LCA Training for the Composites Industry: Below280 and Composites UK

Below280 delivers practical LCA and EPD training for composites manufacturers and suppliers across the UK, in partnership with Composites UK. Since the programme launched, more than 50 organisations from across the composites value chain have taken part, from material suppliers to engineering firms and research institutions.

Note: This programme was originally developed when Below280 operated as the LCA division of Decerna Group. It continues under Below280.

The Challenge

The UK composites industry has faced growing pressure to quantify the environmental impacts of its materials and processes. Net-zero targets, supply chain requirements and tightening product regulations have made life cycle assessment a business necessity for manufacturers, yet most companies had no in-house LCA capability and no clear route to build one. Composites UK, the trade association for the sector, identified this gap among its members.

The Training Programme

Below280 partnered with Composites UK to design and deliver a bespoke LCA training suite built specifically for the composites sector. What began as a single one-day course has grown into three programmes running quarterly throughout the year.

The current offering includes a full-day in-person LCA course held in Birmingham, a half-day online LCA course accessible to participants across the UK, and a half-day EPD course covering how to commission or produce Environmental Product Declarations for composite products.

All three programmes are designed for professionals with no prior LCA or EPD experience. The in-person course covers ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 methodology and moves into hands-on modelling using openLCA in a single day. Below280 is an official GreenDelta openLCA partner. Participants work through a custom composite product case study, following the full LCA process from goal and scope definition through to interpretation, finishing the day having run a real model themselves.

Using composite-specific materials and processes throughout, rather than generic examples, means participants can apply what they learn directly to their own products.

Outcomes

More than 50 organisations have taken part since the programme launched, including manufacturers, material suppliers, engineering firms and research institutions. Participant feedback consistently highlights the hands-on openLCA work and the use of composite-specific examples as the most valuable elements. The programme now runs as a regular fixture in Composites UK’s professional development calendar.

LCA Training for Other Sectors

Below280 delivers custom LCA training across manufacturing, construction, energy and bio-based materials. Each programme is designed around the products, processes and regulations relevant to that sector, with formats ranging from one-day introductory courses to multi-day programmes and in-house workshops.

If your organisation needs to build LCA skills internally, contact us to discuss a custom programme.

About Below280

Below280 is a specialist LCA, EPD and carbon due diligence consultancy and official GreenDelta openLCA partner. We conduct ISO 14040/44-compliant life cycle assessments for sustainable materials, renewable energy and low-carbon systems. We also deliver LCA training to industry, government and research organisations across the UK and internationally.