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

The Gap

Below280 delivers LCA training for the composites industry with Composites UK. Together, they help manufacturers and suppliers build practical life cycle assessment skills. The UK composites industry faces growing regulatory pressure to quantify the environmental impacts of its materials and manufacturing processes. Net-zero targets, supply chain requirements and tightening product regulations have made life cycle assessment a business necessity. Most companies had no in-house LCA capability and no clear route to build one.

Composites UK, the trade association for the UK composites industry, identified this gap among its members. Change block type or style

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LCA Training for the Composites Industry: Below280 and Composites UK

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

The Gap

Below280 delivers LCA training for the composites industry with Composites UK. Together, they help manufacturers and suppliers build practical life cycle assessment skills. The UK composites industry faces growing regulatory pressure to quantify the environmental impacts of its materials and manufacturing processes. Net-zero targets, supply chain requirements and tightening product regulations have made life cycle assessment a business necessity. Most companies had no in-house LCA capability and no clear route to build one.

The LCA Training Programme for Composites

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. These include a full-day in-person LCA course in Birmingham, a half-day online LCA course, and a half-day EPD course covering how to commission or produce Environmental Product Declarations for composite products.

All three programmes are designed for industry professionals with no prior LCA or EPD experience. The in-person course moves from ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 methodology through to hands-on openLCA modelling 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. They finish the day having run a real model themselves. The online course covers the same LCA methodology in a condensed format accessible to participants across the UK. TThe EPD course covers EPD structure, PCR requirements and verification. It addresses the growing demand for verified declarations in the composites sector.

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

Outcomes

More than 50 organisations from across the composites value chain 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 relevance of composite-specific examples as the most useful elements.

The programme has become a regular fixture in Composites UK’s professional development calendar, running quarterly throughout the year.

LCA Training Beyond Composites

The composites programme is one example of Below280’s broader LCA training capability.Below280 delivers custom LCA training across sectors including manufacturing, construction, energy and bio-based materials. Each programme is designed around the products, processes and regulations relevant to that industry. Formats include one-day introductory courses, multi-day programmes and sector-specific workshops for in-house teams.ector-specific workshops for in-house teams building LCA capability from scratch.

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.