Comprehensive Sustainability Assessments for Materials, Products, and Processes

The lecturers introduce the whole training course structure, the learning objectives, and the way participants will work across theory, guided exercises, and case-based discussions. Participants receive a clear overview of the tools, datasets, and exercises used throughout the module sequence.

In this introduction participants develop a life cycle perspective and learn how choices in sourcing, processing, use, and end-of-life shift environmental, social, and economic consequences. The module introduces sustainable development concepts and uses two contrasting case studies, an assessed project for recycling of tantalum and chocolate production, to demonstrate how system boundaries, allocation choices, and improvement measures influence conclusions in practice.

Participants receive a structured introduction to environmental life cycle assessment in accordance with ISO 14040 and learn the core steps from goal and scope definition to interpretation. The session familiarises participants with OpenLCA software, core functions. typical workflows, and relevant databases and datasets and how to select appropriate background data and document assumptions for reproducibility.

The session presents the environmental LCA case study and practice. Participants practice life cycle mapping, goal and scope definition and system boundary setting using the case study. The session further covers setting impact categories and indicators for the system under study, establishing a robust basis for later modeling and impact assessment.

The session focus is on building a consistent model and preparing the model for transparent interpretation and communication of results. Using a case study, participants learn how to identify process flows to guide building inventory data (inputs and outputs). Participants are taken through creating and modelling “flows” and “process” into “product system”, as well as calculating impacts and interpretation. Further, the session covers sensitivity analysis and comparison using “projects”. Participants are given exercises for self-practice and feedback.

Participants work through optional deepening exercises based on the chocolate production case to strengthen confidence in inventory creation and modelling decisions. The session reserves time for targeted questions, typical pitfalls, and practical advice on how environmental LCA outputs can be used in R&D and operational contexts. 

Participation in this module on this day is voluntary.

The session discusses the basics of End-of-Life (EoL) modelling and multifunctionality. Participants review the case results and practice explaining findings with appropriate limitations and uncertainty awareness. A moderated discussion links the assessment output to concrete decision situations, and participants receive time for questions tailored to their own application contexts. Information and resources for further LCA practices are made available to participants.

In this introduction participants develop a life cycle perspective and learn how choices in sourcing, processing, use, and end-of-life shift environmental, social, and economic consequences. The module introduces sustainable development concepts and uses two contrasting case studies, an assessed project for recycling of tantalum and chocolate production, to demonstrate how system boundaries, allocation choices, and improvement measures influence conclusions in practice.

The session presents an overview of resource-efficiency assessment approaches, introducing the economic logic and application of Material Flow Cost Accounting in line with ISO 14051. The session explains the step-by-step procedure to identify material and energy losses, demonstrates its application in a completed project, and introduces the study cases used during the workshop. Participants will gain a practical understanding of life cycle costing and related economic approaches, enabling them to compare alternatives consistently, identify cost drivers along the value chain, and connect results to operational improvement measures.

In this practical session, participants apply Material Flow Cost Accounting (ISO 14051) by completing structured MFCA tables for the study cases. Rather than introducing the methodology, the focus is on performing the calculations, interpreting results, and gaining confidence in the workflow.

Using the use cases for the workshop, participants build an economic inventory by identifying inputs and outputs in monetary units and aligning them with the life cycle structure. The session emphasizes consistent assumptions, comparability across options, and the translation of cost findings into actionable conclusions for design and process choices.

Participants present and discuss results from the economic exercises and clarify methodological questions, typical data challenges, and interpretation pitfalls. The discussion focuses on how MFCA and LCC outputs can be used to justify process changes, prioritize improvement measures, and support cross-functional decisions.

In this introduction participants develop a life cycle perspective and learn how choices in sourcing, processing, use, and end-of-life shift environmental, social, and economic consequences. The module introduces sustainable development concepts and uses two contrasting case studies, an assessed project for recycling of tantalum and chocolate production, to demonstrate how system boundaries, allocation choices, and improvement measures influence conclusions in practice.

