UK LCA Network Annual Conference 2026

This talk explores how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is applied in different ways in industry, including for corporate reporting, B2B communications, and innovation. Showcasing examples of where LCA has been used effectively across Croda and Unilever; highlighting that context dictates the levels of harmonisation required and that numbers don't always tell the whole story!

This session explores how Tata Steel’s sustainability team applies LCA and life cycle thinking to evaluate the environmental impacts of its products and processes. BuildZero also talks about its work, including research into pathways to a future where the material needs of the UK’s building stock can be met with zero new raw material extraction, zero carbon & zero waste.

This talk explores how DESNZ uses life cycle assessment research to shape policy and support the UK government’s missions.

Luke explores the way sustainability assessments have been used in different areas of Defra and how these use-cases illustrate the complexities of evidence-based environmental policy making. These include the impacts of imported vs home-grown food, comparing different agricultural systems, considering how we manage organic wastes in the future, and the benefits of extending the use-time of key products.

A summary of the key findings and next steps from the DESNZ technical consultation on growing the market for low carbon products and the accompanying DESNZ-commissioned research project, delivered by Frazer-Nash Consultancy, exploring the quality of LCA data for steel, cement, and concrete.

This talk explores the role of life cycle assessment in policy making at DESNZ, and highlights the interesting ways it has been used in government schemes supporting innovative SMEs.

This presentation explores challenges in LCA of food systems, focusing on direct and indirect land use change (DLUC and ILUC). It highlights methodological challenges, uncertainties, and data gaps, and discusses implications for decision‑making, reporting, and improving transparency, robustness, and comparability.

In this talk, Sarah discusses how ISO14040 and related standards interact with PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) and how this helps ensure consistency of approach.

In this session a panel of experts discuss harmonisation - what it is, why it’s needed, where it’s needed, and the biggest barriers and potential opportunities.