The politics of LCA in business

Mohd Nasir Hassan, . and Muhamad Awang, . and Zulina Zakaria, . (2000) The politics of LCA in business. [Proceedings Paper]

One of the current challenges faced by industries especially those in less-developed countries is to cope with increasing pressures on international issues which could affect their competitiveness in the international market. One of the biggest challenges is related to environment or 'green marketing'. Firms are increasingly under pressure to carry-out business in sustainable way through waste minimization and pollution prevention. Industries are faced with new consumer's requirements and expectations from purely price deterministic mechanisms to other variables especially the increasing demands for environmentally friendly products. Industries cannot continue treating the symptoms of environmental problemsthe end-of-pipe management approach. Instead a more comprehensive means to reduce pollution is believed by many to be through prevention by attacking the source of pollution at every stage of the product life-cycle from raw material extraction to transportation manufacturing product use recycling and disposal. The challenge faced by industries in not only to create sustainable business or economically sustainable but also environmentally sustainable. Environmental sustainability involves producing goods that could have minimal environmental impacts including minimal consumption of energy pollution on land air and water and loss of amenity. Today's corporate environmental strategies should include life-cycle assessment LCA design for environment DfE and environmentally conscious design and manufacturing ECDM as their decision-making tools. Life cycle assessment is an emerging environmental management tool that attempts to predict the overall environmental impact of a product service or function. Although LCA is technical in nature it's applications have indirect implications on international trade such as competitiveness of products and possible technical barrier in terms of eco-label. This paper highlights the importance of LCA in product development and process and it's implications on international trade. The importance of Malaysian industries in incorporating environmental aspects in product developments and processes through proper life-cycle approach is highlighted. This paper focuses the political and economic implications of LCA on businesses in developing countries like Malaysia.

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Abstract

One of the current challenges faced by industries especially those in less-developed countries is to cope with increasing pressures on international issues which could affect their competitiveness in the international market. One of the biggest challenges is related to environment or 'green marketing'. Firms are increasingly under pressure to carry-out business in sustainable way through waste minimization and pollution prevention. Industries are faced with new consumer's requirements and expectations from purely price deterministic mechanisms to other variables especially the increasing demands for environmentally friendly products. Industries cannot continue treating the symptoms of environmental problemsthe end-of-pipe management approach. Instead a more comprehensive means to reduce pollution is believed by many to be through prevention by attacking the source of pollution at every stage of the product life-cycle from raw material extraction to transportation manufacturing product use recycling and disposal. The challenge faced by industries in not only to create sustainable business or economically sustainable but also environmentally sustainable. Environmental sustainability involves producing goods that could have minimal environmental impacts including minimal consumption of energy pollution on land air and water and loss of amenity. Today's corporate environmental strategies should include life-cycle assessment LCA design for environment DfE and environmentally conscious design and manufacturing ECDM as their decision-making tools. Life cycle assessment is an emerging environmental management tool that attempts to predict the overall environmental impact of a product service or function. Although LCA is technical in nature it's applications have indirect implications on international trade such as competitiveness of products and possible technical barrier in terms of eco-label. This paper highlights the importance of LCA in product development and process and it's implications on international trade. The importance of Malaysian industries in incorporating environmental aspects in product developments and processes through proper life-cycle approach is highlighted. This paper focuses the political and economic implications of LCA on businesses in developing countries like Malaysia.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Summary En
AGROVOC Term:	POLITICAL SYSTEMS
AGROVOC Term:	ENTERPRISES
AGROVOC Term:	INDUSTRIALIZATION
AGROVOC Term:	LIFE CYCLE
AGROVOC Term:	TARIFFS
AGROVOC Term:	ENVIRONMENT
AGROVOC Term:	TRADE
AGROVOC Term:	MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15959

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