Gestão & Produção
https://www.gestaoeproducao.com/article/doi/10.1590/1806-9649-2024v31e8723
Gestão & Produção
Original Article

How to consider life cycle thinking into ISO 14001? A step-by-step method for small and medium-sized companies and a case study in waste management

Como considerar o pensamento do ciclo de vida na ISO 14001? Um método passo a passo para pequenas e médias empresas e um estudo de caso em gestão de resíduos

Fabio Neves Puglieri; Mariane Bigarelli Ferreira; Antonio Carlos Farrapo Junior; Cassiano Moro Piekarski; Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9649-2024v31e8723 Gest. Prod., vol.31, e8723, 2024
PDF
SciELO
Downloads: 3
Views: 545

Abstract

Abstract: ISO 14001 certification offers numerous benefits to companies, including improved efficiency, market access, and the fostering of an environmental organizational culture. However, many organizations, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), struggle to grasp and integrate Life Cycle Thinking into their processes, products, or services, as it's a requirement for ISO 14001:2015 certification. This article aims to present a step-by-step method for incorporating life cycle thinking into ISO 14001:2015 implementation, aligning it with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The methodology comprises three steps: i) a systematic literature review to identify life cycle thinking practices within ISO 14001:2015; ii) a detailed proposal for integrating LCT into ISO 14001:2015; and 3) a case study in a briquette manufacturing facility using this method for waste management. The results highlight that organizations can incorporate life cycle thinking into various ISO 14001:2015 clauses through simple and fast for use tools and activities, concurrently advancing SDGs. It's imperative for SMEs to integrate life cycle thinking into ISO 14001 implementation not only for tangible and intangible benefits but also because future ISO 14001 versions are expected to impose stricter life cycle requirements.

Keywords

ISO 14001, Environmental management systems, Small and medium-sized enterprises, Sustainable development goals, Streamlined life cycle assessment, Industrial ecology

Resumo

Resumo: A obtenção da certificação ISO 14001 pode trazer vários benefícios para as empresas, como processos mais eficientes, acesso a novos mercados e até mesmo o desenvolvimento de uma cultura organizacional ambiental. No entanto, muitas organizações, em particular as pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs), enfrentam dificuldades para entender o que é e como considerar o Pensamento do Ciclo de Vida em seus processos, produtos ou serviços, uma vez que isso faz parte dos requisitos para obter a certificação ISO 14001:2015. Portanto, o objetivo deste artigo foi propor um método passo a passo para incluir a ACV nas atividades de implementação da ISO 14001:2015 como parte do cumprimento de seus requisitos. Além disso, o método proposto foi relacionado ao cumprimento dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS). Assim, a metodologia foi dividida em três etapas: i) uma revisão sistemática da literatura para identificar estudos anteriores envolvendo práticas para incorporar o Pensamento do Ciclo de Vida na ISO 14001:2015; ii) uma proposta de método passo a passo que permite a inclusão desse pensamento na ISO 14001:2015; e iii) uma descrição de estudo de caso em uma fábrica de briquetes para o gerenciamento de resíduos. Os resultados demonstraram que, por meio de um conjunto de atividades e ferramentas simples e de rápida aplicação, uma organização pode incluir tal pensamento em muitas das cláusulas da ISO 14001:2015, ao mesmo tempo em que contribui para o cumprimento dos ODS. Por fim, é importante para as PMEs considerar o Pensamento do Ciclo de Vida nas etapas de implementação da ISO 14001, não apenas por motivos de resultados tangíveis e intangíveis, mas principalmente porque espera-se que a próxima versão da ISO 14001 seja mais rigorosa em relação à necessidade de seguir os requisitos do ciclo de vida.

Palavras-chave

ISO 14001, Sistemas de gestão ambiental, Pequenas e médias empresas, Objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável, Avaliação do ciclo de vida, Ecologia industrial

Referências

Arimura, T. H., Darnall, N., Ganguli, R., & Katayama, H. (2016). The effect of ISO 14001 on environmental performance: resolving equivocal findings. Journal of Environmental Management, 166, 556-566. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.10.032. PMid:26606323.

Arzoumanidis, I., Zamagni, A., Raggi, A., Petti, L., & Magazzeni, D. (2013). A Model of Simplified LCA for Agri-Food SMEs. In: Salomone, R., Clasadonte, M., Proto, M., Raggi, A. (Eds), Product-Oriented Environmental Management Systems (POEMS). Springer, Dordrecht. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6116-2_6.

