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Building the Sustainability Pathway!
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| EarthShift Newsletter | December 2011 |
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 Greetings!
2011 is nearly over and the transition to a green economy is well under way. The challenge for 2012 is to build on this momentum with thoughtful dialog and communication on how to reduce ecological footprints while satisfying the economic and sociocultural needs of society which will be home to nine billion people by 2050.
EarthShift is on the forefront of providing solutions to sustainability professionals. Read about our collaborative project to develop a web-based Sustainability Return On Investment (S-ROI, aka TCA) tool launching next summer. We're inviting you to join the conversation on Life Cycle Dialog at the upcoming ISSST conference.
Join one of our new LCA communication and report writing classes this spring or gain hands-on experience applying LCA to your packaging designs in our new 3 hour web class starting January 17th and receive a three month temporary license to PackageSmart.
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  Sustainability in Packaging - can the momentum be sustained?
Join Kraft Foods, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and Packaging Digest for a LIVE webcast that discusses the latest trends, practices and strategies for sustainable packaging. Sign up for this free webcast Thursday December 8th, 2pm EST.
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 Guidance for LCA Databases Published
The UNEP/SETAC Global Guidance Principles for LCA Databases also known as the "Shonan Guidance Principles" is now available. The culmination of over two years of work by numerous individuals from around the work, this guidance document represents a milestone in the harmonization of how datasets are developed, and how LCA databases are created, managed and used in an interoperable and transparent manner by LCA practitioners worldwide. Click to download. |
Sustainability Return on Investment Tool Development Project
For over two years EarthShift has worked with the National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation (NARO of Japan) to assess the environmental, social & economic impacts of four different biofuel solutions based on the viewpoints of various stakeholders. Lise Laurin directed this work in Japan utilizing a methodology known as Sustainability Return on Investment (S-ROI). S-ROI has its roots in Total Cost Assessment (TCA), but it takes a more comprehensive approach by evaluating the benefits of a decision rather than just the costs alone. Likely you've read about this work in previous newsletters, if not you can learn more about it in our newsletter archives, or read the papers on our website. Our work with NARO continues and Lise is now writing a manual on "How to Apply TCA to Biomass Utilization" for NARO, which will also be the beginning script for an all-encompassing book on S-ROI. Additionally, NARO has asked EarthShift to develop a web based tool to assist them in the process of future evaluations. Upon completion this tool will be available by subscription to anyone. With our new S-ROI tool you can now evaluate your decisions with the viewpoints of your various stakeholders providing you with a holistic perspective and not just a corporate viewpoint. So if you are grappling with a business sustainability decision, whether it's investing in new technologies or employee benefits programs for example, we hope you will give our tool a try so you too can realize the true costs and benefits of your decisions.
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 Carbon Management Technology Conference Workshop: Sustainability Metrics for Carbon Management TechnologiesSponsored by eight engineering and minerals organizations this inaugural conference takes place February 7-10 in Orlando, FL. The extensive technical program will share expertise and provide perspectives on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to changing climate. The program will focus on engineering perspectives including technologies, stategies, policies and management systems. Lise Laurin will lead a workshop on Friday exploring ways to measure sustainability with a focus on bio-diesel versus petroleum diesel using a full suite of sustainability metrics: LCA, TCA (aka Sustainability ROI), Social LCA, and Risk Assessment. |
 2012 Course Schedule Live
EarthShift's training program is gaining momentum every year! With more and more consultancies, universities and corporations turning and returning to us for their LCA & TCA training, our training certificate programs are fast becoming a staple in the sustainability community. Many look to us to keep up with the latest in these developing fields.
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 Upgrade to a Multi-User Version for Efficient Teamwork
The unique Multi-User solution of SimaPro allows you to work with multiple users in one database, even in the same project. This is ideal when you are working in a global team: you can share data easily and save precious time! It is possible for each international office to have its own multi user license on its own budget with the software installed on a central server. If you upgrade from a single user version, pay only the difference in price and keep the data you have already created in you single user database. Read more about the advantages of the SimaPro multi-user version.
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Life Cycle Dialog
Have you ever thought that your company has lots to offer your customers in the way of a more sustainable solution but they don't seem to take advantage of it? Have you wondered if your suppliers have a better material or process that would improve your product? Have you thought about how your decisions might affect workers or communities upstream in the supply chain? Our founder, Lise Laurin, is putting together a session at the ISSST conference to discuss Life Cycle Dialog--getting a conversation about sustainability going up and down the supply chain. Check out the conference. Got something to say about Sustainable Systems and Technology? The call for papers is open until December 21. |
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New PackageSmart Software
Watch this video to find out about a tool specifically built for packaging designers to be able to easily evaluate the impacts of multiple packaging options.
A Free One Month Demo
Click here to Start Now! |
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SimaPro LCA software
SimaPro is a tool to collect, analyze and monitor the environmental performance of products and services.
Drill down and get to the source with SimaPro
- Transparent Unit Process Data
- Process, Input/Output and Hybrid LCA's
- Complete Networks
- Hotspot Analysis
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LCA Training Certificate Program
Our multi-step LCA training certificate program is designed to couple LCA modeling skills with LCA interpretation and report writing skills, preparing you to become an LCA professional. |
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Custom Tool Development
Get your own environmental impact calculator with:
- Easy to use & Simplified Interface
- Comprehensive Data & Calculation ability
- ISO Compliant Reporting Features
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Upcoming Conferences
Carbon Management Technology Conference
February 7-9
Orlando, FL
Sustainability in Packaging
March 12-14
Orlando, FL |
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| | | Upcoming Training Courses... | *indicates on-site class (all others are online)
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To teach the Total Cost Assessment (TCA) methodology and train participants to become a workshop facilitator for your company.
To introduce students to the concept of life cycle thinking, and the ISO standard methodology for conducting a LCA.
Learn the basics of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology using the PackageSmart tool.
* Intro to LCA in SimaPro (2 day) - January 24 & 25, Portsmouth, NH
This in-depth introductory course teaches the basics of life cycle assessment. This course is suitable for people entering the field of LCA and looking to become LCA practitioners.
To introduce students to SimaPro and provide practical experience applying the LCA methodology as defined in ISO 14040/14044.
Impact Assessment Methods - February 7
This course provides an overview of how various impact assessment methods are modeling the fate, transport & exposure pathways (causality chain) of emissions, allowing you to understand each impact category and why your results change when you use different impact assessment methods.
To give students an understanding of how to correctly build and model product stages in the SimaPro LCA software. Take this in-depth two session course to learn the basics of building recycling scenarios within SimaPro Life Cycle Assessment software.
One day of modeling includes Creating Impact Assessment Methods, Parameters and End of Life Advanced. Participants will receive an Advanced SimaPro User certificate. Second day of Interpretation includes Impact Assessment Methods, and Recycling . Take one or both days.
To give students an understanding of how to calculate, analyze and implement their social, environmental, and financial impacts using the SimaPro LCA software.
To explain the methodological details required to interpret an LCA study, so as to steer the study and provide robust conclusions/recommendations.
End of Life Advanced - March 14
Take this in-depth course to learn the how to represent the end of life of products in your LCA. This course will give you hands on experience in SimaPro by building a Life Cycle of an ink jet cartridge and using this example to model end of life scenarios.
To give students hands-on experience developing and using parameters in the SimaPro LCA software.
Communicating LCA Results - March 20
3 hr course to prepare students to critique their internal LCA reports
Hands on workshop on using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology to evaluate packaging designs
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| Contact Us!! |
| EarthShift
802 434-3326
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