Training: Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Engineering

The sustainable transformation of the economy presents significant challenges and changes for businesses. A fundamental component of this transformation is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is used to evaluate products in terms of their environmental impacts and to generate comprehensive assessments. The data obtained can be used in a variety of ways, for example to report a product’s Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), create an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), or disclose specific sustainability metrics for reporting in accordance with CSRD/VSME. The holistic approach of LCA, which considers the entire life cycle of the product beyond the manufacturing process, also enables the identification of potential for reducing emissions and provides support for circular product design in line with the circular economy.

Our training provides an introduction to LCA and the practical implementation of life cycle assessment. We will answer your questions: How can LCA methodology based on ISO standards be implemented in a practical way within your company? How do I use the “openLCA” assessment tool? What are the weaknesses of my products, and how would alternative scenarios affect the results? How can the data obtained be used to create value within the company? 

At the end of the training, you will receive a certificate from our certified “openLCA” trainers. With Life Cycle Assessment, you lay the foundation for the sustainable transformation of your products—take the first step now! 

• You will learn how to make quantifiable statements about the environmental impacts of your products and processes, for example, to report a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for your product.
• You will gain a structured and concise overview of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology according to ISO standards 14040 and 14044.
• You will learn approaches for critically reviewing LCA reports as well as how to handle missing or inconsistent data in your own projects.
• You will learn how to use the “openLCA” software using concrete examples and will perform your own modeling.
• You will receive a certificate of completion from our certified “openLCA” trainers. 

The “Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Engineering” course is divided into a total of three modules:

Module 1: Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment

• Current Challenges Facing the Industry
• Definition of LCA
• Different Types of LCA: PCF, EPD, and Others
• Benefits and Advantages of LCA for Businesses
• Life Cycle Assessment Using the “openLCA” Software Tool

Module 2: LCA Methodology According to ISO Standards 14040/44 with a Practical Example

• The Four Phases of Life Cycle Assessment According to ISO Standards 14040/44
• Practical approaches to conducting LCA projects using a concrete practical example
• Critical review of LCA reports and handling missing or inconsistent data in your own projects
• Limitations and critical aspects of an LCA

Module 3: “openLCA” Software Training

• Introduction to “openLCA,” including first steps and basic functions
• Creating product systems with their associated elements
• Allocation and system extension
• End-of-life modeling, such as recycling and system extension
• Working with parameters for sensitivity analyses
• Analysis and interpretation of results using LCIA methods
• Data quality in “openLCA”
• Practical tips and tricks for working with “openLCA”

This training is specifically designed for manufacturing companies and anyone interested in assessing the environmental impact of products in the future. This may include, for example, sustainability managers, product designers, consultants specializing in sustainable product development, or professionals in research and development. As a participant, you will receive hands-on training in creating life cycle assessments in “openLCA” and utilizing the resulting data.