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Life Cycle Assessment
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 35 hours
  • Course by University of Michigan
  • Offered by

About

This course will introduce you to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA ) methodology, a tool to assess the environmental impact of products and systems over the whole product life cycle, from cradle to grave. After a discussion of the potentials and limitations of quantitative LCA compared to other assessment tools, we will detail and practice each of the LCA phases. 1) The goals and system definition phase defines the goal and scope of the study, including the product function, functional unit, and the product system and its boundaries. 2) The Life Cycle Inventory phase quantifies the inventory of the various elementary flows of resource extractions and substance emissions crossing the system boundary, providing an overview of existing databases. 3) The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase determines multiple environmental impacts damage and provides an overview of the existing LCIA methods 4) The interpretation phase analyses results from an LCA case study to provide recommendations towards more sustainable products. Leading actions in several industrial sectors (agriculture and foods, automotive, personal care products, and energy) will be examined through relevant case studies in order to demonstrate how effective environmental life-cycle assessment leads to new product development.

Modules

Welcome to the Course!

    • 4 Videos
    • 4 Readings
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4 Videos

  • Meet Your Instructors
  • Course Introduction
  • How to use the $ in Excel: A Tutorial Activity (for those not very familiar with excel)
  • How to Find a Value in a List in Excel: A Tutorial Activity (for a more advanced use of excel)

4 Readings

  • Course Syllabus & Roadmap
  • Pre-Course Survey
  • Expected Timetable for Case Study
  • How to use the $ sign in excel and how to find a value - File template for next two videos

Lesson 1: Products, health, and LCA

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Products in Our Daily Life Activity

2 Videos

  • Introduction to LCA - Part A - Why LCA?
  • Introduction to LCA - Part B - Uses of LCA

1 Readings

  • Week 1 Slides

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Introduction to LCA

LESSON 2: LCA Packaging Example

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Minimizing Impacts of Shipping

3 Videos

  • LCA From A to Z - Qualitative
  • LCA From A to Z - Quantitative
  • LCA From A to Z - Product Improvement

1 Readings

  • Introduction to LCA Illustrated Quiz

1 Quiz

  • Activity: LCA illustrated

LESSON 3: History and Standards compared to other environmental tools

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Quiz
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3 Videos

  • A History of LCA Standards
  • LCA Compared to Other Environmental Tools- Part A
  • LCA compared to other environmental tools- Part B

2 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Introduction to LCA
  • Week 1 Assessment

LESSON 1: Goal, Scope, and Actors

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Quiz
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2 Videos

  • Goal and Scope Definition - Part A
  • Goal and Scope Definition - Part B

1 Readings

  • Week 2 Slides

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Goal and scope

LESSON 2: Functional Unit

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Review Functional Unit

3 Videos

  • Function & Functional Unit - Part A
  • Function & Functional Unit - Part B
  • Function & Functional Unit - Part C

2 Readings

  • Directions for Activity: Functional unit and reference flows
  • Activity: Hand Drying Comparison

1 Quiz

  • Activity: Functional unit and reference flows

LESSON 3: Building the product system and its boundaries

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 3 Quiz
    • 1 ExternalTool
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1 External Tool

  • Process Trees

2 Discussions

  • Process Tree Review
  • Car Process Tree Reflection

6 Videos

  • Building of Product System and Process Tree - Part A
  • Building of Product System and Process Tree Part B
  • Building of Product System and Process Tree Part C
  • Building of Product System: light bulb example
  • System Boundaries - Part A
  • System Boundaries - Part B

1 Readings

  • Activity: Building the product system and process tree

3 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check Building the product system
  • Knowledge Check System boundaries
  • Week 2 Assessment

LESSON 4: Case Study Phase 1 - Goal Definition

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Case Study - Intermediary Presentation

3 Readings

  • Reminder: Case Study timeline
  • Case Study - Intermediary Presentation Model
  • For car case study: Tesla data

LESSON 1: Building the Life Cycle Inventory

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Review Building the LCI

3 Videos

  • Life Cycle Inventory - Building the LCI Part A
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Building the LCI Part B
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Building the LCI Part C

2 Readings

  • Week 3 Combined Slides
  • Activity: Building the LCI

2 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check Building the LCI
  • Building the LCI

LESSON 2: Primary Energy and CO2 Balance

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 2 Quiz
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2 Discussions

  • Questions and Comments
  • Review Activity: Primary Energy and CO2 Balance

6 Videos

  • Primary Energy and CO2 Emissions from Processes & Materials - Part A
  • Primary Energy and CO2 Emissions from Processes & Materials - Part B
  • Primary Energy and CO2 Balance - Part A
  • Primary Energy and CO2 Balance - Part B
  • Primary Energy and CO2 Balance - Part C
  • Primary Energy and CO2 Balance - Part D

