Lifecycle Mapping

Summary

This module explores lifecycle mapping, emphasizing its role in understanding how business choices affect social and environmental systems. It outlines a structured process for assessing the impacts of products, services, or processes throughout their entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. Key steps include defining the focus, mapping key stages, evaluating environmental and social impacts, identifying system interventions, prioritizing changes, and sharing findings. By applying lifecycle thinking, businesses can uncover strategic opportunities, mitigate risks, and foster sustainable practices, as illustrated through examples like cotton t-shirts and wilderness safari experiences.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Lifecycle mapping helps businesses understand their impact on social and environmental systems.
• 🔍 Life cycle thinking identifies strategic risks and opportunities in a product's value chain.
• 📊 Clear functional units and system boundaries are essential for effective lifecycle mapping.
• 🛠️ Mapping stages of a product's lifecycle includes extraction, processing, assembly, distribution, and disposal.
• 👕 The life cycle of a cotton t-shirt highlights significant environmental impacts, including water use and carbon emissions.
• ⚖️ Environmental and social issues are interconnected; both must be considered for a holistic view.
• 💧 Growing cotton consumes significant water and can lead to soil and water contamination.
• 👷‍♂️ Social impacts include labor conditions, worker safety, and community health issues related to the textile industry.
• 🔄 System interventions can address environmental and social challenges, including improving materials and manufacturing processes.
• 📈 Prioritizing data and resources is crucial for implementing effective changes and understanding impacts.

Q & A

What is lifecycle mapping?

Lifecycle mapping is a structured process that helps identify, understand, and improve the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a product, process, or service at all stages of its lifecycle.

Why is lifecycle thinking important for businesses?

Lifecycle thinking helps businesses understand the impact of their choices on social and environmental systems, identify strategic risks and opportunities, and explore unintended consequences of potential changes.

What are the first steps in creating a conceptual lifecycle map?

The first steps involve defining the functional unit being studied and setting the boundaries for the analysis to make meaningful comparisons between products or services.

Can you provide an example of defining a functional unit?

For instance, when comparing paper bags to plastic bags, the functional unit might be defined as 'carrying items home from the store.'

What key stages should be mapped in a product's lifecycle?

Key stages include raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, distribution, consumer use, and end-of-life disposal or reuse.

What are some environmental impacts associated with the lifecycle of a cotton t-shirt?

Environmental impacts include water usage for cotton growth, greenhouse gas emissions from processing and transportation, and waste generated from overproduction and disposal.

How does the social aspect intertwine with environmental issues in lifecycle mapping?

Social issues, such as worker conditions and community health impacts, are often linked to environmental issues, making it crucial to consider both in lifecycle mapping.

What potential system interventions can be identified to address lifecycle impacts?

Interventions may include changing materials, improving manufacturing processes, encouraging sustainable consumer behaviors, and optimizing end-of-life product recovery.

How can businesses prioritize interventions after mapping the lifecycle?

Businesses should assess the data and resources needed to understand impacts and gauge their ability to influence change, focusing on interventions likely to yield significant positive outcomes.

In addition to products, how can lifecycle mapping be applied to services?

Lifecycle mapping can also be applied to services, such as a wilderness safari experience, by examining each step involved in service delivery and its associated social and environmental implications.