Carbon Footprint and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – Fundamentals
Understanding CO₂ balancing and life cycle assessment according to GHG Protocol, ISO 14064 series, ISO 14067 and ISO 14040/44
Organizations increasingly need to understand and quantify the environmental impacts of their products and operations. This introductory training provides a practical foundation in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Product Carbon Footprints (PCF), and Corporate Carbon Footprints (CCF), including the key principles, methodologies, and international standards used worldwide.
You will learn how environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions are assessed, reported, and verified in accordance with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067, ISO 14064-1, and the GHG Protocol. Through practical examples and case studies, learners gain the knowledge needed to support sustainability initiatives, carbon accounting projects, and environmental reporting activities.
Upon successful completion of this training, you will be able to:
- Explain the purpose and structure of LCA, PCF, and CCF methodologies.
- Describe the relationship between major international carbon footprint and lifecycle assessment standards.
- Differentiate between Life Cycle Assessment and Product Carbon Footprints.
- Describe the four phases of Life Cycle Assessment according to ISO 14040/14044.
- Define functional units, system boundaries, and cut-off criteria.
- Explain primary and secondary data requirements and data quality considerations.
- Interpret environmental impact and climate change assessment results.
- Conduct basic contribution and sensitivity analyses.
- Explain Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions and their role in corporate greenhouse gas inventories.
- Describe organizational and reporting boundaries for CCF studies.
- Recognize different greenhouse gas quantification approaches.
- Understand reporting requirements for LCA, PCF, and CCF studies.
- Explain the purpose and process of critical reviews, verification activities, and third-party audits.
This course is intended for:
- Sustainability Managers
- ESG Professionals
- Environmental Managers and Officers
- Product Managers
- Product Sustainability Specialists
- EHS Professionals
- Quality and Compliance Managers
- Supply Chain and Procurement Professionals
- R&D and Product Development Teams
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Teams
- Consultants supporting environmental assessment projects
- Professionals new to LCA, carbon footprinting, and sustainability reporting
1. Introduction to Sustainability and Carbon Footprinting
- Sustainability drivers and stakeholder expectations
- Regulatory developments and market requirements
- Benefits of environmental footprinting
2. Fundamentals of LCA and PCF
- Definition of LCA and PCF
- LCA versus PCF
- Relevant international standards
3. Standards and Frameworks
- ISO 14040
- ISO 14044
- ISO 14067
- ISO 14064-1
- GHG Protocol
- Related verification and communication standards
4. LCA and PCF Methodology
Phase 1 – Goal and Scope Definition
- Functional and declared units
- System boundaries
- Cut-off criteria
- Data quality requirements
Phase 2 – Life Cycle Inventory Analysis
- Data collection
- Primary and secondary data
- Data validation
Phase 3 – Life Cycle Impact Assessment
- Impact categories
- Climate change assessment
Phase 4 – Interpretation
- Contribution analysis
- Sensitivity analysis
- Conclusions and recommendations
5. Practical Case Study
- Environmental footprint study example
- Data collection and modeling
- Results interpretation
- Improvement actions
6. Reporting Requirements
- LCA reporting
- PCF reporting
- Transparency and documentation requirements
7. Corporate Carbon Footprints (CCF)
- ISO 14064-1 framework
- Organizational boundaries
- Reporting boundaries
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
- Materiality assessments
- Quantification approaches
- Base year considerations
- GHG reporting requirements
8. Third-Party Review and Verification
- Critical review
- Verification
- Validation
- Audit processes
- Benefits of third-party assurance
As organizations face increasing pressure from regulators, customers, investors, and other stakeholders to demonstrate environmental performance, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and carbon footprinting have become essential tools for sustainable decision-making. Understanding the environmental impacts of products and operations is critical for identifying improvement opportunities, supporting regulatory compliance, and communicating credible sustainability claims.
This foundational training introduces the principles and methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions at both product and organizational levels. Participants will learn how Product Carbon Footprints (PCF) and Corporate Carbon Footprints (CCF) are developed, interpreted, and reported using internationally recognized frameworks and standards.
