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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Interpretation and Evaluation (Part 2)

Learn to interpret and evaluate Life Cycle Assessments to drive sustainable decisions and practices across industries.

LCA, Life cycle assessment concept
  • Duration

    5 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours
  • Languages

    English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano, Español
  • Premium course

    $109What's included?
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info
The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Reduce environmental impact with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools

An average smartphone only lasts 2.5 years. An average car only lasts about 12. As the world’s waste problem grows, understanding the full product lifecycle is more crucial than ever to reaching zero carbon goals.

Building on Aberystwyth University’s Principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Sustainability, this course focuses on the interpretation and evaluation of the output of life cycle assessment.

You’ll learn flexibly with the experts at the Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) over five engaging weeks, gaining the skills to assess and apply LCA insights to promote sustainable decision-making.

Grasp the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) process

Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are powerful tools used by many businesses and agencies in the move towards lowering carbon emissions associated with products.

You’ll delve into the LCIA process, exploring how normalisation and weighting help interpret data and compare impacts across different product categories.

Apply LCA insights to drive sustainable change

You’ll then move on to examine how LCA data can be used to identify areas for improvement in product design and production processes.

By applying your learning to real-world scenarios, you’ll gain the skills to contribute to sustainability initiatives in various industries.

Learn practically and sustainability for the real-world

You’ll conclude this course with a series of case studies. These real-world examples will allow you to apply LCA principles to sustainable decision-making.

You’ll explore a variety of sectors, from the production of everyday goods like apples, cotton, and sugar cane, to the sustainable practices of companies such as Adnams Brewery.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Impact Assessment

    • Impact Assessment

      Week 1

  • Week 2

    Normalisation

    • Normalisation

      Week 2

  • Week 3

    Weighting, Resources and Interpretation of LCA

    • Weighting in LCA

      Week 3 - Weighting in LCA

  • Week 4

    Example Case Studies - Apples and Sugar

    • Case Studies

      Week 6 - Case Studies

  • Week 5

    Example Case Studies - Cotton Production and Brewing

    • Case Studies - Cotton and Brewing

      Two further opportunities to practice your LCA skills

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the process of Life Cycle Impact Assessment and assess the challenges associated with them
  • Evaluate the use of normalisation and weighting in Life Cycle Impact Assessment
  • Describe the requirements of the life cycle assessment interpretation phases and assess the challenges associated with interpretation
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of life cycle assessment methods to evaluating Life Cycle Assessment reports

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for professionals and learners interested in deepening their understanding of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It’s perfect for those already familiar with the basics of LCA and looking to expand their skills in evaluating and interpreting LCA results.

Whether you’re working in sustainability, environmental science, or product development, this course will help you navigate the complexities of LCA to support decision-making for more sustainable practices.

If you’d like a refresher, we recommend you take Aberystwyth University’s Principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Sustainability.

Who will you learn with?

My background is in livestock nutrition and my interests include environmental sustainability of livestock production, sustainability and climate change in relation to agriculture and livestock.

Who developed the course?

Aberystwyth University

Aberystwyth University has a proud reputation for leading edge research, teaching excellence and an exceptional student experience. It’s a place for the adventurous, the curious and the creative.

What's included?

This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
  • Download and print your Certificate of Achievement anytime

Still want to know more? Check out our FAQs

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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