Topic outline

  • Sustainable Materials: Recycling, Upcycling, and Circular Economy Approaches

    Credits: 3 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course provides an in-depth understanding of environmentally responsible material selection, use, and reuse. It addresses the environmental challenges associated with conventional materials and introduces strategies rooted in materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and civil/structural engineering. Topics span the full lifecycle of engineering materials, including embodied energy analysis, waste reduction, upcycling technologies, and integration of low-carbon materials into design and construction.

    The course explores emerging material systems that support sustainable infrastructure, such as thermoelectric converters, passive phase-change systems, biopolymers, and carbon-capturing concretes. In addition, participants will be introduced to regulatory frameworks, lifecycle assessment (LCA) tools, and performance testing standards that ensure sustainability compliance in engineering practice. This course equips engineers with the knowledge to make informed material choices in alignment with circular economy principles.

    Topics:

    Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

    • Analyze the lifecycle environmental impacts of construction and engineering materials using embodied energy and carbon accounting.
    • Evaluate the mechanical and durability performance of recycled and upcycled materials in real-world applications.
    • Apply circular economy principles, including modular design, disassembly, and reverse logistics, to material selection and systems design.
    • Understand the role of advanced materials in energy conversion, thermal management, and smart infrastructure.
    • Integrate sustainable material certifications, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and lifecycle assessment tools into engineering workflows.
    • Identify and specify low-impact, code-compliant materials within the contexts of civil, structural, mechanical, and chemical engineering.

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.

    Important – Payment is required prior to printing of your certificate of completion.

    We operate on a trust-based model. You are welcome to complete Steps 1 through 3 to fully review the course material at your leisure. 

    When you are ready to download and print your Certificate of Completion, we ask that payment has been completed for either the Unlimited Plan or individual PDH credit(s). Clicking the download button below serves as your digital confirmation that payment has been made.

    For a quick overview of our site's policies, please click here: (FAQs)

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: This course is intended for licensed professional engineers working in civil, structural, mechanical, chemical, environmental, and materials engineering fields. It is particularly relevant for those involved in infrastructure design, construction, materials specification, and sustainability compliance, including engineers engaged in green building certification, public works, and lifecycle-focused project planning. 
    Publication Source: MondoScience Courseware

    Jeelan Moghraby, PhD, MBA

    • Topic 1