Welcome to LCAWise Learning

Welcome to the LCAWise training program—a comprehensive learning resource for Life Cycle Assessment practitioners at all levels. Whether you're new to LCA or looking to deepen your expertise, this program provides structured pathways to build your skills.

How This Program Is Organized

The LCAWise learning platform is organized into five tracks, each serving a different learning goal:

Track 1: LCA Foundations

Best starting point for beginners. This track covers the fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment methodology, from basic concepts through the complete ISO 14040/14044 framework.

What you'll learn:

• What LCA is and why it matters
• The four phases of LCA methodology
• Defining functional units and system boundaries
• Life cycle inventory analysis
• Impact assessment methods
• Interpretation and reporting

Recommended for: Anyone new to LCA, or experienced practitioners wanting to refresh their foundational knowledge.

Track 2: Software Tutorials

Hands-on guidance for openLCA. Learn to conduct LCAs using openLCA, the leading free, open-source LCA software.

What you'll learn:

• Installing and configuring openLCA
• Importing databases (ecoinvent, USLCI, etc.)
• Building LCA models step-by-step
• Running impact assessments
• Exporting and interpreting results

Recommended for: Anyone ready to start practical LCA work, or transitioning from other software.

Track 3: Environmental Product Declarations

Understanding EPDs and how to create them. This track covers the EPD ecosystem—from understanding what EPDs are to navigating the process of creating and publishing them.

What you'll learn:

• What EPDs are and why they matter
• Program operators and Product Category Rules
• The EPD development process
• Key resources and support organizations

Recommended for: Practitioners who need to create or interpret EPDs, especially in construction, manufacturing, and product development roles.

Track 4: Advanced Methods

Deep dives into specialized topics. For practitioners ready to go beyond the basics, this track covers advanced methodological topics.

What you'll learn:

• Uncertainty analysis and Monte Carlo simulation
• Consequential vs. attributional LCA
• Social Life Cycle Assessment
• System boundary approaches for recycling and end-of-life

Recommended for: Experienced practitioners, researchers, and those working on complex or policy-relevant assessments.

Track 5: Industry Applications

Sector-specific guidance and case studies. Each lesson focuses on a specific industry sector, covering relevant approaches, case studies, and resources.

Sectors covered:

• Packaging
• Construction and buildings
• Food and agriculture
• Electronics and technology
• Textiles and apparel
• Transportation and automotive
• Energy and power generation
• Chemicals and materials
• Pharmaceuticals and healthcare
• Mining and metals

Recommended for: Practitioners working in or entering specific sectors, or anyone wanting to see how LCA applies in different contexts.

Where Should You Start?

If you're new to LCA

Start with Track 1: LCA Foundations. Work through lessons 1-6 in order—each builds on the previous. This gives you the conceptual foundation needed for everything else.

After completing the foundations, you have two paths:

Path A: Hands-on practice first → Move to Track 2 (Software) to start building actual models. Then return to Tracks 3-5 as needed.

Path B: Deeper theory first → Explore Track 3 (EPDs) or Track 4 (Advanced Methods) to build more theoretical depth before diving into software.

If you have LCA experience

You can jump directly into the track most relevant to your needs:

• Need to learn openLCA? → Track 2
• Creating EPDs? → Track 3
• Working on a complex study? → Track 4
• Entering a new sector? → Track 5

If you're refreshing your knowledge

Browse the track overviews and jump to specific lessons that address gaps in your current understanding. Each lesson is designed to stand alone while connecting to the broader curriculum.

Learning Features

Estimated Time

Each lesson includes an estimated reading time. Most lessons take 15-30 minutes to complete, making them suitable for focused learning sessions.

Prerequisites

Some lessons list prerequisites—other lessons you should complete first. These are recommendations, not requirements, but following them ensures you have necessary background knowledge.

Practice Exercises

Most lessons include practice exercises at the end. These help reinforce concepts and give you hands-on experience applying what you've learned.

Resource Lists

Each lesson ends with a resource list pointing to external materials for deeper exploration—databases, tools, standards, and publications.

Getting Help

Community Forum

Have questions? Use the LCAWise forum to ask questions and connect with other practitioners. Whether you're stuck on a concept, looking for data sources, or want to discuss methodology, the community is here to help.

Suggest Improvements

Found an error or have suggestions for improvement? Use the feedback link at the bottom of each lesson. This program is continuously improved based on learner input.

A Note on Terminology

Throughout this program, we use "Life Cycle Assessment" (three separate words)—never "Lifecycle Assessment" or "Life-cycle Assessment." This follows ISO standard terminology and is important for professional communication.

Ready to Begin?

If you're new to LCA, start here: What is Life Cycle Assessment?

If you know where you want to go, use the navigation to jump directly to your track of interest.

Welcome to LCAWise Learning. Let's build your LCA expertise together.