Sustainability is a paradigm for thinking about the future in which environmental, societal and economic considerations are equitable in the pursuit of an improved lifestyle. Most of the economies are developing with breakneck velocities and becoming epicentres of unsustainable global growth. Immense utilization of natural resources, waste generation and ecological irresponsibility are the reasons for such a dire situation. With the world polity debating over issues like climate change, water resources, food security, energy efficiency for the last few decades, it is evident that sustainability and green thinking has taken root in all approaches and dialogues. Governments are rethinking their developmental paths adopted to ensure a sustainable lifestyle. Industry, academic institutions, public sectors are taking serious advancement to implement the same.
In a recent event, Honb’l Prime Minister stated “Resource-efficiency is a necessary condition for sustainable development, and a key element of the economic pillar of sustainability.” Life cycle assessment and management is emerging as a pioneer tool in this context.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique to assess the environmental impact of using a product throughout its life cycle. Essentially, life cycle assessment considers evaluating a product from raw material extraction, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, to disposal or recycling. It is much like accounting; however, it focuses on efficient allocation and economizing of resources, (time, money, services etc).
Government and manufacturing managers who require assistance in deciding where to focus their sustainability efforts for greatest impact and consumers who need to validate their decisions perceive LCA as the vital DNA of sound sustainability decision-making. The discipline of LCA work is developing quickly and new tools are becoming more useful as the parameters of the models are fleshed out.
Indian Life Cycle Assessment & Management (ILCM) is a flagship event of FICCI which aims to promote life cycle thinking in India. It serves as a platform to bring together Indian and international LCA and LCM experts, policymakers, academia, producers, retailers and intermediaries to promote life cycle approaches in India. ILCM 2012 was first-of-its-kind conference held in New Delhi on 22-23 August. The deliberations revolved around the need for tools to reduce the environmental burden of economic activities, practical examples on use of LCM by Indian industry and research community and possible approach in promoting its application in India. ILCM 2012 generated and witnessed significant involvement from Government entities, Industries and Academic institutions. Even though it was the first initiative by FICCI in Life Cycle Management domain, it was able to draw international and national interest engaging about 90 delegates from 59 organizations across diverse sectors.
FICCI has again partnered with UNEP to organize second edition of ILCM in Bengaluru, India, from 26-27 September, 2013. Deriving inspiration from Rio+20 Sustainable Development dialogues and suggestions of the ILCM 2012 delegates, ILCM 2013 aims to showcase practical examples implemented across various sectors. In line with this objective, ILCM 2013 invites policy makers, business managers and social scientists to bring in different perspectives and create a richer understanding of the subject.
This year’s Conference Program will be articulated around following 3 Thematic Streams:
• LCA: Local Vs Global perspectives
• Business opportunities and challenges in using LCA
• Social LCA for developing the institutional framework in India
For more information, please contact us at ilcm@ficci.com and browse through www.indialca.com
This article has been written by Sohini Gupta
