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Implications of an interpretive understanding of LCA practice

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  • Emma Rex
  • Henrikke Baumann

Abstract

Despite the desirability of a life cycle perspective and many attempts to facilitate life cycle assessment (LCA), industry has been relatively slow to adopt LCA. In this research, we thus set out to investigate the underpinnings of LCA practice in industry. A literature review shows that the present understanding is that ‘structural’ conditions such as location and sector determine the use of LCA in industry. However, a field study of two companies in the Swedish forest product industry (thus in the same sector and country) indicates that LCA practice is shaped more by individual preferences and chance events. Our results imply a more interpretive understanding of LCA practice than has been put forward by previous research. The two types of understanding are discussed and their implications for practitioners in industry, organizations promoting the use of LCA and further research are presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Rex & Henrikke Baumann, 2008. "Implications of an interpretive understanding of LCA practice," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(7), pages 420-430, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:17:y:2008:i:7:p:420-430
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.633
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lee, Kun-Mo & Lee, Sang-Yong & Hur, Tak, 2004. "Life cycle inventory analysis for electricity in Korea," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 87-101.
    2. R. J. Welford, 1998. "Editorial: Corporate environmental management, technology and sustainable development: postmodern perspectives and the need for a critical research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Jouni Korhonen & Fredrik von Malmborg & Peter A. Strachan & John R. Ehrenfeld, 2004. "Management and policy aspects of industrial ecology: an emerging research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(5), pages 289-305, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Stefano Pogutz & Monika I. Winn, 2016. "Cultivating Ecological Knowledge for Corporate Sustainability: Barilla's Innovative Approach to Sustainable Farming," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(6), pages 435-448, September.
    3. David Lazarevic & Michael Martin, 2018. "Life cycle assessment calculative practices in the Swedish biofuel sector: Governing biofuel sustainability by standards and numbers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1558-1568, December.

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