3 Readings

  • Energy and CO2 balance Lighting template
  • Energy and CO2 balance Lighting template (Filled)
  • Activity: Primary Energy and CO2 Balance - Part A

2 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Primary Energy and CO2 Emissions
  • Knowledge Check: Primary Energy and CO2 Balance

Midterm - Week 3 Assessment

    • 1 Quiz
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1 Quiz

  • Week 3 Assessment

LESSON 1 : How LCI works: a car case study and LCI Databases

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
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2 Discussions

  • Activity: Case Study Global LCA Data Reflection
  • Review Activity: Car case study - Matrix calculation

6 Videos

  • Life Cycle Inventory - Databases - Part A
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Databases - Part B
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Databases - Part C
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Databases - Part D
  • Full Life Cycle Inventory - Car Case Study Part A
  • Full Life Cycle Inventory - Car Case Study Part B

1 Readings

  • Activity: Car case study - Matrix calculation

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: LCI databases

LESSON 2: Input-output LCAs

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Quiz
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3 Videos

  • Life Cycle Inventory - Special Topics - Part A Allocation
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Special Topics - Part B Input-output
  • Life Cycle Inventory - Special Topics - Part C Input-output

1 Readings

  • Week 4 Assessment Resource

1 Quiz

  • Week 4 Assessment

Lesson 3: Case Study Phase Energy Balance

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 4 Quiz
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Case Study: Intermediary Presentation

1 Discussions

  • Case Study: Reflection

1 Readings

  • Case Study - Intermediary Presentation

4 Quiz

  • Case Study Choice
  • Case Study: CAR Phase 1 Quiz
  • Case Study: Milk Alternatives Phase 1 Quiz
  • Case Study Reflection

LESSON 1:LCIA Principles and Framework

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
    • 1 Plugin
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5 Videos

  • Introduction to LCIA
  • Overview of Environmental Impact Categories - Part A
  • Overview of Environmental Impact Categories - Part B
  • Principles and Framework - Part A
  • Principles and Framework - Part B

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: LCIA principles and framework

LESSON 2: How LCIA works : A Car Case Study

    • 8 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Review Activity: Practice LCIA - Hands drying

8 Videos

  • LCIA in Practice- Part A
  • LCIA in Practice- Part B
  • LCIA in Practice- Part C
  • LCIA in Practice - Part D
  • LCIA in Practice - Part E
  • LCIA in Practice- Part F
  • LCIA in Practice- Part G
  • LCIA in Practice- Part H

1 Readings

  • Activity: Practice LCIA - Hands drying example

2 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check LCIA car case study - Midpoint and damage
  • Knowledge Check: LCIA car case study - Normalization and weighting

LESSON 3 : Comparison of LCIA methods

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Week 5 Takeaways

3 Videos

  • Overview of LCIA Methods- Part A
  • Overview of LCIA Methods - Part B
  • Overview of LCIA Methods - Part C

2 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check Overview of LCIA methods
  • Week 5 Assessment

LESSON 1 : Interpretation principle and computer case study

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Quiz
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5 Videos

  • Interpretation Principles
  • Interpretation - PC Case Study - Part A
  • Interpretation - PC Case Study - Part B
  • Interpretation - PC Case Study - Part C
  • Case Study - Final Presentation - week 5

1 Readings

  • Case Study Final Presentation

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Interpretation principles

LESSON 2: Checks and uncertainty

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
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4 Videos

  • Checks and uncertainty - Part A
  • Checks and uncertainty - Part B
  • Checks and uncertainty - Part C
  • Checks and uncertainties Part D

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Checks and uncertainties

LESSON 3: Product classification

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Quiz
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3 Videos

  • Product Classification - Part A
  • Product Classification - Part B
  • Product Classification - Part C

1 Readings

  • Activity: Positioning Products

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: Product classification

LESSON 4: Open LCA Software

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Quiz
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1 Discussions

  • Open LCA Results

1 Videos

  • Review of Case Study Intermediary Presentation (Repeat from Week 4)

2 Quiz

  • Case Study: CAR Phase 2 Quiz
  • Case Study: MILK Phase 2 Quiz

LESSON 5: LCA Synthesis

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Quiz
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1 Videos

  • LCA Summary - LCA good practices in one page

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check: LCA Synthesis

LESSON 6: Case Study Part 3 and Final

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Quiz
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Abstract Case Study Peer Review

2 Readings

  • Case Study: Abstract Models
  • Post-Course Survey

1 Quiz

  • Week 6 Assessment

Auto Summary

Dive into the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) course, designed for health and fitness professionals. Learn to evaluate environmental impacts of products from cradle to grave through detailed phases like goal definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and result interpretation. Explore industrial case studies in agriculture, automotive, and energy sectors. Offered by Coursera, this professional-level course spans 2100 minutes with starter and professional subscription options. Perfect for those aiming to develop sustainable products.

Olivier Jolliet
Instructor

Olivier Jolliet