Advancing communication in solid waste management: leveraging life cycle thinking for environmental sustainability

Communication is often taken for granted, yet its importance in solid waste management cannot be underestimated. This article explores the importance of effective communication in the field and delves into how Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) can enhance communication and decision-making. It provides a departure from the traditional technical approach, introducing novel perspectives. Through a systematic review of the literature studies published on the topic, the paper examines key aspects of communication and emphasises its critical role in promoting sustainable waste management practices, highlighting the need for competent and well-prepared communication across all sectors. It concludes with compelling recommendations on utilising LCT as a powerful tool to improve communication, enabling stakeholders to gain a holistic understanding of the environmental impacts of their decisions and facilitating informed choices. Through the integration of LCT and effective communication, solid waste management can move closer to achieving sustainable production and consumption practices, reducing environmental impact, and embracing circular economy principles. This article contributes to the literature on solid waste management by shedding light on the crucial link between LCT and communication. LCT, integrated into communication strategies, is instrumental in comprehensively conveying the environmental and social impacts of waste management, fostering understanding and engagement among stakeholders. Collaborative involvement of experts in solid waste management and communication is vital for effective communication. The study recommends investigating LCT and awareness campaigns, communication channels, multi-sector collaboration, technology, cross-cultural communication, policy integration, public-private partnerships, and communication scalability.