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What is the Life Cycle Assessment Course from MIT Professional Education?
The Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts course from MIT Professional Education introduces participants to the internationally recognized framework for assessing environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle. Learn how to identify environmental hotspots, quantify resource consumption, evaluate emissions, and support sustainability initiatives using industry-standard methodologies.
This life cycle assessment online course follows the ISO 14040 framework and provides hands-on experience conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs), interpreting results, and applying insights to business, policy, design, and procurement decisions. Participants also gain practical experience using LCA software and databases widely used by sustainability professionals.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to conduct environmental impact assessments, communicate sustainability findings, and support more informed environmental and strategic decision-making.
2 billion tons
The world generates more than 2 billion tons of solid waste annually, and this figure is projected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050. Approximately one-third of this waste is not managed properly.
Source: The World Bank
8%
Demand for Life Cycle Assessment professionals continues to grow as organizations invest in sustainability initiatives, environmental reporting, and carbon reduction strategies.
Source: Zippia
60%
Humanity currently consumes resources at a rate approximately 60% higher than the Earth can regenerate each year, highlighting the need for more sustainable production and consumption models.
Source: World Wide Fund for Nature
What Will You Learn in the Life Cycle Assessment Course?
Module 1: Life Cycle Assessment Overview
- Define the concept of LCA
- Explore different types of LCAs
- Discover terminology associated with LCAs
- Software component: Install and Explore openLCA
Module 2: Goal and Scope
- Gain a deeper understanding of establishing the purpose and focus for an LCA
- Explore the ways in which we set limits for analysis and its effects on the outcome
- Introduce the concept of interdependencies when evaluating environmental impact
- Software component: Defining Goal and Scope
Module 3: Life Cycle Inventory
- Learn more about the inventory step and procedures for conducting one
- Analyze what data is needed and where this information can be obtained
- Understand the challenges of multi-output systems and methods for dealing with them
- Software component: Conducting an LCI
Module 4: Life Cycle Impact Assessment
- Review the procedure for conducting an LCIA in response to objectives outlined in goal and scope
- Recognize the main impact categories, how they differ, and how they are measured
- Normalize data and account for uncertainty
- Software component: Creating a Model and Conducting LCIA (Optional)
Module 5: Interpretation to Support Decisions
- Review the different types of uncertainty and their causes
- Understand how uncertainty is calculated
- Interpret and/or communicate LCA results with relevant disclaimers
- Software component: Calculating Uncertainty with open LCA
Module 6: Case Studies
- Explore LCA case studies of everyday products
- Boots Shampoo
- Alkaline Batteries
- Asics Running Shoes
- Look at the corporate footprint of a leading company
- Corporate Footprinting: Apple Inc.
- Examine how LCAs can be used to support policy decisions
Environmental Assessment Applications Taught in the Course
The Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts course from MIT Professional Education equips participants with the methodologies, tools, and practical skills needed to measure environmental impacts and support sustainability-focused decision-making.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Learn how to evaluate the environmental impacts of products, processes, and services across their entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life management.
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis
Develop the skills to collect, evaluate, and manage environmental data, including material flows, energy consumption, emissions, and resource use throughout a system.
Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
Explore how environmental impacts are quantified using established assessment methods and learn how to evaluate categories such as resource consumption, emissions, and waste generation.
LCA Software and Databases
Gain hands-on experience using openLCA and industry databases to build models, conduct environmental assessments, analyze uncertainty, and generate actionable sustainability insights.
Interpretation and Decision Support
Learn how to interpret LCA results, account for uncertainty, identify environmental hotspots, and apply findings to business, engineering, procurement, and policy decisions.
Sustainable Product and Corporate Assessment
Examine real-world case studies and learn how organizations use LCAs to evaluate products, measure corporate environmental footprints, and support sustainability strategies.
In just eight weeks, participants gain practical experience conducting life cycle assessments, using LCA software and databases, and applying environmental impact data to support more sustainable business and policy decisions.
DISCOVER THE COURSE’S CONTENT
What Skills Will You Learn in This Life Cycle Assessment Course?
1.
Define the Objective and Scope of an LCA
Learn how to establish the purpose, scope, and system boundaries of a Life Cycle Assessment to ensure meaningful and reliable results.
