Improved Environment and Resource Efficiency through use of Life Cycle Instruments for implementation of regional policies of the European Union
LCA4Regions is expected to contribute to a more effective implementation of environmental policy instruments by the application of Life Cycle Methodologies. Currently many individual policies are implemented in isolation of others. Thus, the project is focused on expanding the use of life cycle methods as a holistic approach when conceiving and implementing public policies related to the environment protection and resource efficiency.

Life cycle expertise resides mainly in the business sector while public authorities are much less familiar with the techniques and their functioning. However, the full success of policy implementation depends on a similar expertise also in governmental authorities. The outcomes of improved public policy implementation are greater concordance with stated sustainability objectives, fewer unwanted side-effects and greater transparency in the compromises and offsets that need to be made to move ahead on sustainable economic targets.

Each project region has its own characteristics, methods of design and implementation of policies. Nevertheless, all of them face a common challenge: the adoption of a more efficient use of natural resources to reduce the non-desirable secondary effects (spill-overs) that generate negative economic and environmental impacts.

Expected result: 7 Actions Plans to improve 7 policy instruments funded by the ERDF. This is achieved through, inter alia, intense local stakeholder group involvement, 7 transnational learning journeys, exchanges of experiences, study cases and the compilation of good practices. These activities are intended to clarify the success factors and barriers for the application of life-cycle management approaches for policy implementation. 
Action plans will contribute to 1) improve policy instruments introducing the LCA in all steps of policy cycle management 2) Enlarge the circle of end-users that will benefit from making conscious decisions on resource efficiency and investments using the LCA