How to Identify the Best Employee for LCA Training

Sustainability is a growing focus for many companies, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is at the heart of it. Rather than hiring externally for this specialized skill, many businesses are finding value in training their existing workforce. But how do you identify the right person within your company to upskill in LCA?

The person you choose will play a critical role in managing environmental impacts, so it's important to think carefully about their qualifications and personal traits. This decision could influence your company’s sustainability trajectory for years to come.

Here’s what to look for when choosing an internal candidate for LCA training:

1. Analytical Mindset

LCA involves detailed data collection, model building, and interpreting results. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working with data, have a knack for identifying patterns, and understand how to draw actionable insights from quantitative information. If you have an employee who enjoys diving into spreadsheets and asking "what does this mean?" or "how can we optimize this?"—they might be the right fit.

2. Strong Communication Skills

LCA work often requires gathering data from different parts of the company and beyond, including suppliers, subcontractors, and even customers. Look for someone who has a confident, yet diplomatic communication style. This person should be comfortable reaching out to different departments or external partners and making data requests in a way that fosters cooperation. Someone who has successfully collaborated on cross-functional projects will likely excel in this area.

3. Persistence and Problem-Solving

Data collection for LCA can be slow, and it’s often necessary to request the same information multiple times before receiving it. This is where perseverance comes in. The ideal candidate will have the tenacity to follow up and troubleshoot, without becoming frustrated by delays. Think of someone in your company who keeps pushing for solutions, even when obstacles appear. Their ability to stay motivated through a challenging process will be invaluable.

4. Cultural Fit and Growth Mindset

Skills can be taught, but attitude and cultural fit are harder to mold. Select an employee who embodies your company’s values and is excited to contribute to the organization’s sustainability goals. LCA can be a long-term commitment, so it’s important to choose someone who feels aligned with this mission.

Consider your team’s dynamics as well. The person should be someone who meshes well with the current team and brings a collaborative spirit to the role.

5. Where Should You Start Looking?

Many of our LCA students come from sustainability teams or R&D teams, as these departments often have the most direct involvement in the data and strategies that drive life cycle assessments. However, sometimes the right person may come from unexpected places, like business development, or even the CEO, depending on the company's size and goals.

Ultimately, the best team to draw from depends on what you want to achieve with your LCAs. One of our customers shared that they wished they had trained two people simultaneously—one from sustainability and one from R&D. In companies that are heavily focused on product development, this approach can be incredibly effective, allowing for a more comprehensive and collaborative LCA process.

If your goal is to influence product design or drive innovation, starting in the R&D team might be ideal. But if you're focused on overarching sustainability metrics, the sustainability team may be the better choice. Think about your company’s structure and long-term LCA objectives when deciding where to begin.

Conclusion

Upskilling an existing employee to conduct Life Cycle Assessments can be a strategic move, but choosing the right person is key. Look for someone who is analytical, communicative, persistent, and a strong cultural fit. With the right training and support, this person can play a crucial role in helping your company achieve its sustainability goals.

By focusing on internal talent, you’ll be building a more resilient team capable of driving your company’s environmental impact assessment from the inside out.

If you want our help in choosing the right person, be sure to book a meeting with one of our team members. We can guide you through the selection process, ensuring you find the perfect candidate for LCA training.

Get started with hands-on LCA!

Take a look at our hands-on LCA training program syllabus that will give your team members the skills they need to get started doing LCAs. The LCA hands-on program offers you the full package:

• 100% online

• Designed by world-leading LCA expert Dr. Gregory Norris

• 60 hours of LCA training

• 8 weeks LCA project experience in your industry

• an experienced team of teachers and coaches

• weekly support sessions, templates and assistance with conducting your first LCA in accordance with the ISO 14044

• LCA Software licence

• LCA certificate to do LCAs in accordance with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards

  This comprehensive program will set your company up for long-term success in sustainability assessments.