Diploma in Applied LCA and Product Eco-KPIs
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in applied LCA and product eco-KPIs: 8 modules covering life cycle thinking, goal, scope and inventory, impact assessment, electric vehicle LCA, product footprints and declarations (ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067), eco-KPIs and simplified LCA for design, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply life cycle assessment methodology according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.
Build life cycle inventories with primary and secondary data.
Assess and interpret environmental impacts with sensitivity analysis.
Analyse the footprint of an electric vehicle throughout its life.
Produce product carbon footprints compliant with ISO 14067.
Define eco-KPIs integrated into the development process.
Communicate environmental results rigorously and verifiably.
Who it's for
- Life cycle analysts building and reviewing LCA models.
- Ecodesign engineers bringing environmental data into early design decisions.
- Product sustainability managers setting targets and reporting results.
- Environmental consultants preparing footprints and declarations for clients.
- Carbon footprint analysts working with ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol.
- ESG reporting managers handling Scope 3 and CSRD disclosures.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- ISO 14040 (life cycle assessment: principles and framework)
- ISO 14044 (life cycle assessment: requirements and guidelines)
- ISO 14067 (carbon footprint of products)
- ISO 14025 (Type III environmental declarations)
- Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 (Product Environmental Footprint methods)
- ISO 14045 (eco-efficiency assessment of product systems)
- ISO/TS 14071 (critical review processes for LCA)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (batteries and waste batteries)
- OpenLCA
- SimaPro
- Sphera LCA for Experts
- ecoinvent
- Excel
8 modules
1.1Stages of a product life cycle1.2Environmental impact categories1.3Carbon, water and resource footprints1.4Principles of ISO 140401.5Requirements of ISO 140441.6Attributional and consequential approaches1.7Ecodesign and LCA in early phases1.8Internal and external uses of LCA1.9Limitations and criticisms of the method1.10Case study: critical reading of a published LCA
2.1Functional unit and reference flow2.2System boundaries2.3Cut-off and allocation rules2.4Primary data collection2.5Secondary databases such as ecoinvent2.6Data quality and the pedigree matrix2.7Electricity mix and regional data2.8Manufacturing inventory of a component2.9Inventory documentation2.10Practical exercise: inventory of an injection-moulded plastic component
3.1Assessment methods: EF 3.1 and ReCiPe3.2Characterisation and factors3.3Normalisation and weighting3.4Climate change and global warming potential3.5Resource depletion and toxicity3.6Interpretation and hotspots3.7Sensitivity analysis3.8Uncertainty and Monte Carlo3.9Comparison of alternatives3.10Lab: modelling an LCA in OpenLCA
4.1Battery production and its footprint4.2Use phase and electricity mix4.3Comparison with a combustion vehicle4.4Second life and battery recycling4.5Battery footprint under the European regulation4.6Lightweight materials and their effect on the use phase4.7Maintenance and component replacement4.8Grid decarbonisation scenarios4.9Communicating comparative results4.10Case study: emissions break-even point of an EV
5.1Carbon footprint according to ISO 140675.2GHG Protocol Product Standard5.3Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)5.4Environmental declarations per ISO 140255.5Product category rules5.6Third-party verification5.7Responsible communication of results5.8Corporate reporting and Scope 35.9CSRD disclosure requirements5.10Practical exercise: draft footprint declaration for a component
6.1From LCA results to indicators6.2Selecting KPIs: carbon, materials and circularity6.3Science-based targets6.4Eco-efficiency according to ISO 140456.5Carbon budgets per component6.6Integration into development gates6.7Indicators for suppliers6.8Environmental dashboards6.9Governance and responsibilities6.10Workshop: eco-KPI dashboard for a vehicle
7.1Rapid LCA tools for designers7.2Ecodesign with approximate data7.3Parametric and automated LCA7.4Integration with PLM and the bill of materials7.5Design scenarios and rapid comparison7.6Impact reduction strategies7.7Trade-offs between cost and footprint7.8Critical review according to ISO/TS 140717.9Training design teams7.10Practical exercise: rapid comparison of three design concepts
8.1Definition of goal and scope8.2Product inventory8.3Modelling and assessment8.4Interpretation and sensitivity8.5Ecodesign proposals8.6Definition of eco-KPIs8.7Final dashboard8.8Results communication plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There is no fixed timetable: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenLCA, SimaPro, Sphera LCA for Experts, ecoinvent and Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for life cycle modelling of components in LCA software, comparison of design alternatives with sensitivity analysis and construction of environmental dashboards. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067, ISO 14025, Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 (PEF), ISO 14045, ISO/TS 14071, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with OpenLCA, SimaPro, Sphera LCA for Experts, ecoinvent and Excel, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree is required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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