Beyond life cycle thinking: A perspective

Area of Science:

• Sustainability Science
• Environmental Management

Background:

• Life cycle thinking is a core sustainability concept used across disciplines.
• Non-expert users increasingly apply life cycle thinking methodologies and tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate life cycle thinking from a non-expert perspective.
• To identify limitations of life cycle thinking in addressing contemporary sustainability challenges.
• To explore potential enhancements beyond traditional life cycle thinking.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the implications and limitations of life cycle thinking.
• Analysis of the concept from a non-expert user standpoint.
• Discussion of existing expert-driven solutions and their limitations.

Main Results:

• Identified four key limitations inherent to the definition of life cycle thinking.
• Observed that solutions for these limitations are primarily developed within the expert community.
• Highlighted the gap between expert solutions and non-expert applicability.

Conclusions:

• Life cycle thinking alone may be insufficient for current sustainability demands.
• Proposes a shift towards holistic systems thinking and updated terminology.
• Emphasizes the need for broader applicability and understanding of sustainability concepts.