Absolute Sustainability – From less bad to good enough

12:00–12:30 – Lunch & networking
Sandwiches and networking

12:30–12:45 – Welcome & Introduction to IDA Miljø LCA

12:45–13:30 – Presentation: Absolute Sustainability: From Relative Improvement to Staying Within Environmental Limits (DTU, Centre For Absolute Sustainability)

• Understand what absolute sustainability is
• What are the strengths and where are the methodological development needs
• Which methods exist and how can they be applied
• How can results be used to gauge sustainability and set the direction for actively working with an improving sustainability performance?
• What is the future of absolute sustainability and which developments can we expect?

13:30–14:00 – Break

13:30–14:30 – Case Presentations: Presentation of 2 cases on applying and assessing absolute sustainability. From research to practice (TBA)

• Hear about the practical insights from sustainability and LCA experts working with absolute sustainability assessment in projects
• This is about the process of applying the new methods and approach and the experts experience with this.
• For instance, which absolute limits are included, how is allocation of safe operating space done, which LCA approach and data are used?

14:30–14:50 – Shorter Break

14:50–15:20 – Table discussion: Addressing the methodological needs in absolute sustainability

Facilitated by IDA Miljø LCA team and other volunteers

Topic specific discussions GHG protocol (10 minutes per topic) 

1. Which environmental boundaries should be used, can we quantify all?
2. How should the boundaries be allocated among companies and industries? Can it be done in practice?
3. Can LCA assess absolute sustainability is the existing LCI-data and LCIA methods suited for this type of assessment? E.g. regional water impacts, planetary boundaries indicators not matching LCA indicators, etc.

15:20–15:45 – Table discussion: Should absolute sustainability be the new norm and how do we get companies and organisations to  assess and communicate on their performance?

Facilitated by IDA Miljø LCA team and other volunteers

Topic specific discussions (10-ish minutes per topic) 

1. What are the main barriers for making absolute sustainability the norm and what is needed to overcome these?
2. Should absolute sustainability be complimentary to LCA or should it replace LCA. Where do you think absolute sustainability is most relevant and where is it not relevant at all to use?

 15:45–16:00 – Wrap-up & future sessions

• Key takeaways
• Feedback and future sessions in 2027

Agenda is subject to small changes 

Lunch and afternoon cake will be provided as part of the meeting.