Optional Workshops
Optional pre-conference half-day workshops will be held at the Hilton on the Park Hotel, East Melbourne Hotel on Tuesday, 8 March 2011.
There is an extra charge for workshop attendance. Bookings can be made on the on line conference registration form. Workshops will only proceed if they attract a minimum number of delegates and the number of people that can attend each workshop is strictly limited; workshop places will be allocated on a first come basis.
Fees and inclusions are shown on the Registration page.
Morning Workshop 1: Introduction to LCA (9.00am-12.45pm)
Morning Workshop 2: Life cycle thinking and environmentally preferable decision making (9.00am-12.45pm)
Morning Workshop 3: Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) (9.00am-12.45pm)
Afternoon Workshop 1: Different modelling approaches in LCA – Building consequential and attributional LCA models (1.30-5.15pm)
Afternoon Workshop 2: Life cycle management (1.30-5.15pm)
Afternoon Workshop 3: Greenhouse Gas Accounting (1.30-5.15pm)
Morning Workshop 1: Introduction to LCA (9.00am-12.45pm)
This introductory Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) course is designed for participants with little or no experience in LCA. The course will provide participants with an understanding of the concepts of LCA including what LCA is, the historical development of LCA, where LCA can be used, and the application of LCAs including steps to undertake a LCA, and how to interpret findings from a LCA analysis.
Presenter: Sean Shiels (EPA Victoria)
Morning Workshop 2: Life cycle thinking and environmentally preferable decision making (9.00am-12.45pm)
Prerequisite - basic knowledge of sustainability criteria
Suitable for - Non-LCA practitioners, such as educators, sustainability consultants/experts wanting to up-skill in life cycle thinking
Workshop Aims
- To provide a foundational knowledge base in life cycle thinking and the application of life cycle approaches to environmentally beneficial decision making.
- To demonstrate how life cycle information can be accessed and utilised by non-LCA practitioners.
Workshop content
Understanding and utilising a life cycle approach to decision making can assist in the integration of more environmentally beneficial decisions in business and within the wider community. This course lays the foundations for understanding how life cycle thinking can be used and disseminated as well as providing access points for non-LCA practitioners into the world of life cycle assessment. This workshop takes an interactive approach through the use of exercises and examples to gaining fundamental understandings of how life cycle information can help develop a more environmentally preferable decision making framework.
Presenter: Leyla Acaroglu (Eco Innovators Pty. Ltd.)
Morning Workshop 3: Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) (9.00am-12.45pm)
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are a way to communicate your product’s environmental profile to your clients in an unbiased and verified way.
EPDs according to ISO 14025 allow you to communicate your existing LCA study in an externally verified, uniform and internationally recognized format. EPDs combine LCA results with other relevant environmental, health and safety aspects throughout a product’s life cycle.
This workshop will introduce the concept of EPDs, inform about the different standards on EPDs and future developments, discuss different forms of EPDs, give insights into an EPD project. We will also provide you with examples on how individual companies or associations have successfully used EPDs.
Presenter: Barbara Nebel (PE Australasia)
Afternoon Workshop 1: Different modelling approaches in LCA – Building consequential and attributional LCA models (1.30-5.15pm)
Prerequisite – Basic knowledge of Life Cycle Assessment
Workshop Aims
- To make participants aware of the current modelling choices made in LCA and how different choices can effect the results of the LCA.
- To give participants the framework for undertaking consequential modelling approaches in an LCA.
Workshop content
Consequential LCA attempts to model the results of decisions using marginal assessment approaches taking account market conditions and constraints on production. The course will identify when and why consequential modelling can be important. It will use practical examples in different sectors of how to calculate models based on marginal suppy and system boundary expansion. Course notes will be provided on the day.
Presenter: Tim Grant (Life Cycle Strategies Pty Ltd)
Afternoon Workshop 2: Life cycle management (1.30-5.15pm)
Life Cycle Management is all about how organisations can manage the life cycle of their products and services in a sustainable way. It is a unique framework of concepts, techniques and procedures promoted by the UNEP SETAC Life Cycle Initiative and various institutions. LCM combines a variety of tools and approaches (LCA being only one of them) to look at environmental, social and economic factors that influence the life cycle of products and processes.
This workshop is aimed at business people interested in sustainability and LCA experts interested in broadening the application of their skills. The structure will be:
- Introduction to LCM
- LCM case studies
- Communication of LCM Results
- LCM & Stakeholder Expectations
Presenters: Andrew Moore (PE Australasia), Matthias Schulz (UNSW)
Afternoon Workshop 3: Greenhouse Gas Accounting (1.30-5.15pm)
Workshop Aims
This workshop is aimed at participants who are interested in making their products or the service they provide greenhouse gas neutral under the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).
Workshop content
Each step of the process will be discussed and will include:
- The LCA process – the system boundary, time period, what activities should be included, what data is required, relevant emission factors and quantification of emissions
- How to complete the Emissions Management Plan and Public Disclosure Summary
- How to go about offsetting your emissions
- The verification process and what this involves
- Maintaining certification
Examples will be given and there will be plenty of opportunity for participants to ask questions.
Presenter: Jean Wiegard (JTP Australia Pty Ltd)