Abstract
This report summarizes the results of Deliverable 2.1: Analysis of the LCA status quo within the WINTRUST project on winter sport resource efficiency and improved circular economy. It examines the current status quo and practices of sustainability actions as well as the current role of using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a method to quantify the ecological performance among the companies that produce winter sport hard goods. The motivation stems from the increasing reliance on LCA data for internal and external usage such as legal compliance, branding, stakeholder engagement and sustainability decisions in product design and business development.
This report is based on information gaining during physical working group meetings and bilateral meetings between the processing of composites and design for recycling group of Montanuniversität Leoben and the respective company representatives. Prior to the analysis of sustainability actions and attitude, and current usage of LCA, it is pivotal to understand the companies’ profiles and their scope of action by analzing the basic framework conditions. The mentioned companies share similar product ranges, material suppliers, distribution systems, and target markets but differ in regards to geographical locations of production. Sustainability, while not the top priority, is an integral part of all companies' development strategies. Key drivers include economic performance, legal compliance and product performance. While these priorities and many sustainability measures are similar (concerning resrouce efficiency, renewable energies, employee satisfaction, etc), there is a different emphasis on certain topics depending on the company.
All companies perform LCA primarily for internal purposes and in anticipation of future regulatory requirements, although there is a need for LCA results also for marketing purposes. The status quo of LCA practices across the companies shows similarities in usage and communication of results, and methodological choices (such as such as functional units, system boundaries, and data sources) but differences in resource availability, tools used and the extent of LCA conducted. A SWOT analysis identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to conducting LCA and using the results in these companies. Positive factors include management commitment and the usefulness of LCA for strategic decision-making. However, challenges like data availability, complexity of LCA models, and unclear legislative frameworks pose significant hurdles. The report emphasizes the importance of cooperation among companies to address these challenges, to exchange knowledge (among each other but also between research and industry), to standardize methodologies, and to improve data collection processes. Future work of the working group will focus on these topics.
This report is based on information gaining during physical working group meetings and bilateral meetings between the processing of composites and design for recycling group of Montanuniversität Leoben and the respective company representatives. Prior to the analysis of sustainability actions and attitude, and current usage of LCA, it is pivotal to understand the companies’ profiles and their scope of action by analzing the basic framework conditions. The mentioned companies share similar product ranges, material suppliers, distribution systems, and target markets but differ in regards to geographical locations of production. Sustainability, while not the top priority, is an integral part of all companies' development strategies. Key drivers include economic performance, legal compliance and product performance. While these priorities and many sustainability measures are similar (concerning resrouce efficiency, renewable energies, employee satisfaction, etc), there is a different emphasis on certain topics depending on the company.
All companies perform LCA primarily for internal purposes and in anticipation of future regulatory requirements, although there is a need for LCA results also for marketing purposes. The status quo of LCA practices across the companies shows similarities in usage and communication of results, and methodological choices (such as such as functional units, system boundaries, and data sources) but differences in resource availability, tools used and the extent of LCA conducted. A SWOT analysis identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to conducting LCA and using the results in these companies. Positive factors include management commitment and the usefulness of LCA for strategic decision-making. However, challenges like data availability, complexity of LCA models, and unclear legislative frameworks pose significant hurdles. The report emphasizes the importance of cooperation among companies to address these challenges, to exchange knowledge (among each other but also between research and industry), to standardize methodologies, and to improve data collection processes. Future work of the working group will focus on these topics.
| Original language | English |
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| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2024 |
Keywords
- Life Cycle Assessment
- Sustainability
- Wintersport industry
- SWOT analysis
