This webinar is the first in a series of free webinars in applied phycology hosted by the International Society for Applied Phycology (ISAP).

A Life Cycle Assessment of Algal Products: From Theory to Practice 

Presented by: Dr. Léa Braud^{1, 2}

¹ Postdoctoral Researcher, Sustainable Food Processing Laboratory, Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
² Innovation Manager, European Algae Biomass Association, 10 Viale Belfiore, 50144 Florence, Ital

Description of the webinar

For over two decades, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been a critical tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of algae-based systems. The growing number of publications and its systematic integration into newly funded research projects highlight its increasing importance in enhancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the algae sector.

Since 2015, the scope of LCAs has expanded beyond biofuels to include high-value compounds, integrated biorefineries, and complex production systems. Today, LCA plays a central role in corporate sustainability, policy development, and in assessing algae’s contribution to the broader bioeconomy.

However, applying LCA to algae systems presents specific challenges - such as high system variability, limited data availability, and methodological choices - that significantly influence results and limit comparability across studies. Raising awareness of these issues is crucial to ensure that LCA findings are interpreted meaningfully and applied effectively within the algae community.

This webinar offers a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of LCA methodologies and the interpretation of results. Practical insights from both microalgae and macroalgae projects will be shared, bridging the gap between theory and application.

The ISAP is a non-profit organization that aims to promote research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning the utilization of algae. In order to meet these objectives, the ISAP promotes the organization of workshops and training programs among other activities which can be found in the ISAP website.