Course Details

Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment

Academic Year 2026/27

CZV-1ULCA course is not part of any programme in the faculty

This course presents fundamental introduction to the LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment) method, which is globally recognized standard for quantification of impacts of human activity. This method provides basis for easier understanding of related legislation, su ch as European Green DEal, Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or Carbon Billing Mecchanism (CBAM).

The focal point of the course is introduction of the basics LCA standards (ISO 14040 and ISO 140400) and structure. Students will become familiar with the four LCA phases: from definition of the goal and scope, through inventory of relevant inputs and outputs, to impact assessment and interpretation of the results. Students will learn how data on global warming or raw material consumption help shap strategic decision-making and circular economy. The aim of the course is to provide graduates with knowledge to transform vague environmental proclamations into detailed technical data necessary for the successful transformation of the industry and related policies.

Credits

5 credits

Language of instruction

Czech

Semester

winter

Course Guarantor

Institute

Forms and criteria of assessment

examination

Offered to foreign students

Not to offer

Course on BUT site

Lecture

13 weeks, 2 hours/week, elective

Syllabus

1. Introduction to LCA: The concept of sustainable development, LCA history, related legislation and standards.

2. Goal and scope definition: Determination of the functional unit, reference flow and system boundaries.

3. - 4. Inventory analysis: Data collection, data types, databases, allocation.

5. - 6. Impact assessment: Mechanisms for converting flows into environmental impacts; impact categories, characterization, normalization and weighting.

7. - 8. Interpretation of results: Result analysis, identification of "hot-spots" and formulation of conclusions according to the target group needs.

9. - 10. Life cycle cost assessment (LCC), social impacts (sLCA) and sustainability (LCSA): Principles and applications.

11. LCA in the enterprise: ESG, CBAM, ecodesign, certification tools, software.

12. LCA in the context of the circular economy: How to measure circularity?

13. Final summary and presentation of semester projects.

Seminar

13 weeks, 2 hours/week, elective