Wednesday 24th July 2024 saw ALFED member, Innoval Technology, host a workshop on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for ALFED members at ALFED’s HQ, Bragborough Hall Business Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire.
During the workshop, a handful of ALFED members gathered to learn more about an introduction into what LCA’s and EPD’s are, what they can offer your business, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to conduct one, why you might conduct one, and what their challenges and controversies are. The sessions were led by Innoval experts including Senior Process Engineer, Rachel Wiffen, Senior Materials Engineer, Dr. Michael Kenyon, and Senior Engineer, Dan Silver. Throughout the sessions, the importance of good quality data and critical review were discussed.
There was a great level of discussion and interaction during the workshop, with each and every delegate taking value away from the sessions. One of the sessions with a large amount of interest, explored the key factors to look out for when reading an LCA, as well as how to understand the jargon and how to appreciate where the system boundaries are of studies that have been set. Delving into this further, there were additional sessions during the workshop that explored EPDs in more detail, teaching delegates how they relate to LCAs, as well as how to read and understand the information within an EPD.
The final session before delegates indulged in a delicious, locally sourced buffet lunch, saw them engage in an interactive process mapping session. Delegates also shared their ideas and experiences amongst one another regarding their experience of LCAs or EPDs within their daily roles at their respective companies.
Overall, feedback for the workshop was very positive, with delegates’ thoughts and opinions meeting the training session expectations, and in some cases, exceeding expectations. Some of the ALFED member feedback, included:
- “It was very structured and informative.”
- “The workshop gave me a better insight into LCA”
- “This session was really informative, thank you!”
- “Innoval has done various studies for us over the years… Thanks for your session, it made the process of conducting an LCA so much clearer for me”.
In case you missed it, an overview of the information presented by Innoval is now available for ALFED members to view in the members area of our website. Please click here to have a read.
To find out more about latest ALFED news and upcoming events, please visit: www.alfed.org.uk.
About Innoval Technology
Innoval Technology believe that all products should be good for people and for the planet. Innoval are a collective group of expert consultants who work with partners to develop products and production methods that put sustainability, usability and efficiency first. They build long-term relationships to help organisations design, develop and manufacture better products for end-users and the environment. To find out more about Innoval and their services, please click here to visit their website.
