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Study module: Life Cycle Assessment
Published on 07 October 2021
Lithuania
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The main aim of the module: To acquire and gain knowledge about the environmental impact of technological processes, products or services throughout their life cycle, i.e. from extraction of raw materials to waste management. Also, to understand the economic life cycle cost and social life cycle assessment.
LCA is one of the most important preventive and sustainable development measures for resource efficiency, waste reduction and the circular economy. Different life cycle assessment methodologies and softwares can also assess the impact of technologies, processes or services in the context of sustainable development: environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and social life cycle assessment (social LCA).
In the Master's program "Sustainable Management and Production", the LCA methodology is one of the main ones in assessing the potential impact of industrial facilities, environmental systems on the environment and environmental efficiency. The module “Life Cycle Assessment” is also relevant for other study programs at various levels of the university.
The main users and beneficiaries of the good practice is the students from the Master's program "Sustainable Management and Production" and Phd students of the study program “Environmental Enginering”.
LCA is one of the most important preventive and sustainable development measures for resource efficiency, waste reduction and the circular economy. Different life cycle assessment methodologies and softwares can also assess the impact of technologies, processes or services in the context of sustainable development: environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and social life cycle assessment (social LCA).
In the Master's program "Sustainable Management and Production", the LCA methodology is one of the main ones in assessing the potential impact of industrial facilities, environmental systems on the environment and environmental efficiency. The module “Life Cycle Assessment” is also relevant for other study programs at various levels of the university.
The main users and beneficiaries of the good practice is the students from the Master's program "Sustainable Management and Production" and Phd students of the study program “Environmental Enginering”.
Resources needed
The module uses openLCA 1.5 software for life cycle assessment (GreenDelta GmbH) and other resources. The latest SimaPro 9 software with databases is used to teach the module.
Evidence of success
Research at the KTU Institute of Environmental Engineering related to Life Cycle Assessment of Processes, Products and Services has been carried out since 2002. Recently, the Life cycle assessment has been applied in many different areas: for dairy products, metal processing, plastics, textile production companies, electric vehicles, waste, packaging, waste management etc.
Benefits to the public sector through trained students , some later finding employment in public sector institutions.
Benefits to the public sector through trained students , some later finding employment in public sector institutions.
Potential for learning or transfer
Aim of the proposed module: To provide knowledge about Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a method and tool for analyzing the environmental impact of technological processes, services and products, highlighting the main strengths and weaknesses of LCA.
This module is designed to get acquainted with and analyze in detail the life cycle assessment methodology, to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the application of the life cycle assessment method, focusing on the most promising and fastest growing industries.
Educational or other training institutions will provide the necessary competencies for the experts, which are willing to make the life-cycle assessment, which can then be used both in industry and in institutional decision-making.
Benefits to the public sector through trained students, some later finding employment in public sector institutions.
This module is designed to get acquainted with and analyze in detail the life cycle assessment methodology, to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the application of the life cycle assessment method, focusing on the most promising and fastest growing industries.
Educational or other training institutions will provide the necessary competencies for the experts, which are willing to make the life-cycle assessment, which can then be used both in industry and in institutional decision-making.
Benefits to the public sector through trained students, some later finding employment in public sector institutions.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Kaunas University of Technology
Lithuania
Contact
Profesor