LCA's theory and practice: Like ebony and ivory living in perfect harmony?

This editorial aims to improve cooperation in the use of LCA in both theory and practice. The successful development of LCA requires, on one hand, an influx of new ideas and harmonized methodologies, and on the other hand, thriving and credible application. The authors share the implications of LCA in daily businesses and practice and aim to nurture and strengthen the interfaces between scientific findings and application. Working together to encourage a broader application of "good practice" LCA in industry as well as strengthening scientific LCA work towards "applicable science" will develop and reinforce professional LCA work and technical implementation in the academic and business arena. This article is written with a primary focus on industrial applications and research in applied science and with less emphasis on specific governmental applications.