Module Title: Life Cycle Assessment: Concepts, Methods, and Applications
Duration: 2 Days (16 Hours Total)

Day 1: 8 Hours

Day 2: 8 Hours
Objectives:

Understand the fundamental concepts and importance of Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA).

Learn the methodology for conducting an LCA, including goal definition, scope,
inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation.

Gain practical skills in LCA software, specifically OpenLCA, through hands-on
experience.

Apply LCA in real-world scenarios and case studies.
Day 1: Foundational Concepts and Framework
Session 1: Concept of Sustainability and the Need for Systems Thinking
Duration: 1 Hour

Introduction to sustainability: Definitions and principles

The importance of systems thinking in addressing environmental challenges

Integration of sustainability and systems thinking in LCA
Session 2: Goal and Scope Definition
Duration: 1 Hour

Defining the goal and scope of an LCA study

Understanding the importance of a well-defined goal in LCA

Key elements in scope definition: System boundaries, assumptions, and limitations
Session 3: Process Flow Diagram, Functional Unit, and Reference Flow
Duration: 1.5 Hours

Developing process flow diagrams to visualise the life cycle of a product or process

Importance of the functional unit in LCA: Defining and selecting appropriate units

Understanding reference flows and their role in linking different stages of the life
cycle
Session 4: Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Analysis
Duration: 2 Hours

Data collection methods and tools for LCI

Developing and managing LCI databases

Practical example: Performing an LCI for a selected product (e.g., a plastic bottle)

Exercise: Creating a simple LCI dataset and process flow
Session 5: Environmental Impact Categories, Damage Categories, and
Midpoint/Endpoint Approach
Duration: 2 Hours

Overview of environmental impact categories (e.g., Global Warming Potential, Ozone
Depletion)

Understanding damage categories: Human health, ecosystem quality, resource
depletion

Midpoint vs. Endpoint approaches: Methodologies and applications

Case study discussion on the use of different impact assessment approaches
Session 6: Introduction to Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) Methodology
Duration: 0.5 Hour

Overview of LCIA methodology: Linking LCI results to environmental impacts

Introduction to commonly used LCIA methods

Brief discussion on the selection of appropriate LCIA methodologies based on goals
Day 2: Advanced Analysis, Applications, and Hands-on Training
Session 7: Applications of LCA - Case Studies
Duration: 1 Hour

Real-world examples of LCA applications in various sectors (e.green buildings, solid
or liquid waste management)

Discussion on the implications of LCA results in decision-making and policy

Discussion on how LCA can be applied to participant-selected scenarios
Session 8: Benefits and Drawbacks of LCA
Duration: 1 Hour

Identifying the benefits of using LCA for environmental decision-making

Discussion on the limitations and challenges of LCA (e.g., data availability,
interpretation)

Critical evaluation of LCA: When and how to use LCA effectively
Session 9: OpenLCA Hands-on Training (Part 1)
Duration: 2.5 Hours

Introduction to OpenLCA software: Overview of interface, key features, and
functionalities

Setting up a project in OpenLCA: Defining the goal, scope, and system boundaries

Importing and managing data within OpenLCA

Practical exercise: Building an LCA model in OpenLCA using provided datasets
Session 10: OpenLCA Hands-on Training (Part 2)
Duration: 2.5 Hours

Conducting impact assessments and interpreting results

Case study: Performing a full LCA on a selected product or process using OpenLCA

Analysis of results, interpretation, and reporting within the software

Troubleshooting common issues in LCA
Session 11: Wrapping-up
Duration: 1 Hour

Summary of key takeaways and future directions for LCA studies

Feedback and discussions

Q&A session to address remaining queries and provide additional insights
Materials Provided:

Workshop handbook with slides, exercises, and references

Access to OpenLCA software and related databases

Case studies and datasets for practical exercises