Global guidance principles on LCA databases: Outreach and training activities world wide and multi-region collaboration for consistent LCA data- ISSF 2013

The UNEP/ SETAC Life Cycle Initiative organized a Pellston-type workshop in 2011 in Shonan Village, Japan, based on which the Global Guidance Principles for LCA Databases (Shonan Guidance Principles) where developed. The workshop was organized by a multi-stakeholder steering committee. As a basis for coming up with these guiding principles a variety of guidelines used in various regions were reviewed. The Shonan Guidance Principles specify how the generation of LCA data and the management of related databases need to occur and have been developed to complement ongoing activities in different regions of the world.

Following the launch of the Shonan Guidance Principles at the LCM 2011 Conference in Berlin, a number of outreach events have been organized in particular in emerging economies such as in Chile and Tunisia in 2011 and in Brazil, China, India in 2012. These activities are being continued in 2013. They have facilitated to create a global awareness of the Principles.

Further development of the guidance principles is needed so that they can be used in a practical way for training and other applications. To achieve this is one of the targets and actions identified for a flagship project within Phase 3 of the Life Cycle Initiative. The training material content will include the topic of how to set up databases and develop datasets, in particular in the developing world. Overall, this flagship project foresees the systematic implementation of the Shonan Guidance Principles to ensure that practice follows the guidance.

Regional and country based LCA networks are seen as important elements of this implementation strategy. They have already demonstrated their value for the organization of awareness-raising events on the Shonan Guidance Principles.

Database managers are identified as central actors in the Shonan Guidance Principles. Therefore, establishing multi-stakeholder and multi-region collaboration worldwide among database mangers that in general are part of a regional and country based LCA networks is seen as an other key element of a global roadmap for capability development on the generation of consistent LCA data and the management of related databases.