Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) has published a code of practice for environmental life-cycle costing (LCC), which provides a framework for evaluating decisions with consistent, but flexible systems boundaries as a component of product sustainability assessments (Swarr et al. 2011). The code of practice builds on an earlier monograph that summarized 3 years of effort by the SETAC-Europe Working Group on Life-Cycle Costing (Hunkeler et al. 2008). The code of practice is grounded in a conceptual framework for life-cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of products that uses distinct analyses for each of the three pillars of sustainability, environment, economy, and social equity. 1 $$ {\text{LCSA }} = {\text{ LCA }} + {\text{ LCC }} + {\text{ SLCA}} $$ Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the only pillar that has been standardized to date (ISO 2006a, b). UNEP (2009) has published guidelines for social LCAs and is currently developing methodological sheets fo

Purpose: Asset management is often one of the last options to maximise cost savings in a competitive global economy due to its intrinsic complexity, especially in many developing countries. Asset management in the process industry must consider the commissioning, operational and end‐of‐life phases of physical assets when commencing a design and implementation project. However, current asset management models show inefficiencies in terms of addressing life cycle costs comprehensively, as well as other aspects of sustainable development. An asset life cycle management (ALCM) model is subsequently proposed for assets in the process industry, which integrates the concepts of generic project management frameworks and systems engineering with operational reliability in order to address these inefficiencies.Design/methodology/approach: Experiences within a large petrochemical company in South Africa are used as a case study to demonstrate and discuss the different components of the proposed ALCM model.Findings: Operational reliability and systems engineering are the means to achieve optimum value from physical assets over a facility's lifetime. Thereby, activities are identified that should be completed during each stage of the project life cycle. The application of performance measurements for the operation and support stages is proposed to influence decision making in the process industry.Originality/value: Specific issues pertaining to the ALCM model are highlighted to ensure optimal practicality and incorporation of the model with other management practices in the process industry.