Carbon Accounting and Sustainable Product Lifecycle Management

Every physical product leaves an environmental footprint, and modern businesses must know how to measure and minimize it. This text-only course guides you through the foundational concepts of carbon accounting and sustainable design principles without requiring any prior environmental engineering background. You will learn how to evaluate carbon emissions and design products that align with circular economy goals. By the end of this course, you will be able to perform basic carbon calculations, analyze product lifecycles, and propose sustainable design alternatives that balance commercial viability with environmental responsibility. What you'll learn: Understand the core principles of carbon accounting and greenhouse gas protocols; Analyze the entire product lifecycle from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal; Apply eco-design principles to reduce material waste and energy consumption; Calculate product carbon footprints using industry-standard assessment frameworks; Implement circular economy strategies such as design for disassembly and recycling. The course begins with essential terminology and the regulatory landscape of carbon accounting, then progresses to lifecycle assessment methodologies and practical design frameworks you can apply directly to your products. This course is designed for beginners, product managers, designers, and business professionals who want to lead sustainability initiatives. Start building a greener future by mastering the fundamentals of sustainable product design today.