Life Cycle Assessment

In order to achieve true sustainability, it is of paramount importance to assess the environmental impact of new products, technologies and systems using a holistic approach that takes into account all the steps in the lifecycle of the system under investigation. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a fundamental method for assessing the environmental impacts of products and technologies from a “cradle to grave” systems perspective. It is an essential tool for anyone who performs environmental analyses or uses the results of such analyses for decision making. This course will provide an introduction to LCA methods and applications. Besides the LCA methodology, focus will be given on the correct interpretation of the results and the understanding of the strengths and limitations of LCA. The theory taught will be complemented by a case study/project performed by the students, in order to obtain hands-on experience.