Lifecycle Carbon Assessment (LCA) for Product Designers

Lecture 1: Introduction to LCA & Its Role in Product Design
This lecture introduces the fundamentals of Lifecycle Carbon Assessment (LCA) and why it is essential for today’s product designers. You will learn what LCA is, its key benefits, and how it fits into the broader context of sustainable product development. The four critical phases of LCA, Goal & Scope Definition, Inventory, Impact Assessment, and Interpretation will be outlined, along with examples of how LCA is applied to real-world design challenges. We will also link the methodology to global sustainability movements, such as Net Zero targets and EU regulations, highlighting the growing significance of carbon measurement skills for modern designers. By the end of this lecture, you’ll understand the foundational role LCA plays in responsible, future-ready design.

Lecture 2 focuses on understanding the product lifecycle by comparing the cradle-to-grave and cradle-to-cradle models, detailing the sequential stages every product passes through, such as raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. By highlighting where major emissions typically occur across different industries, this lecture enables designers to identify environmental hotspots and deepen their awareness of a product's ecological journey. Students will also engage in a practical exercise, sketching the lifecycle of a familiar product, which empowers them to visualize and evaluate sustainable design improvements in real-world contexts.

Lecture 3 covers how to define goal and scope in the context of product design, focusing on the importance of establishing clear functional units and system boundaries. It emphasizes making transparent assumptions during the design phase and explores the differences between attributional and consequential LCA approaches. The lecture also features a case study on redesigning a packaging solution, offering practical insight into applying these concepts in real-world scenarios.

Lecture 4, titled “Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Data Collection Essentials,” guides students through the fundamentals of gathering the right data to conduct a credible Life Cycle Assessment. It describes the types of data required, distinguishes between primary and secondary sources, and introduces widely used LCI databases like Ecoinvent and GaBi. Additionally, the lecture highlights practical tools such as OpenLCA and SimaPro for compiling and organizing inventory data, giving students hands-on skills for starting LCI modeling. With a focus on demonstrating real software workflows, this lecture provides a concrete foundation for understanding the data backbone of any LCA study.

Lecture 5, “Interpreting LCA Results Carbon Focus,” introduces students to the fundamental concepts of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). It covers how to evaluate environmental impacts—especially global warming potential and carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e)—based on life cycle inventory data. The lecture also explains methods for reading and clearly communicating LCA results, emphasizing skills for translating technical findings into actionable design decisions. Students are given practical exercises, such as evaluating an LCA report and making recommendations for product improvements, helping them develop a designer’s perspective on making more sustainable choices using carbon metrics.

Lecture 6, titled “Tools & Frameworks for Designers,” explores specialized LCA tools and frameworks tailored to the needs of product designers. This lecture introduces software such as Thinkstep, Tally, and Granta EduPack, which streamline the integration of LCA into the design workflow. It also examines how LCA functions within CAD applications like SolidWorks Sustainability, and covers key concepts such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Product Category Rules (PCRs). Students get hands-on experience by comparing the carbon impact of two design alternatives using freely available tools, enabling practical carbon analysis within the design process.

Lecture 7, “Designing for Low Carbon: From Insight to Action,” focuses on innovative strategies to minimize carbon impact through design. It covers practical techniques such as lightweighting, modularity, and switching to lower-carbon materials. The lecture introduces circular economy and regenerative design principles, showing students how to embed LCA concepts directly into design briefs and client presentations. As a culmination exercise, students conduct a mini-LCA on their own design and propose targeted redesign solutions, helping bridge the gap between environmental insight and practical action in real product development.