On Thursday November 26, 2020, Swedish Life Cycle Center organized its first online Network conference. The aim of the conference was to highlight the Swedish research front within LCA. Over 100 people joined the conference to listen to presentations, discuss and to network with other life cycle researchers and professionals. With a mix of plenary sessions, networking activities and parallel sessions the conference covered six research areas within the conference theme.

Anna Wikström, acting Director, welcomed the participants which consisted of partners, guests from other organizations with an interest to get updated on the Swedish LCA research front and students. When the participants were asked why the joined the conference that was the most common answer, to get updated on Swedish LCA research.

The day continued with a keynote presentation from Johan Widheden, global lead WWF Climate Business Network. Johan presentation focused on how LCA is an enabler for a Net Zero Economy. The presentation was recorded and can be found on YouTube, click here to watch the recording.

Text: A snippet from the youtube video with Johan Widheden´s presentation

After the keynote session the conference had two blocks with parallel sessions, three topics in each block.

Attributional and consequential LCA – Different views on what ALCA and CLCA are and where they should be used. Presentations on the different perspectives were followed by time for questions and discussion. Speakers: Göran Finnveden, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Tomas Ekvall, Chalmers University of Technology and Miguel Brandao, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Biological Diversity – How to handle biodiversity loss in LCA in a more holistic way? This session focused on presenting the Swedish research in the field and there was also time for discussions about challenges within the field. Speakers: Serina Ahlgren, RISE The Research Institutes of Sweden, Emke Vrasdonk, Chalmers University of Technology

From CO2 to CEO – How do we get from research to real change? Presentations on research on industry practices related to LCA followed by questions to the presenter and discussions in break out rooms. Speaker: Henrikke Baumann, Chalmers University of Technology

Prospective LCA – The session gave insight into the Swedish research in the area and gave room for discussions about challenges within the field. Speakers: Rickard Arvidsson, Chalmers University of Technology, Mathias Janssen, Chalmers University of Technology

LCA of foods – Swedish research within LCA of food was presented it was followed by a panel to reflect on and discus about challenges within the field. Speakers: Christel Cederberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Michael Martin, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institutes. Panel: Christel Cederberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Michael Martin, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institutes, Anita Lundström, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

Social LCA – How can S-LCA be of help when handling social aspects in the life cycle of a product or service. Presentations about S-LCA and its use were followed by a panel discussion on S-LCA. Speakers: Elisabeth Ekener, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Birgit Brunklaus, RISE The Research Institutes of Sweden. Panel: Elisabeth Ekener, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Birgit Brunklaus, RISE The Research Institutes of Sweden, Lena Landström, Vattenfall, Henrikke Baumann, Chalmers University of Technology

Between the sessions people met at the virtual coffee machine to network and continue the discussions from the sessions and the day ended with a longer networking event.

Swedish Life Cycle Center would like to thank the organizing committee, Emma Rex, RISE The Research Institutes of Sweden, Tomas Rydberg, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institutes, Niclas Ericsson, SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Tomas Ekvall, Chalmers University of Technology, Miguel Brandao, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Mathias Lindkvist, Chalmers University of Technology, for valuable input throughout the planning process of the conference.

Info: This Network Conference was arranged by Swedish Life Cycle Center through the project Innovation cluster for the life cycle perspective, funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and the Swedish Life Cycle Center partners.

More information:

For more information about the project Innovation cluster for the life cycle perspective, click here.

Partners can find more documentation from the conference on My Page.

Text: Maria Rydberg