The environment refers to the surroundings in which an organisation operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation. This definition, established in ISO 14001, covers all elements that can be affected by or that influence an organisation's activities, products, and services.
In Life Cycle Assessment, the environment is often divided into three dimensions for systematic analysis. The social environment covers humans and human systems, including health, wellbeing, and social structures. The biophysical environment covers nature in its entirety, including ecosystems, biodiversity, natural resources, and physical systems such as air, water, and soil. The economic environment relates to resources and economic systems that support production and consumption activities.
As Chief Operating Officer, Iris leads our organisational development and oversees day-to-day operations. Before joining 2-0, she worked in the biotechnology sector. As an LCA consultant, Iris has devoted her expertise primarily to the domains of sustainable agriculture and food production. She is dedicated to teaching LCA and is responsible for our educational efforts. Iris holds an M.Sc. in Biology – Biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen.
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Glossary terms are clearer once you have seen them applied. Our guide to what LCA is and how it works walks through the complete methodology: goal and scope, inventory modelling, impact assessment, and interpretation.
If you are working on an LCA study and want it done properly, see how we approach life cycle assessment.
