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The aim of this article is to signal the changes envisaged by ISO TC/207 SC1 for introduction in the new version of ISO 14001:2015 as well as to discuss the role of eco-design and life cycle thinking (LCT) in the context of Environmental Management Systems (EMS). A review of the proposed changes to be introduced in the new version of ISO 14000:2015 with particular emphasis on those related to LCT and eco-design has been carried out. Additionally, for the purpose of this article, the guidelines with regard to ISO 14006:2011 have been analysed in the context of the role that eco-design plays in an EMS. The new version of ISO 14001:2015 includes many direct and indirect references to LCT. One of the key changes is organisations adapting a wider perspective to see how their environmental impact stretch across the whole supply chain. Another key recommendation is to use eco-design for identifying and assessing the environmental aspects in relation to products. The whole life cycle of the products should be analysed, which will result in the inclusion of indirect environmental aspects that are beyond the direct control of the organisation. The planned changes to ISO 14001:2015 with regard to the use of LCT and eco-design should be seen as a significant piece of information by eco-designers and life cycle assessment (LCA) practitioners since they provide a real opportunity to increase interest in eco-design tools amongst the environmental managers responsible for the environmental management systems within their organisations. It seems that now is the right time to initiate information campaigns and training on eco-design and LCA tailored specifically for organisations, which have implemented environmental management systems.

If you are curious about the 40s and 70s, I can give you the hint that they do not represent year dates here. This is not an editorial about history. It is an update on the current status of life cycle assessment (LCA) standards and their offspring as part of the ISO 14000 family. The mystery of the 40s and 70s will be unraveled a bit later. Let's get down first to brass tacks! International standards for LCAwere developed since the 1990s by ISO Technical Committee 207 as part of their ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards. They were of utmost importance for the broad acceptance of LCA worldwide. They are, until today, the one and only relevant international standard documents on LCA which are broadly referenced by users and other standardization processes. They represent the constitution of LCA. Based on the core standards “ISO 14040-Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Principles and Framework (ISO 1404

The international standardisation of Environmental Management (EM) is documented by the ISO 14000 series. Within this series a number of Environmental Management tools are treated. Therefore, it can be seen as a “toolbox” which offers several options for sound Environmental Management practices in organisations. However, a number of questions remain because they are not treated by the standards themselves. Some examples are which of the tools should be applied to what kind of Environmental Management problem or what are the synergisms and antagonisms between these tools. To illustrate the importance of a comprehensive choice and a compatible approach towards EM-tools, Life Cycle Assessment (ISO 14040 series) is discussed in the context of Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001). The focus of ISO 14001 are organisations, while LCA deals with products or processes. In principle, they are not compatible, since the life-cycle approach analyses one production chain from “cradle to grave” or even back to the cradle, while a management system according to ISO 14001 analyses organisations, i.e. a number of product chains, from “gate to gate”. LCAs, however, could be compiled by aggregating several “gate to gate” energy and material balances of companies. LCA can assist in prioritising and achieving the objectives of an EM-System. LCA can also help to understand the environmental impact of organisations and what share of their overall environmental burden is produced “inside the gates” or “outside the gates”, respectively.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been introduced to Thai industries in 1997 as one of the ISO 14000 series. The concept of LCA is being gradually accepted. However, there are few formal LCA studies in Thailand so far due to a limited number of LCA experts and a lack of sufficient databases relevant to domestic conditions. The LCA activities in Thailand can be divided into 3 areas, which are (1) Workshops and seminars (2) Use of LCA studies in Ecolabelling and (3) Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and LCA studies. The first LCI study was to develop LCI data for Thailand Electricity Grid Mixes. There are a few LCA thesis studies in some universities, but these studies used databases from commercial software programs. The study and use of LCA may increase in the future only if domestic background database will be provided by research institutes and the government, and if industry understands LCA methodology through periodical workshops and seminars. INTRODUCTION Life Cycle Assessment has been introduced to Thai industries in 1997 as one of the ISO 14000 series. The concept of LCA is being gradually accepted. However, there are few formal LCA studies in Thailand so far due to a limited number of LCA experts and a lack of sufficient databases relevant to domestic conditions. ACTIVITIES The LCA activities in Thailand can be divided into 3 areas including (1) Workshops and seminars (2) Use of LCA studies in Ecolabelling and (3) Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and LCA studies. 1. Workshop and Seminar To introduce the LCA concept to Thai Industries, the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), in cooperation with many organizations, organized LCA seminars/workshops in Thailand annually between 1997-2002. All seminars successfully gained attention from Thai industry and educational institutes. The Thailand LCA Forum (http://doi.eng.cmu.ac.th/Thailca) has been launched by TEI in January of 2002. 2. Use of LCA studies in Ecolabelling The Green Label project was initiated in October 1993 by the Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development (TBCSD) in association with the Ministry of Industry. This project is supported by the Secretariat, which is formed by a partnership between the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) and TEI. The objectives of the project are to establish the product criteria and award certification to specific products that are shown to have less impact on the environment, when compared with other products serving the same function (not including foods, drinks, and pharmaceuticals). The project came about from the idea that the green label can stimulate market choice thus encouraging producers to improve the environmental quality of their products and services in response to consumer demand. Award of the Thai Green label is based on the product criteria developed by a technical subcommittee. The subcommittee consists of representatives from the scientific, business and environmental groups and others if appropriate and available. A new subcommittee is established for each selected product category. At present, there are 29 product categories that are eligible for the Thai Green Label, and up to the end of November 2001, 227 individual products have received the Green Label award. Being aware of the high cost involved and time consumed in developing product criteria through format LCA, the Thai Green Label scheme has decided that a full quantitative LCA is not applicable for setting criteria for all products, especially in developing countries. The development of award criteria for the scheme has followed different methodologies. It will take into account not only significant environmental impact during the life cycle of the products (Life Cycle Consideration: LCC), but also capability to meet proposed criteria with reasonable process modification and/or improvement. The availability of testing institutes and the ability to perform tests are considered carefully, while setting the criteria. Results from existing LCA studies have been used as a scientific tool in the Thai Green Label Scheme for the development of environmental criteria for a few product categories. 3. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and LCA Studies