Berck, P., Blundell, M., Englander, G., Gold, S., He, S., Horsager, J., Kaplan, S., Sears, M., Stevens, A., Trachtman, C., Taylor, R., & Villas-Boas, S. B. (2021). Recycling policies, behavior and convenience: Survey evidence from the CalRecycle Program. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 43(2), 641-658. http://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13117.

Bertassini, A. C., Calache, L. D. D. R., Carpinetti, L. C. R., Ometto, A. R., & Gerolamo, M. C. (2022). CE-oriented culture readiness: an assessment approach based on maturity models and fuzzy set theories. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 31, 615-629. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.03.018.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment – CCME, 2019. Canda-wide action plan on zero plastic waste: phase 1 (9 p.). Winnipeg: CCME. Retrieved in 2024, January 22, from https://ccme.ca/en/res/1589_ccmecanada-wideactionplanonzeroplasticwaste_en-secured.pdf

Dórea, R. J. D. S., Lopes Silva, D. A., Almeida, J. A., No., & Rodrigues, L. B. (2022). Environmental labeling: an analysis of the past 22 years of research. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 34(2), 184-200. http://doi.org/10.1080/08961530.2021.1951918.

European Union. (2010). Making sustainable consumption and production a reality. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. 32 pp.

Farrapo, A. C., Jr., Matheus, T. T., Lagunes, R. M., Filleti, R., Yamaji, F., & Lopes Silva, D. A. (2023). The Application of circular footprint formula in bioenergy/bioeconomy: challenges, case study, and comparison with life cycle assessment allocation methods. Sustainability, 15(3), 2339. http://doi.org/10.3390/su15032339.

Fatimah, Y. A., Govindan, K., Murniningsih, R., & Setiawan, A. (2020). Industry 4.0 based sustainable circular economy approach for smart waste management system to achieve sustainable development goals: a case study of Indonesia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 269, 122263. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122263.

Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO. (2014). Food waste footprint full-cost accounting (98 p.). Rome: FAO. Retrieved in 2024, January 22, from https://www.fao.org/3/i3991e/i3991e.pdf

Fraser, M., Haigh, L., & Soria, A. C. (2023). The circularity gap report 2023. Amsterdam: Circle Economy.

Fruntes, C. (2014). Ecolabels-Important tools in developing a sustainable society: a global perspective. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov. Economic Sciences. Series V, 7(2), 267.

Graafland, J., & Smid, H. (2016). Environmental impacts of SMEs and the effects of formal management tools: evidence from EU’s largest survey. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 23(5), 297-307. http://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1376.

Granly, B. M., & Welo, T. (2014). EMS and sustainability: experiences with ISO 14001 and Eco-Lighthouse in Norwegian metal processing SMEs. Journal of Cleaner Production, 64, 194-204. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.08.007.

Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia – IBICT. (2016). Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia: Internal Communication, Tiago Braga, Brazil. Brasília: IBICT.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC. (2006). IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories (Vol. 2, Energy). Geneva: IPCC. Retrieved in 2024, January 22, from http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol2.html

International Organization for Standardization – ISO. (2015). ISO 14001: environmental management system. Geneva: ISO.

International Organization for Standardization – ISO. (2018). Resources for conformity assessment: the ISO survey. Geneva: ISO. Retrieved in 2020, June 3, from https://www.iso.org/the-iso-survey.html

Iritani, D. R., Silva, D. L., Saavedra, Y. M. B., Grael, P. F. F., & Ometto, A. R. (2015). Sustainable strategies analysis through Life Cycle Assessment: a case study in a furniture industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 96, 308-318. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.05.029.

Johnstone, L., & Hallberg, P. (2020). ISO 14001 adoption and environmental performance in small to medium sized enterprises. Journal of Environmental Management, 266, 110592. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110592. PMid:32310124.

Kayikci, Y., Kazancoglu, Y., Gozacan-Chase, N., Lafci, C., & Batista, L. (2022). Assessing smart circular supply chain readiness and maturity level of small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Business Research, 149, 375-392. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.042.

Kaza, S., Yao, L., Bhada-Tata, P., & Van Woerden, F. (2018). What a waste 2.0: a global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Publications. http://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1329-0.

