The composites industry faces increasing pressure to demonstrate sustainability credentials and understand the environmental impact of materials and manufacturing processes. As regulations tighten and net-zero targets approach, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a crucial methodology for quantifying environmental impacts across product lifecycles.
Composites UK, the trade association for the UK composites industry, identified a significant requirement among its members regarding LCA methodology and practical implementation. Companies across the sector needed practical skills to assess their products’ environmental footprints and make data-driven sustainability decisions.
Outline & Objectives
Decerna partnered with Composites UK to develop and deliver a specialised LCA training programme tailored to the needs of the composites industry. The programme aimed to:
- Provide comprehensive understanding of LCA methodology and ISO standards
- Deliver practical, hands-on training with openLCA software
- Enable participants to conduct basic LCAs on composite materials and products
- Help companies interpret LCA results to inform product development and environmental strategies
- Build capacity within the UK composites sector for environmental impact assessment
The training was designed to be accessible to industry professionals with no prior LCA experience while providing sufficient depth to enable practical application in workplace settings.
Approach
The programme was structured as a one-day intensive course held at The Studio in Birmingham, making it accessible to companies across the UK. The curriculum included:
- Theoretical foundations: Introduction to LCA concepts, history, and ISO 14040/14044 standards
- Software and databases: Overview of LCA tools with focus on the open-source OpenLCA platform
- Practical application: Hands-on workshop using OpenLCA with real-world composite examples
- Impact assessment: Understanding climate change metrics, uncertainty, and other environmental impact categories
- Interpretation: Learning to analyse and communicate LCA results effectively
The training featured a custom-developed composite product case study, allowing participants to follow the complete LCA process from goal and scope definition through to interpretation.
Outcomes
The LCA training programme has established itself as a cornerstone of Composites UK’s professional development offerings, with regular sessions delivered throughout the year. Key outcomes include:
- More than 25 organisations from across the composites value chain have participated, including manufacturers, material suppliers, engineering firms, and research institutions
- Participants gained practical skills to begin implementing LCA within their own organisations
Feedback from participants highlighted the value of the hands-on approach with openLCA software and the relevance of using composite-specific examples.
Further Information
While focused on composites, the principles and methodologies taught in the programme are applicable across industries. The programme continues to evolve in response to participant feedback and emerging best practices in environmental assessment methodologies.
For more information on Decerna’s training capabilities or to discuss custom LCA training for your organisation, please contact info@decerna.co.uk.
