Ever wondered how your iPhone, iPod or iPad was created and what environmental decisions and trade-offs were required to design and manufacture some of the most successful products in the world?

This course is a fun, highly interactive and rare glimpse into the world of corporate sustainability teams, what makes them successful and how they navigate the real world of complex supply chains, material constraints and fast pace, product development cycles.

In Part I the course will start with an exploration into different corporate strategies, their drivers and what makes them effective. Early on you’ll get an introduction on how to tie together key concepts such as environmental Life Cycle Assessment and carbon footprints of materials and products, manufacturing, energy efficiency, recycling and supplier responsibility.

Part II introduces product design and development processes as they are practiced by the best in the business. After examining the key environmental and social issues facing companies, you will learn how to design and lead an effective sustainability program into a fast pace product development process. You’ll get a glimpse into running a program in the real-world of shifting management priorities, PR campaigns, engineering and budget constraints.

Part III will finish off with an excursion to Nest Labs and a materials recycling plant in the bay area.

Students will work in small teams to design and present their vision for an effective sustainability program as a “pitch” to a company CEO.