Applying a Life Cycle Perspective in ISO 14001:2015

Introduction

ISO 14001:2015 introduced the requirement to consider a “life cycle perspective” when determining environmental aspects. This prevents “shifting the burden”—solving a problem in your facility by creating a bigger one upstream or downstream.

What is a Life Cycle Perspective?

It means looking at your product or service from “cradle to grave” (or cradle to cradle). The stages include:

1. Raw Material Acquisition: Mining, farming, extraction.
2. Design: Material selection, durability, repairability.
3. Production: Manufacturing, processing.
4. Transportation/Delivery: Logistics, packaging.
5. Use: Energy consumption, maintenance, consumables.
6. End-of-Life: Recycling, disposal, reuse.

Control vs. Influence

You have control over your own operations. You have influence over suppliers, contractors, and customers. The standard requires you to address aspects you can control and those you can influence.

Examples of Influence

• Procurement: Choosing suppliers with ISO 14001 certification or requiring them to use sustainable packaging.
• Design: Designing a product that is lighter (less fuel to transport) or easier to disassemble (easier to recycle).
• Transport: Optimizing routes or choosing carriers with modern, efficient fleets.
• Customer Use: Providing instructions on how to use the product efficiently or dispose of it correctly.

Practical Application

In Design and Development

• Can we use recycled materials?
• Can we eliminate hazardous substances?
• Can we extend the product life?

In Procurement

• Do we communicate our environmental requirements to suppliers?
• Do we consider the lifetime energy cost of equipment, not just the purchase price?

In Communication

• Do we inform external providers about relevant environmental requirements?
• Do we provide information to consumers about end-of-life treatment?

Benefits

• Risk Reduction: Identifying risks in the supply chain (e.g., resource scarcity).
• Cost Savings: Energy efficiency, waste reduction, lower disposal costs.
• Reputation: Demonstrating genuine commitment to sustainability.
• Innovation: Driving new product designs and business models.