Senior Life Cycle Assessment Consultant
Senior Life Cycle Assessment Consultant
Dr Mohammad Ali RajaeifarSenior Life Cycle Assessment Consultant
I’ve spent over a decade working in life cycle assessment (LCA), carbon footprint analysis, and sustainability assessment both in academia and industry. My background is in agricultural engineering and sustainability assessment, and I’ve worked on the sustainability assessment of many products and services from biofuels and renewable energy to construction, agriculture, mining, and electric vehicles.
Before joining TÜV SÜD, I was a Senior Research Associate at Newcastle University (UK), leading LCA projects and collaborating with industry to improve sustainability practices. I was also a Faraday Institution researcher as part of the ReLiB project, a major UK research initiative focused on developing efficient and sustainable methods for recycling and reusing lithium-ion batteries. I have also published more than 40 papers over my years of experience in academia, most of which have been well received in both academia and industry. A prime example is a paper I published on the LCA of battery recycling using a novel industrial process, for which I won the Graedel Prize (2021), one of the most prestigious awards in Industrial Ecology. I also serve on the editorial board of various academic journals, such as the Journal of Cleaner Production and Data in Brief.
At TÜV SÜD, I work as a Senior LCA Consultant, helping businesses assess the sustainability impact of their products, processes and services.
I joined TÜV SÜD because of my strong commitment to sustainability and my passion for applying robust, science-driven methodologies to assess and verify environmental impacts of industrial activities. The company’s reputation in carbon assurance and sustainability services across various industries made it the perfect place to apply my expertise in sustainability assessment in a practical, industry-driven environment while continuously expanding my knowledge and experience. Additionally, being part of a team that genuinely strives to make a positive impact on sustainability is incredibly rewarding.
I work from home and travel to clients’ sites for audits. Additionally, I sometimes travel to attend meetings, conferences, and company events as required.
I work for Green Energy & Sustainability covering the UK and Northern Europe region. My role mainly involves:
The ability to apply my expertise, skills, and experience in sustainability assessment to help businesses measure or verify their impacts and make a real difference is the most exciting aspect of my role. I love the variety of industries I get to work with. One day, I might be assessing the environmental impact of renewable energy, and the next, I’m evaluating the sustainability of chemicals or steel manufacturing.
A key highlight is the opportunity to collaborate with businesses to improve their current practices from a sustainability perspective and to see real-world improvements based on our assessments. There are many upcoming projects on the conformity assessment of batteries (based on the EU Battery Regulation declaration) as well as hydrogen (based on the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard), which are particularly interesting.
TÜV SÜD is constantly evolving to meet the growing demand for carbon accounting, LCA, and sustainability verification. There’s been a noticeable push toward integrating digital tools and AI-driven analytics into sustainability assessments. Furthermore, the EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542) conformity assessment service offering is an exciting addition, and I am proud to be a part of this service, helping businesses navigate compliance with the new regulation.
In the coming years, I foresee several key trends shaping the way industries approach sustainability. First, regulation and standardisation around carbon footprinting and sustainability will continue to expand, exemplified by initiatives such as the EU Battery Regulation. This will be accompanied by a growing demand for transparent, third-party-verified sustainability claims (eg, the EU Green Claims Directive), as both businesses and consumers seek greater accountability.
Additionally, the digitalisation and automation of sustainability assessments will play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and accuracy. Finally, there will be an increased focus on Scope 3 emissions and supply chain sustainability, as companies strive to mitigate environmental impacts across their entire value chain.
My biggest challenge is balancing the need for thorough, scientifically rigorous assessments with the industry's demand for simplified sustainability insights. Many businesses seek quick and easy solutions, but ensuring compliance with standards requires detailed assessments and robust verification, which take time and precision. Moreover, with the emergence of new regulations, the complexity of verification is increasing, requiring us to stay informed about the evolving regulatory landscape and learn how to effectively address new verification requirements.
The diversity of projects and industries we work with is a big plus. I also appreciate the opportunities for professional development whether it’s training, certifications, or just learning from colleagues with different areas of expertise.
From day one, I’ve had access to a great support network of colleagues and industry experts. There are also plenty of training opportunities to deepen my knowledge in sustainability assurance, specifically in verification, validation, and certification.
Knowledgeable, collaborative, supportive, innovative, passionate.
If you have a passion for sustainability and a strong analytical mindset, this is a great place to be!
I have published more than 40 papers (Google Scholar) over my years of experience in academia, most of which have been well received in both academia and industry. Here are some of the most important ones:
2022 Rajaeifar MA, Belcher O, Parkinson S, Neimark B, Weir D, Ashworth K, Larbi R & Heidrich O. Decarbonize the military — mandate emissions reporting. Nature 611(7934), 29-32.
2022 Rajaeifar MA, Ghadimi P, Raugei M, Wu Y, Heidrich O. Challenges and recent developments in supply and value chains of electric vehicle batteries: A sustainability perspective. Resources, Conservation and Recycling pp, 106144.
2022 Torkayesh AE, Rajaeifar MA, Rostom M, Malmir B, Yazdani M, Suh S & Heidrich O. Integrating life cycle assessment and multi criteria decision making for sustainable waste management: key issues and recommendations for future studies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 168, 112819.
2022 Baars J, Rajaeifar MA, Heidrich O. Quo vadis MFA? Integrated material flow analysis to support material efficiency. Journal of Industrial Ecology 26(4), 1487-1503.
2021 Melin HE, Rajaeifar MA, Ku AY, Kendall A, Harper G, Heidrich O. Global implications of the EU battery regulation. Science 373(6553), 384-387.
2021 Mrozik M, Rajaeifar MA, Heidrich O, Christensen P. Environmental Impacts, Pollution Sources and Pathways of spent Lithium ion Batteries. Energy & Environmental Science 14 (12), 6099-6121.
2021 Rajaeifar MA, Raugei M, Steubing B, Hartwell A, Anderson P, Heidrich O. Life Cycle Assessment of lithium ion battery recycling using pyrometallurgical technologies. Journal of Industrial Ecology.
I actively work with International Society for Industrial Ecology which promotes sustainable practices in industry through principles like Life Cycle Assessment and circular economy models.
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