An introduction to Life-Cycle Thinking and Management
Foreword
In recent years, enterprises taking the forefront in environmental initiatives have increasingly focused on product-oriented initiatives. The Danish Ministry of the Environment and the Environmental Council for Cleaner Products support productoriented environmental initiatives and have put forward three main goals:
 | The environmental characteristics of a product should constitute an aspect of its market competitiveness equal to that of price, function, quality, design, etc. |
| Product development should entail improved environmental characteristics throughout the product's life cycle, from cradle to grave. |
| That all stakeholders can and will take initiatives to reduce the environmental impacts associated with production, transport, use and disposal of products. |
The overall objective is to encourage enterprises to develop cleaner products which may also provide enterprises with competitive advantages in the marketplace.
How does an enterprise get started with product-orientated environmental initiatives? This booklet provides practical ideas, based on a life-cycle perspective, for preventative environmental initiatives.
The booklet is aimed at enterprises, regardless of their sector or size, which are interested in reducing the environmental impact of their products.
The focus is on a straightforward approach to environmental initiatives, where an enterprise begins at a level which matches its ambitions and capabilities. The goal of an environmental initiative is to achieve concrete environmental improvements to products. Enterprises can plan their activities so that the advantages associated with a productorientated environmental initiative are realised throughout the process.
Development and marketing of cleaner products is not difficult if an enterprise chooses a step-by-step approach where initiatives gradually become more ambitious and far-reaching as the enterprise acquires experience.
This booklet explains how enterprises establish an internal commitment to and readiness for life-cycle-based initiatives, as well as an understanding of how this may gradually be expanded to become a more strategic effort with marketing of cleaner products.
Good luck with your efforts !
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| Steen Gade, Director General, Danish Environmental Protection Agency |
Anna Lise Mortensen, Brdr. Hartmann A/S |