Life Cycle Assessment of Products and Services
Join this virtual seminar to participate and learn about the Life Cycle Assessment!
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful decision-making tool that helps engineers, service providers, policymakers, and researchers evaluate the environmental impacts of products, processes, and systems. By systematically analyzing a part (cradle-to-gate) or the entire life cycle (cradle-to-grave or cradle) of a product or a service, LCA provides data-driven insights that support sustainable decision-making. The course will provide insight on how engineers can:
1. Design & Development of products
Identifies environmental hotspots in the product life cycle. Helps choose eco-friendly materials and design for recyclability. Assists in reducing energy and resource consumption.
2. Process Optimization
Compares alternative manufacturing methods to minimize emissions and waste.
Assesses the impact of process changes, such as switching to renewable energy.
3. Sustainable Procurement & Supply Chain Management
Evaluates suppliers based on their environmental impact.
Supports decisions on sourcing raw materials locally vs. internationally.
Encourages circular economy practices like remanufacturing and closed-loop recycling.
4. Regulatory Compliance & Policy Development
Supports adherence to environmental regulations and sustainability standards (e.g., ISO 14040/14044, EU Taxonomy).
Provides a scientific basis for eco-labelling and sustainability certifications.
Aids in setting carbon reduction targets and life cycle carbon footprints.
5. Corporate Sustainability Strategy
It helps companies set sustainability goals and track progress.
Supports Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting.
Enhances transparency in corporate sustainability claims.
6. Marketing & Consumer Communication
Provides credible environmental data for product labels and green marketing.
Differentiates products with lower environmental footprints.
7. Investment & Risk Management
Identifies potential environmental risks associated with materials and processes.
Supports sustainable investment decisions in green technologies and infrastructure.
8. Comparative Decision-Making
Compares different products, materials, or technologies to choose the most sustainable option.
Supports trade-offs between cost, performance, and environmental impact.
Examples from the construction industry will be provided to address the environmental impacts of projects by choosing, for instance, between steel, concrete, wood, or hybrid materials for a structure to select materials with the lowest environmental impact while balancing performance and cost.
Wood has a lower carbon footprint and can sequester carbon.
Steel is recyclable but has high production emissions.
Concrete has high embodied carbon but offers durability.
Organizer:
Event language: English
Time: 6:30 PM EST
Format: Virtual
Region: Ontario
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