Glossary (Version 8.4)

A strategy to identify possible improvements to products, services and environments to reduce environmental impact and resource consumption while considering social and economic impacts. The cycle goes from the acquisition of materials through to disposal or recycling. Life cycle thinking in food and fibre production would consider nutrition, health and wellbeing, cultural identity and lifestyle as well as environmental impacts. When products and services are marketed or integrated together, customers may be more satisfied because the service supports the product’s use through its life, and could lead to less consumption. Examples of how life cycle thinking can be demonstrated include product road maps and more complex life cycle analysis and assessment diagrams used by industry.