Evaluation of Environmental Impacts in Life Cycle Assessment - estis

Foreword
In 1998 and 2000, UNEP joined forces with US-EPA and CML to facilitate an international discussion
forum on two specific issues of scientific development in the field of Life Cycle Assessment - first, the
level of sophistication in impact assessment and second, the type of environmental indicators to use.
To this end, two international expert workshops were held. The present document provides an
introduction to the workshop topics, a report of these two workshops, and some resources for further
information. It has been published with the kind support of US-EPA. Our goal with this publication is
to bring the overall issues, and the specific discussions and outcomes of both workshops to a broader
audience.
In 2002, UNEP continued to facilitate an international forum for life cycle approaches with the launch
of the UNEP/ SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, also with the involvement of US-EPA and CML. This new
initiative responds to the call of the “Malmö Declaration”, the agreement signed by the world's
environment ministers at the 1 st Global Ministerial Environment Forum, for a life-cycle economy. The
relevance of life cycle analysis for changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns was
emphasized in the plan of implementation emanating from the World Summit of Sustainable
Development in 2002.
UNEP hopes to foster the application of life cycle assessment in public and private decision making
for the benefit of the consumer and the sake of the environment. Therefore, UNEP is promoting supply
chain responsibility and sustainable procurement to business and governments in order to create a need
for life cycle information. Capacity building on life cycle approaches will be undertaken via regional
programmes falling under the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative.
The development of a consistent methodology framework, internationally accepted, is a priority to
promote Life Cycle Assessment. Environmental Product Declarations would stand to benefit from
such an approach. We also know that it is important to develop Life Cycle Management approaches.
Finally sharing information and results obtained from Life Cycle Assessment studies is crucial to
progress towards a life cycle economy. These are also subjects that will be addressed by the UNEP/
SETAC Life Cycle Initiative.
We in UNEP hope that this publication, as well as our other activities, will help to raise awareness of
life cycle approaches around the world and assist in their effective implementation.
Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel
Assistant Executive Director, UNEP
Director, DTIE