Landeta‐Manzano, B., Arana‐Landín, G., Ruiz de Arbulo, P., & DíazdeBasurto, P. (2017). Longitudinal analysis of the eco‐design management standardization process in furniture companies. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(5), 1356-1369. http://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12479.

Laurent, A., Owsianiak, M., Dong, Y., Kravchenko, M., Molin, C., & Hauschild, M. Z. (2020). Assessing the sustainability implications of research projects against the 17 UN sustainable development goals. Procedia CIRP, 90, 148-153. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2020.01.077.

Life Cycle Initiative. (2023). LCA-based assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals: final report for the life cycle screening approach developed in the project “Linking the UN Sustainable Development Goals to life cycle impact pathway frameworks. Paris. Retrieved in 2024, January 22, from https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/activities/life-cycle-assessment-data-and-methods/linking-un-sdgs-to-life-cycle-impact-pathway-frameworks/

Menussi, L. R. M., Marques, T. L., Giusti, G., Silva, D. V., Figueirêdo, M. C. B., & Silva, D. A. L. (2023). Linking water footprint with the sustainable development goals: a step-by-step method description and case study. Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management., 11(3), 341-352. http://doi.org/10.5890/JEAM.2023.09.007.

Moura, A. M. M. (2013). O mecanismo da rotulagem ambiental: perspectivas de aplicação no Brasil. IPEA Boletim Regional, Urbano e Ambiental, 7, 11-21.

Musa, H., & Chinniah, M. (2016). Malaysian SMEs development: future and challenges on going green. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 224, 254-262. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.457.

Obradovic, V., Bjelica, D., Petrovic, D., Mihic, M., & Todorovic, M. (2016). Whether We are Still Immature to Assess the Environmental KPIs! Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 226, 132-139. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.06.171.

Oliveira, C. G. H., Silva, D. A. L., & Oliveira, J. A. (2018). Gestão do Ciclo de Vida (GCV) para a sustentabilidade de Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs) na região de Sorocaba/SP: principais entraves e desafios. LALCA: Revista Latino-Americana em Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida, 2(2 esp.), 23-47. http://doi.org/10.18225/lalca.v2iEspec.4351.

Oliveira, J. A., Silva, D. A. L., Guardia, M., do Nascimento Gambi, L., Oliveira, O. J., & Ometto, A. R. (2017). How can Cleaner Production practices contribute to meet ISO 14001 requirements? Critical analysis from a survey with industrial companies. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 19(6), 1761-1774. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-017-1363-8.

Oliveira, J. A., Silva, D. A. L., Puglieri, F. N., & Saavedra, Y. M. B. (2021). Introduction to Life Cycle Engineering and Management (LCEM). In J. A. Oliveira, D. A. Lopes Silva, F. N. Puglieri & Y. M. B. Saavedra (Eds.), Life cycle engineering and management of products. Cham: Springer. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78044-9_1.

Ong, S. K., Koh, T. H., & Nee, A. Y. C. (1999). Development of a semi-quantitative pre-LCA tool. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 89-90, 574-582. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(99)00059-X.

Pesce, M., Shi, C., Critto, A., Wang, X., & Marcomini, A. (2018). SWOT analysis of the application of international standard ISO 14001 in the Chinese context. A case study of Guangdong Province. Sustainability, 10(9), 3196. http://doi.org/10.3390/su10093196.

Pesonen, H. L., & Horn, S. (2014). Evaluating the climate SWOT as a tool for defining climate strategies for business. Journal of Cleaner Production, 64, 562-571. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.013.

Pietzsch, N., Ribeiro, J. L. D., & Medeiros, J. F. (2017). Benefits, challenges and critical factors of success for Zero Waste: a systematic literature review. Waste Management, 67, 324-353. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.05.004.

Poltronieri, C. F., Leite, L. R., & Sousa, S. R. (2021). Environmental management systems and performance measurement. In J. A. Oliveira, D. A. Lopes Silva, F. N. Puglieri & Y. M. B. Saavedra (Eds.), Life cycle engineering and management of products. Cham: Springer. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78044-9_11.

