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
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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

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