ◽  
Estibaliz Saez-de-Camara
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Master's Degree ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Teaching Experiences ◽  
New Graduates ◽  
Regional Strategies ◽  
Or Economics ◽  
Master’S Degree

Since 2002, the University of the Basque Country has supported several teaching experiences related to the so-called Life Cycle Thinking and Ecodesign in collaboration with local and regional public institutions and private companies. The implementation of a Master’s Degree entitled ‘Circular Economy: Business Application’ constitutes a milestone in the framework of these teaching experiences. From the very moment the European Green Deal was approved and, subsequently, before the state and regional strategies were launched, thanks to our prior experience, we have been able to offer the postgraduate course required by our administration and companies. The courses have been specifically designed to provide education for Circular Economy for new graduates as well as professionals with backgrounds as varied as product manufacturing engineering, environmental engineering, business administration or economics. It aims to become a European reference in its goal of promoting Circular Economy, life cycle thinking, ecodesign, industrial symbiosis and sustainable development and, at the same time, support the transition to circular economy in our region. As a result, in just two years the master’s degree has led to the creation within our university of a knowledge hub in Circular Economy, which hosts more than 20 research groups.

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