2.
Collect and Evaluate Environmental Data
Develop the skills to gather primary inventory data and select appropriate secondary data from industry databases to support Life Cycle Assessments.
3.
Quantify Environmental Impacts
Measure the environmental impacts of products and processes using established impact assessment methodologies and sustainability metrics.
4.
Interpret Results With Confidence
Learn how to analyze LCA findings, account for uncertainty, and identify opportunities for environmental improvement and informed decision-making.
5.
Support Sustainability and Business Decisions
Apply LCA insights to product design, manufacturing, procurement, policy development, and sustainability initiatives using ISO 14040 standards.
6.
Master LCA Software and Databases
Gain hands-on experience with openLCA and industry databases, from installation and modeling to impact assessment and uncertainty analysis.
Why Choose the MIT Professional Education Life Cycle Assessment Course?
Build a Strong Foundation in Life Cycle Assessment
Understand the principles, terminology, and methodologies used to measure environmental impacts across a product, process, or service life cycle.
Learn an ISO-Aligned LCA Framework
Develop the skills to conduct an LCA using internationally recognized ISO 14040 standards and best practices.
Gain Hands-On Experience With LCA Tools
Work with openLCA software and industry databases to perform inventory analysis, impact assessments, and environmental evaluations.
Quantify Environmental Impacts With Data
Learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data to measure resource use, emissions, waste generation, and sustainability performance.
Support Sustainable Business Decisions
Apply LCA findings to product design, procurement, manufacturing, corporate sustainability initiatives, and environmental policy decisions.
Develop In-Demand Sustainability Skills
Build practical expertise sought by organizations working toward carbon reduction, environmental compliance, circular economy initiatives, and sustainability reporting.
Evaluate Environmental Trade-Offs
Assess alternatives, identify environmental hotspots, and understand the implications of business decisions across the entire value chain.
Translate Insights Into Action
Communicate LCA results effectively to stakeholders and support strategies that improve environmental performance and long-term sustainability.
This life cycle assessment course combines internationally recognized methodologies, practical software experience, and real-world case studies to help professionals apply Life Cycle Assessment principles in business, engineering, sustainability, and policy environments. Through this life cycle assessment online course, participants gain the knowledge and tools needed to quantify environmental impacts and drive more sustainable decision-making across organizations.
Course Credential: Certificate of Completion
Participants who successfully complete the Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts course receive an MIT Professional Education Certificate of Completion and MIT Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
To obtain CEUs, complete the accreditation confirmation, which is available at the end of the course. CEUs are calculated for each course based on the number of learning hours.
*The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is defined as 10 contact hours of ongoing learning and indicates the amount of time devoted to a non-credit, non-degree professional development program.
To understand whether or not these CEUs may be applied toward professional certification, licensing requirements, or other required training or continuing education hours, please consult your training department or licensing authority directly.
Who Should Attend the Life Cycle Assessment Course?
This life cycle assessment course is designed for professionals seeking to measure environmental impacts, support sustainability goals, and make informed decisions across products, processes, and value chains. Through this life cycle assessment online course, participants learn practical LCA methodologies, tools, and frameworks used in business, engineering, and policy environments.
Participants who can benefit from this course include:
- Consultants who must be aware of current sustainability policies and how to enact them within an organization.
- Companies in industries concerned with meeting or setting carbon targets or hoping to reduce their impact on the environment.
- Data scientists and engineers involved in interpreting and analyzing LCAs.
- Accounting firms involved in evaluating the greenhouse gas emissions of firms.
- Legislative bodies implementing policies regarding sustainable production and procurement practices.
*It is highly recommended that functional and cross-functional teams carry out the course together, in order to accelerate the process of adopting smart manufacturing practices.
What Do Past Participants Have to Say?
ANUP JOSH
Quality Lead
Very well crafted course, particularly for working professionals. I work with LCA practitioners to commission different LCAs and then communicate the results internally. This course has been very beneficial in improving my understanding of the LCA process, and has empowered me to ask the right questions to practitioners, and answer the questions I get internally more confidently. Thanks for opening the windows of opportunity to me!
Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts
Antonio Fernando Castillo
Environmental Management System Manager, Advanced Bionics
I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. The course provided an in-depth exploration of the ISO standards 14040 and 14044, offering a comprehensive understanding of LCA methodologies. The insights I gained into each stage of the LCA assessment were eye-opening; they illuminated how we can adopt a holistic approach to analyze the environmental implications of various systems.
One aspect of the course that I found particularly valuable was its focus on addressing real-world challenges, such as dealing with limited data and uncertainty in environmental assessments. As I continue my journey as a sustainability business leader, I am confident that the skills and knowledge I’ve acquired will be invaluable.
Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts
David Bal
Business Controller
Within our team we are working on the energy transition. We are working towards a production process that runs on green energy instead of fossil fuels. Because of the content of this course I am more aware of the possibilities of an LCA as well as how a good LCA should be carried out. But also that sustainability is not only limited to the reduction of CO2 emissions and that there are also other impact categories that must be taken into account. I also have more guidance to prioritize our future sustainability investments. This is very important to me as a business controller.
Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts
Who Are the Instructors of This Life Cycle Assessment Course?
Listed in alphabetical order
DR. JEREMY GREGORY
Executive Director, MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium
“We have people who have specialized in materials science, engineering and in economics and environment. My specific background is about trying to tie those things together, particularly engineering, economics and environmental issues.”
Learn more
Jeremy Gregory is the Executive Director of the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium. He studies the economic and environmental implications of engineering and system design decisions, particularly in materials production and recovery systems.
Research topics include product and firm environmental foot-printing, manufacturing and life-cycle cost analysis, and characterization of sustainable material systems. He has applied these methods, often with industry partners, to a range of products and industries, including pavements, buildings, automobiles, electronics, consumer goods, and waste treatment and recovery. Gregory earned a BS in mechanical engineering from Montana State University, and an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from MIT.
PROF. ELSA OLIVETTI
Associate Dean of Engineering, Associate Professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, and Co-Director of MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium
“An important way to improve the environmental performance of industry is to quantify, treat, and reduce industrial byproducts. This objective could be achieved through industrial symbiosis or byproduct synergy, terms used for beneficial reuse of materials or energy streams from one facility by another.”
Learn more
Elsa Olivetti is the associate director of the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium and the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Associate Professor in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. Her research centers on improving the environmental and economic sustainability of materials in the context of growing global demand.
Her interests span three levels of materials production: operational-level, industrial network-level and market-level strategies. She is focused on two areas with the potential for significant environmental benefits: improving the sustainability of materials through increased use of recycled and renewable materials, recycling-friendly material design, and intelligent waste disposition; and understanding the implications of substitution, dematerialization, and waste mining on materials markets.
Olivetti earned a BS in engineering science from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from MIT.
FAQs
1. What is the Life Cycle Assessment course from MIT Professional Education?
The Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts course is a professional online course that teaches participants how to measure, analyze, and reduce the environmental impacts of products, services, and processes using internationally recognized LCA methodologies and ISO standards.
2. What will I learn in this life cycle assessment course?
This life cycle assessment course covers the complete LCA process, including goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, impact assessment, interpretation, uncertainty analysis, and the use of LCA software and databases to support sustainability-focused decision-making.
3. Is this life cycle assessment online course suitable for sustainability professionals and engineers?
Yes. This life cycle assessment online course is designed for sustainability professionals, consultants, engineers, manufacturing leaders, data scientists, and policymakers who want to quantify environmental impacts and support sustainability initiatives within their organizations.
4. Does the life cycle assessment course include hands-on experience with LCA software?
Yes. Participants in this life cycle assessment course gain practical experience using openLCA software and industry databases to conduct environmental impact assessments, analyze results, and apply LCA methodologies to real-world scenarios.
5. Why should I enroll in this LCA course?
This LCA course helps professionals develop in-demand sustainability skills, understand environmental impacts across product life cycles, support carbon reduction and environmental goals, and make more informed business, engineering, and policy decisions using data-driven insights.
6. Is the MIT Professional Education LCA course worth it?
For professionals in sustainability, engineering, and environmental management, the MIT Professional Education LCA course provides practical training in Life Cycle Assessment methodologies, ISO standards, and environmental impact analysis. Participants gain hands-on experience with LCA tools, real-world case studies, and an MIT Professional Education Certificate of Completion that supports their professional growth.