Puglieri, F. N., & Iritani, D. R. (2021). Corporate sustainability: defining business strategies and models from circular economy. In J. A. Oliveira, D. A. Lopes Silva, F. N. Puglieri & Y. M. B. Saavedra (Eds.), Life cycle engineering and management of products. Cham: Springer. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78044-9_10.

Puglieri, F. N., Ometto, A. R., Salvador, R., Barros, M. V., Piekarski, C. M., Rodrigues, I. M., & Diegoli Netto, O. (2020). An environmental and operational analysis of quality function deployment-based methods. Sustainability, 12(8), 3486. http://doi.org/10.3390/su12083486.

Renatus, F., & Geldermann, J. (2016). Multi-criteria decision support based on iterative comparisons with reference points. Journal of Cleaner Production, 110, 99-108. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.125.

Russo, D., Schöfer, M., & Bersano, G. (2015). Supporting ECO-innovation in SMEs by TRIZ Eco-guidelines. Procedia Engineering, 131, 831-839. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.12.388.

Salim, H. K., Padfield, R., Hansen, S. B., Mohamad, S. E., Yuzir, A., Syayuti, K., Tham, M. H., & Papargyropoulou, E. (2018). Global trends in environmental management system and ISO14001 research. Journal of Cleaner Production, 170, 645-653. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.017.

Sánchez, L. E. (2020). Avaliação de impacto ambiental: conceitos e métodos. São Paulo: Oficina de Textos.

Seiffert, M. E. B. (2008). Environmental impact evaluation using a cooperative model for implementing EMS (ISO 14001) in small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(14), 1447-1461. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.10.001.

Silva, C. L., Weins, N., & Potinkara, M. (2019). Formalizing the informal? A perspective on informal waste management in the BRICS through the lens of institutional economics. Waste Management, 99, 79-89. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.08.023. PMid:31473484.

Silva, D. A. L., Delai, I., Castro, M. A. S., & Ometto, A. R. (2013). Quality tools applied to Cleaner Production programs: a first approach toward a new methodology. Journal of Cleaner Production, 47, 174-187. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.10.026.

Silva, D. A. L., Filleti, R. A. P., Musule, R., Matheus, T. T., & Freire, F. (2022). A systematic review and life cycle assessment of biomass pellets and briquettes production in Latin America. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 157, 112042. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.112042.

Steffen, W., Broadgate, W., Deutsch, L., Gaffney, O., & Ludwig, C. (2015). The trajectory of the Anthropocene: the great acceleration. The Anthropocene Review, 2(1), 81-98. http://doi.org/10.1177/2053019614564785.

Stevens, P. A., Batty, W. J., Longhurst, P. J., & Drew, G. H. (2012). A critical review of classification of organisations in relation to the voluntary implementation of environmental management systems. Journal of Environmental Management, 113, 206-212. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.08.037. PMid:23037315.

Song, J., Sun, Y., & Jin, L. (2017). PESTEL analysis of the development of the waste-to-energy incineration industry in China. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 80, 276-289. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.066.

United Nations Environment Programme – UNEP. (2017). Eco-innovation manual eco-i manual eco-innovation implementation process version 1.0. Retrieved in 2020, June 10, from http://www.ecodesign.dtu.dk/Eco-innovation

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations Publishing.

Volinová, L. (2011). Environmental Assessment Using MECO Matrix e Case Study. Paper Presented at Intensive Programme “Renewable Energy Sources”. University of West Bohemia.

Weidema, B., Goedkoop, M., Meijer, E., & Harmens, R. (2020). LCA-based assessment of the sustainable development goals. Retrieved in 2020, June 10, from https://lca-net. com/files/Report-SDGs-Aug-2020. pdf

Wenzel, H., Hauschild, M. Z., & Alting, L. (2000). Methodology, tools and case studies in product development (Environmental Assessment of Products, Vol. 1). Cham: Springer Science & Business Media.

World Bank. (2020). Small and medium enterprises (SMES) finance: Improving SMEs’ access to finance and finding innovative solutions to unlock sources of capital. Retrieved in 2020, June 10, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/smefinance

World Resources Institute – WRI. (2015). GHG protocol tool for mobile combustion. Version 2.6. Washington, D.C.
 

66abcb63a95395176479ad02 gp Articles
1806-9649 (Eletrônico) 0104-530X (Impresso)
Gest. Prod. ©2025 Todos os direitos reservados.

Gest. Prod.

Share this page
Page Sections