The LCA Regulatory Science & Innovation Network (LCARSIN) is a new network that will help the UK’s foundation industries and their downstream supply chains make better use of life cycle assessment (LCA) tools to reduce their environmental impact and is set to be launched by researchers from the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester with partners.
LCARSIN will bring together stakeholders to identify challenges, improve harmonisation and develop a vision for the best use of LCA in policymaking as the UK moves towards net zero.
Used correctly, LCA is a powerful enabling tool for determining environmental impacts and the transition to a more sustainable future. However, the current absence of consistent approaches means decision-makers can lack the comparative information needed to act with confidence. To be useful, LCA must provide transparent and robust information, thereby enabling business and policy makers to take the best action to reduce environmental impacts whilst avoiding unintended consequences.
The Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield, the Henry Royce Institute at the University of Manchester and partners have been awarded funding by Innovate UK for the discovery phase of what a new LCA Regulatory Science and Innovation Network (LCARSIN) will look like. The network will initially focus on the materials supply chain of the foundation industries, through to final product manufacturers.
LCARSIN will bring together industrial leaders, academic experts, innovative small businesses, research and technology organisations, professional bodies, non-government organisations and policymakers in the UK. Through the network, we will generate research-based evidence and insights to support government in developing policy to manage emissions, achieve net zero ambitions and trade across carbon borders, within global frameworks.
LCARSIN will have two phases:
- The initial discovery phase will bring together practitioners, regulators, and data users to develop a vision for a network. This phase will identify the research required to advance LCA, and the training, regulation and standards development needed to address challenges in the current LCA paradigm.
- The subsequent implementation phase will put this vision into practice by establishing and operating a network. The network will:
- Enable innovative research to address the specific needs identified through expert engagement during the discovery phase.
- Encourage the sharing and development of best practice through network events and working groups and enable dissemination of sectoral guidance.
- Identify and enable delivery of necessary training, both within the network and to the wider sector
Composites UK is participating in the advisory group for the project.