How Product Managers Can Lead the Charge in Sustainable Innovation with Jim Fava

Innovation Talks

Jim Fava is a leading pioneer in sustainability who has made significant contributions to sustainability and environmentalism for over 40 years. Regarded as the “father of modern-day life cycle assessment,” Jim has spent his career guiding businesses and governments through risks and opportunities, enabling them to hold environmentally responsible and sustainable operations. He is the co-founder of the Forum for Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation, a multi-stakeholder and membership-based community organization for everyone interested in Life Cycle approaches to enhance the sustainability of economic activities. He is the former Executive Director of the Anthesis Group, an organization that supports businesses and governments in understanding and navigating risks and opportunities. Today, Jim and Neil D’Souza co-host Five Lifes to Fifty, a podcast that explores the intersection between society, business, environment, and technology, and negotiating the path to sustainable products.

Jim joins me today to offer insight on how product managers can lead sustainable innovation. He outlines four strategies for navigating sustainable innovation in the context of organizational position and goals. He discusses the role of a product manager in mapping a product’s sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and regional considerations. Jim also highlights why collaborating with internal and external functions within an organization is crucial for product managers and underscores the value of being proactive.

“Product managers are critical to the compliance strategy, and they need to reach out to two functions: first, the marketing team, to get a better handle of the market, and two, the government affairs group.” - Jim Fava

This week on Innovation Talks:

● The sustainability roundtable and the life cycle assessment tool

● Golden Rule #7: Meeting them where they are

● Various perspectives on sustainability in organizations

● The “Shaping the Future” strategy of sustainable innovation

● Product managers collaborating with other functions in the company

● The shift toward proactive sustainability strategies

● The “compliance” strategy of sustainable innovation

● Being prepared for change in the sustainability landscape

● Why product managers need to establish connections and proactively address challenges

● The “market-driven” strategy in sustainable innovation

● Continuous learning in sustainability

Resources Mentioned:

● International Organization for Standardization

● Forum for Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation

● American Center for LCA

● Book: The Power of Life Cycle Assessment: Data Driven Decision Making for Environmental Sustainability by American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA)

Connect with Jim Fava:

● Podcast: Five Lifes to Fifty

● Jim Fava on LinkedIn

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