Side Events

Expansion of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment at regional levels

7th Sept 12:45-14:00

Sustainability is increasingly required by decision-makers from business, local Governments and funding sector. Some sustainability approaches are gaining momentum such as ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) which however lacks a globally recognised and standardised method. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment emerges as a promising framework which however carries over some limitations from LCA developments in particular related to data availability, and the lack of LCSA applications and capacities in the regions. In this context regions are understood in two ways: the emerging and developing economies or local governments worldwide.

The aim of this Dialogue Session is to discuss on ‘possible pathways in support of upscaling LCSA in the regions’. The discussion results will be considered in a discussion paper for broad dissemination. Main contributors will be acknowledged in the publication. The results are also aimed to be disseminated to the life cycle networks worldwide through the Life Cycle Initiative. The agenda of the Dialogue session is as follows:

Update on LCSA: where we are in particular in the regions

  • Discussion of pathways in support of upscaling LCSA (possible pathways may cover data, capacity development, networks, etc.).
  • Wrap-up

Dialogue session chair: Sonia Valdivia, Scientific Director at World Resources Forum Association & Prof. at the University of Leuphana in Luneburg

Meeting Social Value Initiative

8th Sept 17:30-19:00

The Social Value Community is an open platform to engage, learn and share experiences on assessing social impacts throughout the Value Chain of a product, a brand, a business unit etc. anyone can join. This Community of Practice is initiated by the Social Value Initiative. Since 2013, the Social Value Initiative has developed, tested, and redeveloped a Handbook for Product Social Impact assessment and an Implementation guide which supports companies to implement social metrics in their organisation. Also, two whitepapers, two dozen of case study summaries and some webinars have been published. The Social Value Initiative is governed by a series of proactive companies (currently BASF, DSM, ArcelorMittal, Corbion, Richemont, Fuji Oil and LG Chem) and is facilitated by PRé. Feel free to join www.social-value-community.org

Dialogue session chair: Mark Goedkoop, Founder of PRé Consultants, building partnerships and coalitions based on trust, transparency and sharing

After the Conference Meet-Up

8th Sept 18:00

For those conference participants who are staying in Aachen after activities wrap on Thursday, please consider joining for a happy hour at 18:00! The week’s conference agenda is full and exciting, but there’s not always time to connect with colleagues in the midst of so many activities. Let’s share a casual drink and some informal conversation before we leave Aachen. Location TBC dependent upon the number of registrations; costs on each participant’s own account.

Contact: Ms. Amy E. Thom