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Life Cycle Assessment

Teaching Unit (for year 1): Elective #2

Face-to-face time

⁠
`24`
⁠
hours

Student workload

⁠
`60`
⁠
hours

ECTS

⁠
`3`
⁠
⁠

Responsible Teacher

Olivier MIRGAUX

⁠

Pedagogic Team

⁠

Aims of the teaching

This course offers the chance to examine how products, processes or services impact on the environment, using the most comprehensive approach: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This methodology is internationally recognised by institutions like United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Society of environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) as well as by major companies, such as TOTAL, EDF, VEOLIA... Students taking this course will analyse this methodology in detail, within a normative framework (ISO14040 series), and will also study real-life cases in practical lessons. LCA is a powerful tool for decision making, strategy and lobbying.

Course outline:

Introduction, life cycle thinking, standards for LCA, the four main steps.

Goal and scope definition, function and functional unit, types of fluxes.

Life Cycle Inventory, mono and multifunctional processes, recycling, matrix approach.

Introduction to consequential LCA.

Impacts: main environmental impacts, impact assessment, characterization factors, midpoint and endpoint approaches.

Result interpretation, critical assessment.

Intended Learning outcomes (measured by the assessment)

By the end of the module, students will know the principles of LCA, its vocabulary and main steps of the analysis. They will have discovered the Life Cycle thinking. They will master the methods for producing an inventory, tackling a multifunctional process. They will be able to analyse LCA results, evaluate the impacts, compare scenarios, assess the methodological choices and limits. Globally they will be able to evaluate and produce Life Cycle Assessment up to industry standards.

Learning activities and approach

E-learning (online)

Lectures (onsite)

Tutorials (onsite)

Exercises and supervised project with LCA software

Useful information

Location

Practical work equipment

Classroom with specific LCA software (computer room)

Other information

Assessment method

Written exam and oral presentation

Related literature

G. Rebitzer et al. ‘Life cycle assessment Part 1...’ Environment International 30 (2004), 5, 701-720. doi 10.1016/j.envint.2003.11.005

G. Finnveden et al. Journal of Environmental Management 91 (2009) 1–21. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.06.018

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