Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing the environmental aspects associated with a product over its life cycle. The most important application is analysis of the contribution of life cycle stages to the overall environmental load, usually with the aim of prioritizing improvements on products or processes. The LCA, which often includes the assessment of greenhouse gases (GHGs) known as a carbon footprint, is being increasingly utilized for manufacturing purposes, specifically to technology outlets whose material use has not only an environmental impact, but an impact to society and on the health of individuals. Being active with the LCA means being able to communicate the environmental impact of products and business processes. Examining a product?s life cycle across its many stages provides a useful framework for thinking about how product changes will impact the environment. Product attributes can be improved for each life cycle stage. Focus is usually placed on the environmental impacts arising from manufacturing, but it is also important to consider the upstream impacts (those that occur before the product is manufactured, such as mining or processing the input materials) and downstream impacts (after manufacture including distribution, use, and final disposal) of a product. For this session, these main points that will be covered as they relate to: ?Carbon Footprint Strategy ?Carbon Footprint as an environmental strategy ?Climate change strategy & accounting - US and Global outlook ?GHG Protocol - history and application ?Carbon offsetting - when you?ve reduced all you can Sustainable energy - how LCA is driving its development

Biography

Nikos Avlonas is the President of the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), a global sustainability advisory and training organization. He has extensive international experience in Executive training & coaching, having trained over 5,000 managers worldwide. He has also conducted numerous projects for Fortune Global 1000 companies such as BP, Dell Computers, McCain Foods, DHL, Lafarge, HSBC, the European Investment Bank and the Lloyds Banking Group. In 2010, Nikos was distinguished as one of the ?Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior? by Trust across America. Nikos is a recognized expert who has given interviews relevant to sustainability issues to local and international media including: CNBC, CCTV (China Central TV), Voice of America, among others