Participants learn to conduct Social Life Cycle Assessments based on the Product Social Impact Assessment (PSIA) method. A use case (tantalum recycling) is applied to demonstrate how SDG mapping along the life cycle can support decision-making for emerging technologies. Furthermore, participants learn how to define stakeholders and identify them for each life cycle stage, i.e., material sourcing, processing, production, use, and end-of-life. They also learn how to identify social hotspots, select indicators, analyse and present assessment results. The session introduces how gender-related perspectives can be scoped and documented within a social assessment.

In this session the second use case—chocolate production—will be assess alongside participants to analyse social impacts for different stakeholder groups along the life cycle. This interactive lecture focuses on structured reasoning, documentation of assumptions, and the translation of qualitative findings into clear recommendations for further process and production improvements that align with the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework.

Participants will undertake practical exercises to apply and deepen their knowledge of Social LCA and Gender LCA.

Participants discuss and compare the outcomes of the assessment exercises, reflect on uncertainty and data limitations, and practice formulating clear conclusions for stakeholders. The session includes time for questions, such as method selection, defining system boundaries, and integration with other sustainability dimensions, among others.

In this introduction, participants develop a life cycle perspective and learn how choices in sourcing, processing, use, and end-of-life shift environmental, social, and economic consequences. The module introduces sustainable development concepts and uses two contrasting case studies, an assessed project for recycling of tantalum and chocolate production, to demonstrate how system boundaries, allocation choices, and improvement measures influence conclusions in practice.

Furthermore, participants are introduced to the role of critical raw materials in sustainability decisions and how criticality considerations can change preferred solution pathways. The module provides a practical entry into chemical risk assessment through use cases and guided exercises, focusing on hazard identification and evaluation as a foundation for safer design choices. Participants also apply eco-design principles in a short analysis of the chocolate production case to identify improvement options for environmental performance and circularity.

The session links the previous discussed elements to the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, consisting of two phases: a (re)-design phase using eco-design tools such as Process Trees and Hotspot Tables to identify priority issues, followed by a detailed assessment phase applying environmental, economic and social aspects, adding a deeper chemical risk assessment to verify safety and sustainability. Hands-on exercises provide practical experience in chemical risk assessment and hotspot identification.

Participants learn the C-MET-ESG framework as a qualitative multicriteria method for comparing alternatives when quantitative data are incomplete or decisions require a broader perspective. Using a predefined case study, participants apply the matrix to score sustainability aspects across the process chain and practice interpretation across criticality, materials, energy, toxicity, environmental, and social categories.

Participants work with three variations of the study cases to compare alternative solutions for a process and analyze how changes affect outputs and trade-offs across sustainability categories. The activity trains structured comparison and consistent scoring logic.

Participants present their comparative assessments, discuss trade-offs and decision criteria, and refine interpretation and communication of qualitative outcomes. Time is reserved for questions on how to combine multicriteria assessment with LCA, economic evaluation, and SSbD-oriented design work.

In this introduction participants develop a life cycle perspective and learn how choices in sourcing, processing, use, and end-of-life shift environmental, social, and economic consequences. The module introduces sustainable development concepts and uses two contrasting case studies, an assessed project for recycling of tantalum and chocolate production, to demonstrate how system boundaries, allocation choices, and improvement measures influence conclusions in practice.

This session provides an overview of sustainability reporting, with a focus on key EU regulatory requirements such as CSRD, ESRS, and the EU Taxonomy. It also introduces the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and outlines new EU regulations addressing sustainability and due diligence in supply chains. The session serves as a foundation for more detailed discussions in subsequent modules.

This session provides a deep dive into EU regulations under the Omnibus Initiative, allowing participants to explore the topic through practical activities. Participants will present their results and engage in discussions to reflect on their findings. Time is also allocated for questions and answers to clarify concepts and share insights.

Participants receive a structured introduction to corporate carbon footprinting and product carbon footprint calculations and practice key steps through guided activities. Participants will engage in practical activities to apply these concepts. Time is also allocated for presenting results and a Q&A discussion to clarify insights and address questions.