The course provides a structured overview of the complete LCA methodology according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, covering goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment, and interpretation. Participants will also learn the requirements of ISO 14067 for Product Carbon Footprints and ISO 14064-1 for Corporate Carbon Footprints, including organizational and reporting boundaries, Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions, quantification methods, and reporting requirements.
Practical examples and a detailed case study demonstrate how environmental data is collected, validated, modeled, and analyzed in real-world projects. Participants will also be introduced to contribution analysis, sensitivity analysis, data quality management, and the role of LCA software in supporting environmental assessments.
The course concludes with an overview of independent third-party reviews and verification activities, helping participants understand how organizations ensure credibility, transparency, and compliance in environmental and greenhouse gas reporting. This training serves as an ideal starting point for professionals seeking to build competence in sustainability assessments and carbon footprinting.
By attending this training, you will:
- Understand the purpose, principles, and benefits of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
- Distinguish between LCA, Product Carbon Footprints (PCF), and Corporate Carbon Footprints (CCF).
- Understand key requirements of ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067, ISO 14064-1, and the GHG Protocol.
- Learn how environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions are quantified and reported.
- Gain insight into Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions.
- Understand how to define system boundaries, functional units, and data quality requirements.
- Learn how to collect and evaluate environmental footprint data.
- Identify environmental hotspots through contribution and sensitivity analysis.
- Understand the fundamentals of GHG reporting and corporate carbon accounting.
- Gain awareness of third-party verification, critical review processes, and audit requirements.
- Be better equipped to support sustainability reporting, product development, procurement, compliance, and decarbonization initiatives.
This instructor-led virtual training combines theory and practical application through:
- Expert-led presentations
- Interactive discussions
- Question-and-answer sessions
- Real-life industry examples
- Practical exercises
- Environmental footprint case studies
- Calculation examples
- Knowledge sharing among participants
Participants actively engage in discussions and exercises to reinforce learning and connect concepts to real business applications.
Participants who attend at least 90% of the training will receive a TÜV SÜD Certificate of Attendance.
Participants should ensure access to a laptop with Word and Excel installed.
No prior experience is required.
A basic understanding of sustainability, environmental management, or greenhouse gas emissions may be helpful but is not mandatory.
Participants should have access to a computer with Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel for exercises and note-taking.
What is the difference between LCA, PCF, and CCF?
LCA evaluates multiple environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of a product. PCF focuses only on greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product, while CCF quantifies greenhouse gas emissions at the organizational level.
Which standards are covered in the course?
The course covers ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067, ISO 14064-1, the GHG Protocol, and introduces related verification and review standards.
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes. The training is specifically designed as a foundation-level course for professionals who are new to LCA, PCF, and CCF.
Does the course include practical examples?
Yes. The course includes practical examples, exercises, and a detailed case study demonstrating how environmental footprint assessments are performed.
Will I learn how to calculate a Product Carbon Footprint?
You will learn the methodology, data requirements, system boundaries, reporting requirements, and interpretation principles used in PCF studies. Full software-based modeling is reserved for more advanced training.
Does the course cover Scope 3 emissions?
Yes. Participants learn how corporate emissions are categorized and reported, including Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions.
Is LCA software covered?
The course provides an overview of the role of LCA software and modeling processes but does not provide in-depth software training.
Does the course explain reporting requirements?
Yes. Reporting requirements for LCA, PCF, and Corporate Carbon Footprint studies are covered, including transparency and documentation expectations.
Will verification and third-party audits be covered?
Yes. Participants learn the differences between critical review, verification, validation, and the role of third-party assurance.
What certificate will participants receive?
Participants who attend at least 90% of the training receive a TÜV SÜD Certificate of Attendance.
How long is the course?
The course duration is 8 training units of 45 minutes each.
What business functions can benefit from this training?
The course is relevant for sustainability, product development, environmental management, procurement, supply chain, quality, compliance, and ESG reporting teams.
Does this course qualify me to perform LCA studies independently?
This is a foundational course. Participants gain a strong understanding of methodologies and standards but may require advanced training and practical project experience to independently conduct complex LCA studies.
Why are third-party reviews important?
Third-party reviews help improve credibility, enhance trust in environmental claims, support regulatory compliance, and reduce the risk of greenwashing allegations.
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