Abstract
Purpose
The paper introduces the publication on “Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases”; it focuses on the development of training material and other implementation activities on the publication.
Methods
The document is the output of the “Shonan Guidance Principles” workshop. The publication provides guidance principles for life cycle assessment (LCA) databases; this includes how to collect raw data, how to develop datasets, and how to manage databases. The publication also addresses questions concerning data documentation and review, coordination among databases, capacity building, and future scenarios. As a next step, the publication is used to prepare training material and other implementation activities.
Results
The publication was launched at the LCM 2011 Conference. Since then outreach activities have been organized in particular in emerging economies. Further developments with regard to the guidance principles are foreseen as part of a flagship project within phase 3 of the Life Cycle Initiative. Training material is being developed that will include how to set up databases and develop datasets. The topic has been taken up by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its Rio + 20 Voluntary Commitments: UNEP and Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) through the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative commit to facilitate improved access to good quality life cycle data and databases as well as expanded use of key environmental indicators that allows the measurement and monitoring of progress towards the environmental sustainability of selected product chains.
Conclusions
The adoption of the “Global Guidance Principles” publication as a de facto global standard is expected to facilitate the work of database teams, especially, in developing countries, and the collaboration in regional networks. These efforts are supported by the development of training material and other implementation activities.
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References
Sonnemann G, Vigon B, Broadbent C, Curran MA, Finkbeiner M, Frischknecht R, Inaba A, Schanssema A, Stevenson M, Ugaya CML, Wang H, Wolf MA, Valdivia S (2011) Process on “global guidance for LCA databases”. Int J Life Cycle Assess 16:95–97
Sonnemann G, Vigon B (ed) (2011) Global guidance principles for life cycle assessment databases: a basis for greener processes and products. Publication of the UNEP/ SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, ISBN 978-92-807-3174-3, UNEP, Paris
UNCSD (2012) Development of key environmental indicators and life cycle data for key product chains. UN DESA Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. http://www.uncsd2012.org/index.php?page=view&type=1006&menu=153&nr=491. Accessed 18 Jan 2013
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the sponsoring partners of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative and of METI as the Japanese host for the workshop. Moreover, the authors would like to thank the Steering Committee members and the workshop participants for their support in preparing the publication.
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Additional information
The publication and the list of the Initiative’s partners can be obtained from the new UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative website at http://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/.
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Sonnemann, G., Vigon, B., Rack, M. et al. Global guidance principles for life cycle assessment databases: development of training material and other implementation activities on the publication. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18, 1169–1172 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0563-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0563-7