Roundtables

ALCAS quarterly Roundtables provide a forum for discussing a specific LCA topic in detail. Roundtable span half a day to a full day, with guest presentations on varying aspects of the topic.

Roundtables are excellent opportunity to gain a greater understanding on the topic, discuss individual perspectives or research and make links with others to share data and progress on LCA developments.

Forthcoming roundtables:

Water Roundtable

Melbourne, Victoria, February 20, 2009

A major frustration in the use of LCA in Australia is our inability to integrate water depletion impacts into our LCA method. This roundtable will explore international activities towards this end and look at what is and can be done in Australia to further this effort.

Further information please see here.

Past ALCAS Roundtables include:

Extending Life Cycle Assessment: Social Indicators and Life Cycle Management

Sydney, NSW, August 7, 2008

This roundtable explored international developments in LCA. Bo Weidema, from 2.-0 LCA Consultants, reported on the UNEP SETAC Task Force integration of social criteria in LCA; Joy Murray, from the University of Sydney, covered Australian experience with social indicators in qualitative and quantitative ways; Allan Astrup Jensen, from FORCE Technology, summarised the UNEP-SETAC development of an LCM Business Guide, and Sean Shiels, from the Victorian EPA, summarised Victorian LCM business activities. 

Progress in LCA Tools for Buildings

Melbourne, October 30, 2007

International keynote speaker Dr Harry van Ewijk from IVAM in the Netherlands developed a building LCA tool ‘Ecoquantum’ a decade ago, and reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of this tool.

Biodiversity Roundtable

University of NSW, July 23, 2007

This was the first step in shaping future directions on the topic, and was attended by biodiversity and LCA practitioners from all industry sectors. The day emphasised bridge-building between the sciences to encourage future collaborations.

LCA Best Practice Seminar

Perth, May 12, 2004

Six presentations covered an overview of LCA and its progress in Australia; the need for a robust Australian LCA database; LCA and its implications for the Design for the Environment; the LCA of grains and grain products; LCA in mining, metals processing and the refining sector; integrating cleaner production and LCA in the meat processing industry.

Water Issues in Australia

Melbourne, May 7, 2003

Wide-ranging presentations covered water usage in the aluminium industry, urban water systems, water and energy synergies in green buildings and residential water tanks.

Greenhouse Roundtable

Canberra, December 11, 2003

Six presentations were made on greenhouse-related issues of grains, maize, organic waste, degradable plastics and timber.

National Research Organisation

Melbourne, April 12, 2002

Organised in conjunction with the CSIRO, this Roundtable showcased CSIRO scientists who are using and developing LCA in eight different sectors.

LCA Roundtable

University of NSW, November 1, 2002

Presentations were made on two themes: Space, including ecological footprint measures, material flux analysis, Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) and LCA; and Optimisation, which considered interactive tools that enabled more dynamic decision-making in product and service systems.

LCA Roundtable

Queensland, November 16, 2001

The Roundtable was divided into three sessions with three speakers in each: LCA in agriculture, the built environment and transport.