Thoughts from Berlin

Having just returned for 2 days of interesting discussions with leaders in the LCA (lifecycle assessment) and PCF (product carbon footprint) debate (http://www.pcf-world-forum.org/summit/), I have a few general take-aways.

1) Although the "science" behind LCA and PCF is still very young and still being shaped, there are already some very entrenched philosophies in the academic practice of both that threaten to impede their widespread adoption into standard business practice.

2) PCF and LCA is practiced around the world, with leading countries like France, UK, and Japan having surprisingly diverse approaches and motivations.

3) Secondary data (ie: data which reflects averages, published studies, or derived data) is more commonly accepted than it seems, and even "full LCAs" which take months, sometimes years, to run often use it...AND, most surprising, secondary data is sometimes considered MORE reliable than primary data because it often reflects the average, and is not subjected to local or seasonal bias.

4) Measurement of other environmental indicators, beyond carbon, is still extremely tenous and subject to wildly different approaches and viewpoints. The next 12 months will determine which indicators will be commonly accepted for environmental labeling projects.

5) IT solutions are proliferating - although GaBi, SimaPro, SAP, and Carbonostics are the leaders in their sectors - and perform very different tasks.

For me, the debate is intense and exciting, but also frustrating and intimidating. I am deeply commited to finding affordable solutions that businesses can adopt into their daily practices, as I believe that this is the only realistic solution to climate change and environmental impacts. The debate about PCF and consumer behaviour, is a good angle, but I think somewhat of a distraction from the main task at hand (think early fairtrade movement to now). However, changing business practices will have a much more profound impact and we need practical, easy-to-use, understandable, and profitable solutions for businesses large and small.

For more comments and reactions, check out the statements recorded at the event: http://www.pcf-world-forum.org/statements/ (I'm lucky number 13, down from the top). Enjoy!