LCA in Environmental Management Systems—Results of Individual Interviews with Selected Enterprises from Poland and Sweden

Katarzyna Joachimiak-Lechman

doi:10.4236/jep.2013.47080

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an analytical tool used for the environmental optimization of products and services within the entirety of its life cycle. ISO 14040 recommends use of the technique in numerous areas of environmental management such as in designing for the environment, eco-labelling, environmental communications and the assessment of the effects of environmental activities. Despite being theoretically feasible, certain applications of the ecological assessment of a life cycle such as the possibility of identification and evaluation of environmental aspects with the use of LCA are, in practice, still new to many environmental managers. With its strong points, the technique seems to be a valuable tool, especially in the context of apparent concepts of Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems (POEMS). In order to verify the hypothesis, the author decided to verify the level of use of LCA in the area of identification and assessment of environmental aspects in selected organizations. Therefore, questionnaire interviews were conducted with representatives of selected Polish and Swedish enterprises who, at the time of the interview, had certified environmental management systems. The organizations were analyzed with respect to applied methods and techniques used for identification and assessment of environmental aspects as well as the degree of use of LCA both in this respect and in other areas of environmental management. This paper will present the results of this research and conclusions.

Highlights

Deterioration of the natural environment necessitated ecological activities on the part of consumers, and on the part of economic entities as well
Analysis of Part 1 of the Interview. This part of the paper will present the results of the research conducted, namely the first part of the interview relating to tools used for identification and assessment of environmental aspects
In the process of identification of environmental aspects, most of the Swedish enterprises covered by the analysis applied a whole range of conventional methods, such as interviews and brainstorming (67% of enterprises1), inspections (50% of enterprises) and control charts (33% of enterprises)

Summary

Introduction

Deterioration of the natural environment necessitated ecological activities on the part of consumers, and on the part of economic entities as well. The idea of permanent and sustainable development exerts a growing influence upon the formation of theories and practice in numerous fields of life, including the theory and practice of management [1]. This is reflected in even stronger determination of enterprises to develop their environmental activities. Tools that support such initiatives, include, amongst others, formalized environmental management systems oriented to management of environmental aspects that, in the light of ISO 14001, are defined as elements of activities of an organization, its products and services, that may interact with the environment [2]. Environmental aspects may be used during construction and maintenance of the environmental management system, but, significantly, in improvement of the system, as such aspects have an influence upon all activities realized as part of implementation, maintenance and improvement of the environmental management system [3]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion