How do you communicate the results and benefits of ship LCA to stakeholders and clients?

1 Know your audience

Before you prepare your LCA report or presentation, you need to understand who your audience is, what their goals and concerns are, and what level of detail and technicality they need. For example, a ship owner may be more interested in the economic and operational implications of your LCA, while a regulator may focus on the compliance and environmental aspects. A general public audience may require more explanation and simplification of the LCA concepts and results. Tailor your message and language to suit your audience's needs and preferences.

2 Highlight the benefits

One of the main objectives of communicating your LCA results is to show how your ship design or operation can provide benefits to your stakeholders and clients, such as reducing fuel consumption, emissions, waste, noise, or risks. Use clear and concise statements, graphs, tables, or charts to illustrate the benefits of your LCA in terms of environmental, social, and economic indicators. Compare your LCA results with relevant benchmarks, such as industry standards, best practices, or alternative scenarios. Emphasize the positive outcomes and opportunities that your LCA can offer.

3 Address the limitations

LCA is a complex and uncertain process that involves many assumptions, data gaps, and methodological choices. You need to acknowledge and explain the limitations of your LCA results and how they may affect the reliability and validity of your conclusions and recommendations. For example, you may need to disclose the sources and quality of your data, the scope and boundaries of your system, the functional unit and allocation methods, the impact categories and indicators, and the sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. Be transparent and honest about the limitations of your LCA and how you can improve them in the future.

4 Provide recommendations

Based on your LCA results and benefits, you can provide recommendations to your stakeholders and clients on how they can improve their sustainability performance and achieve their goals. For example, you can suggest ways to optimize the ship design or operation, implement best practices or technologies, reduce environmental impacts or costs, or increase efficiency or safety. Provide clear and actionable steps, as well as the expected outcomes and benefits of your recommendations. Explain how your recommendations align with your stakeholders' and clients' interests and values.

5 Engage and interact

Communication is not a one-way process. You need to engage and interact with your audience, invite feedback, and address questions or concerns. Use appropriate communication channels and formats, such as reports, presentations, webinars, or workshops, to deliver your LCA results and benefits. Use visual aids, such as images, videos, or animations, to enhance your message and attract attention. Use stories, examples, or testimonials to make your LCA more relatable and compelling. Encourage dialogue, discussion, and collaboration with your audience to foster trust and understanding.