Comprehensive LCA Training for Commercial Organisations

Duration: 4 days (Monday to Thursday), 09:00 to 16:30 daily

Format: Intensive in-person training with hands-on workshops

Locations: Newcastle, Edinburgh, or London (other locations available where trainer travel expenses are covered)

Group size: Maximum 12 participants

Standard rate: £4,495 + VAT per participant

Group discounts: 10% for 3 to 5 participants, 15% for 6 or more

For dates and registration: info@below280.com

The Programme

Four days of intensive, hands-on life cycle assessment training, taking participants from methodology foundations through to advanced modelling and automation in openLCA. Delegates leave able to build and analyse LCA models independently. No prior LCA experience is required.

Below280 is the official UK partner of GreenDelta, developers of openLCA, and all training is delivered by GreenDelta-certified openLCA trainers with active project experience across manufacturing, construction, energy, composites, and carbon capture sectors.

Day 1 covers the ISO 14040/14044 framework and LCA methodology. Days 2 to 4 are practical software work: building complete models, running impact assessments, developing scenarios, automating workflows, and applying skills to each participant’s own sector context. Homework is set between days to reinforce skills and identify questions for the following session. By the end of day 4, delegates have the competency to undertake LCA studies, providing the foundation for specialisms such as carbon footprint calculation, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and CBAM compliance reporting.

Programme Structure

Day 1: LCA Fundamentals

• LCA methodology and core concepts
• ISO 14040/14044 standards framework
• System boundaries and functional units
• Life cycle inventory analysis and data collection
• Impact assessment methods and impact categories
• LCA databases and software landscape
• Sector applications and worked examples

Days 2 to 4: Hands-On openLCA Training

• Software installation and setup
• Database acquisition and import, with a focus on the US Federal LCA Commons database, which is open-source and free to use. This removes any database licensing requirement during training, so participants can continue practising after the course without cost. Skills transfer directly to commercial databases including ecoinvent.
• Building a complete LCA model from scratch, step by step
• Advanced functionality: waste flows, allocation methods, parameterisation, and switches
• Scenario development and comparative analysis
• Sensitivity analysis and critical parameter identification
• Data quality assessment using pedigree matrices
• IPC connectivity for integration with external tools
• Python coding for automated analysis workflows
• Collaboration server use for team-based LCA work and version control
• Individual project development tailored to each participant’s sector

Your Trainers

Led by Below280’s experienced LCA team: Dr Tom Bradley (Director), Jonathan Forbes, and Tia Morgan. Between them, decades of conducting LCA studies across multiple sectors, with practical insights from real project experience.

Who Attends

Commercial organisations building in-house LCA capability: product manufacturers, sustainability teams, procurement functions, and consultancies working with environmental data. Participants arrive with no prior LCA knowledge and leave able to build, run, and interpret LCA models relevant to their own sector.

What’s Included

• Four full days of instruction from GreenDelta-certified openLCA trainers
• Comprehensive course materials and reference guides
• Complete example openLCA models to keep
• Software installation support
• Database access guidance
• 30 days post-course email support for technical questions
• Certificate of completion
• Lunch and refreshments daily

In-House Delivery

Below280 delivers this programme in-house for larger teams. Content and sector case studies are adapted to the organisation. Contact info@below280.com to discuss requirements.

A Note on Scope

This course builds core LCA competency and practical openLCA skills. While openLCA is the training platform, the focus is on LCA methodology and practice, not software-specific instruction. Specialised applications such as EPD development, CBAM compliance, or sector-specific methodologies may require additional targeted training. Below280 also offers dedicated openLCA courses separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any prior LCA or sustainability experience? No. The course starts from scratch on day 1 and builds progressively. By day 4, delegates are building and analysing models independently.

What makes this different from a one-day LCA course? One-day courses introduce LCA concepts and basic modelling. This four-day programme goes from fundamentals through to advanced modelling, parameterisation, scenario analysis, and automated workflows. Delegates leave with the skills to undertake LCA studies, not just an understanding of what LCA is.

Do I need to bring my own laptop? Yes. openLCA is free, open-source software, and setup instructions are sent before the course. Trainers provide installation support on day 1.

Which LCA database does the course use? Training uses the US Federal LCA Commons, which is free and open-source. This means there is no database licence cost during or after the course. The skills and workflows transfer directly to commercial databases such as ecoinvent.

Is this an openLCA course or an LCA course? Both. Day 1 is LCA methodology and ISO standards. Days 2 to 4 teach LCA through openLCA, so delegates learn the method and the software together. Below280 also offers dedicated openLCA-only courses for those who already understand LCA methodology.

Can this course help with EPDs, CBAM, or carbon footprint reporting? This course provides the LCA foundation that those specialisms build on. Producing a verified EPD or CBAM report involves additional standards and processes beyond core LCA. Below280 offers specialist training and consultancy for EPD, CBAM, and carbon reporting.

Why is Below280 qualified to deliver this training? Below280 is the official UK partner of GreenDelta, the developers of openLCA. All trainers hold GreenDelta certification. The team has delivered LCA training to organisations including Composites UK and EPSRC-funded doctoral training centres, alongside commercial LCA project work across multiple sectors.

About Below280

Below280 is a specialist LCA, EPD and CBAM consultancy based in Cramlington, Northumberland, and the official UK partner of GreenDelta, developers of openLCA. The team has delivered LCA training to commercial organisations and academic institutions across the UK and internationally, including sector programmes for Composites UK and doctoral training for EPSRC-funded research centres.

Contact Below280 about LCA training: info@below280.com