Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy, hosted the opening ceremony of LCM 2025, providing an iconic backdrop for the conference’s start. The conference welcomed 1,038 participants – primarily attending in person – from 51 countries across six continents. This diverse turnout underscored the truly global nature of LCM 2025. Following the grand opening at the historic Teatro Massimo, attendees engaged in three days of technical sessions and discussions (September 10–12) at a local university venue. Networking opportunities abounded, with academics, industry experts, and policymakers exchanging ideas on how to translate life cycle methods and data into practical solutions for businesses and communities. The strong involvement of industry highlighted the growing adoption of life cycle management practices in the private sector.
Sustainability
LCM 2025 distinguished itself not only by its content but also by its commitment to sustainability. Notably, the conference was certified carbon-neutral: all carbon emissions associated with participants’ travel, accommodations, and venue use were fully offset.
The 12th International Conference on Life Cycle Management (LCM 2025) took place from September 9–12, 2025, in Palermo, Italy, under the theme “From Global to Local – Methods, Tools and Best Practices for an Efficient and Effective Sustainable Transition”. This premier global sustainability forum united practitioners, academics, industry leaders, NGOs, and policymakers to advance life cycle thinking in both strategic and operational decision-making. The conference was co-hosted by RWTH Aachen University’s Institute for Sustainability in Civil Engineering (INaB), Hitachi, and Circular srl – as the local organizer. Prof. Marzia Traverso (Director of INaB, RWTH Aachen) served as Conference Chair, with Davide Bonaffini (Head of Eco Design & Circular Economy Transition, Hitachi Rail) as Co-Chair. The scientific committee was coordinated by Dr. Rose Mankaa (INaB, RWTH Aachen), reflecting INaB’s leading role in organizing the event and shaping its scientific program.
Highlights and Keynotes
Over 800 abstracts were accepted into a rich program of presentations and workshops. Keynote contributions from the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and industry leaders set the tone for high-level dialogue. The conference fostered a participatory atmosphere – true to its “Global to Local” theme – by involving stakeholders from across geographical and sectoral boundaries in meaningful discussions on implementing sustainability practices.
Looking Ahead
Building on the momentum from Palermo, the Life Cycle Management conference series continues to move forward. It was announced that LCM 2027, the 13th International Conference on Life Cycle Management, will be held in Helsinki, Finland.
The Impression Project is supporting three Ghanaian universities modernize their curricula to address challenges in agriculture, water, and energy. Highlighted in a recent video during the last workshop in Sunyani, the initiative showcases how higher education is moving beyond traditional teaching models to prepare students for real-world sustainability issues. Central to the project is updating courses to reflect today’s environmental and resource challenges.
The project also fosters an interdisciplinary mindset. Recognizing that agriculture, water, and energy are deeply interconnected, universities are integrating knowledge from engineering, environmental science, social sciences, and policy. This creates a holistic perspective and equips graduates with the knowledge needed to design sustainable solutions.
By aligning education with sustainability priorities, the participating universities aim to strengthen regional development and resilience. The Impression Project stands as an example of how academia can lead the way in empowering the next generation to meet the complex challenges of climate change and resource management.
April 10, 2025 | Aachen
On April 10, 2025, a special educational event took place at GS Gymnasium Aachen as part of the EU-funded AMBITION project. The aim of the event was to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among 15-year-old high school students.
A total of 54 students participated in the event, which was organized and led by the Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering (INaB). The engaging program began with an introduction to the importance of the SDGs and their relevance to today’s global challenges.
This was followed by a quiz on real-world sustainability challenges, allowing students to test their knowledge and gain new insights. Afterwards, a clear and concise presentation on sustainability and its global importance helped deepen their understanding.
The highlight of the event was a poster session where students worked in groups to identify local SDG-related problems and develop creative solutions. The posters showcased high levels of engagement and innovative thinking.
The feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the poster presentations. INaB extends its sincere thanks to the teachers and staff of GS Gymnasium Aachen for their excellent cooperation and support.
For more information about the AMBITION project, visit:
🔗 www.phdambition.org
INaB is hosting the 12th Life Cycle Management Conference 2025 in Palermo, Italy
More information on https://www.lcm2025.org/
