Life Cycle Assessment Methods for Environmental Impact & Sustainability Decision

Day 1: Foundations of Product Life Impact Thinking

• What “life impact” means across the value chain
• Systems thinking and boundaries
• Types of environmental and resource impacts
• Common terminology and ethical considerations

Day 2: Planning an Evaluation

• Defining goals and scope
• Identifying stakeholders and expectations
• Establishing boundaries and assumptions
• Data needs and documentation discipline

Day 3: Inventory Data: Collecting the Facts

• Mapping flows of materials, energy, and waste
• Primary vs. secondary data selection
• Data quality checks and traceability
• Addressing gaps and uncertainty transparently

Day 4: Modelling Impacts

• Converting inventory data into impact categories
• Structuring models for clarity and repeatability
• Managing sensitivity and scenario testing
• Safeguards against bias in modelling choices

Day 5: Interpretation and Decision Support

• Reading and validating results
• Comparing alternatives responsibly
• Linking findings to business decisions
• Documenting limitations and caveats

Day 6: Circularity and Resource Stewardship

• Designing for durability, repair, and reuse
• Material recovery opportunities
• Trade-offs between impact categories
• Aligning with responsible sourcing practices

Day 7: Integrating Social and Economic Considerations

• Broader sustainability perspectives
• Worker and community impact awareness
• Cost and benefit viewpoints
• Balancing multiple objectives

Day 8: Reporting and Communication

• Writing clear, transparent reports
• Visualizing complex results simply
• Communicating uncertainty honestly
• Preparing for stakeholder questions

Day 9: Implementation and Continuous Improvement

• Turning insights into action plans
• Setting metrics and tracking progress
• Engaging cross-functional teams
• Governance and review cycles

Day 10: Practical Application Workshop

• Plan a full evaluation for a chosen product
• Identify data sources and modelling approach
• Outline reporting structure and review steps
• Build an improvement roadmap aligned to goals