Page 28 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

The development of life cycle assessment methods and applications

ALCAS and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems launched an Australian LCA database initiative 15
(AusLCI) (CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems 2006b) as discussed further below.
2.2.2 Roundtable forums and the Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society
(ALCAS)
The Centre for Water and Waste Technology at the University of New South Wales initiated a
series of LCA roundtable forums in 1996. These were intended to provide a conduit for multi-
stakeholder participation in LCA, involving industry, government, academic institutions and
other LCA practitioners. Initially, several roundtables were held each year, at which partici-
pants had the opportunity to inform others of projects that were underway and present interim
and final results, discuss developments and research needs, and reflect on critical issues in
LCA development.
ALCAS grew out of the relatively informal roundtable forums after participants decided to
formalise its structure and membership (ALCAS 2007). ALCAS is now a professional organisa-
tion for people interested in the practice, use, development and interpretation of LCA. It is
not-for-profit and has individual and corporate members principally from industry, govern-
ment, consulting and academic institutions. The purpose of the society is two-fold: to promote
and foster the appropriate development and application of LCA methodology in Australia and
internationally with a view to making a positive contribution to ecological sustainable devel-
opment (ESD); and to represent the Australian LCA community in the international arena.
The specific objectives of ALCAS are to:
s promote and foster the appropriate application of LCA in Australia
s promote and foster the responsible development of LCA methodology in Australia with
consideration of international initiatives and commensurate with local conditions
s foster links with the international LCA community
s organise a regular LCA roundtable to facilitate information exchange and discussion on
LCA among stakeholder groups
s contribute to national policies, positions and approaches on LCA and its applications
both nationally and internationally
s increase education and awareness of LCA among stakeholders including industry,
academic institutions, government, non-governmental organisations, LCA practitioners,
end users and the general public
s develop a national competence in LCA to meet the environmental challenges both
locally and internationally.

2.2.3 National LCA conferences (1996–2006)
The first national conference on LCA, held in Melbourne in 1996, highlighted the need for
public data on LCA in Australia. This in part led to the initial national LCI project. The second
national conference was held in Melbourne in February 2000, and the focus shifted from data
issues (in 1996) to impact assessment and characterisation of the Australian environment.
Since 2000, conferences have been held approximately biennially, with ALCAS taking an
increasingly significant role in communicating LCA to a wider audience. The result has been
significant growth in delegate numbers. The third national conference was held on the Gold
Coast in Queensland, in July 2002, and the fourth in Sydney in February 2005. The fifth, in
Melbourne in November 2006, had sufficient presenters and delegates to warrant a multi-
stream format, with significant interest from organisations with little previous connection
with ALCAS or LCA.

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