494-25 - LCA Tools
Core/Elective: Elective
Credits: 0.5
Prerequisites: ISEN 474 LCA Business Applications
Quarter Taught: Spring
Synopsis:
This applied course builds on the foundations of lifecycle assessment (LCA) by developing practitioner-grade skills in the use of market-leading LCA tools. Students engage with real-world case contexts in both industrial decarbonization and consumer product sustainability. Emphasis is placed on tool selection, business-relevant outputs, regulatory alignment, and strategic communication to executives and investors.Tools that students can expect to use include: GREET (Argonne National Laboratory) + SimaPro (PRé Sustainability). Students will be asked to apply these tools in LCA cases on two topics such as: Sugarcane-based Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) + Rigid PET Beverage Bottle (16.9 fl oz)
Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate commercial and government LCA software platforms for business use;
- Build, modify, and analyze GREET and SimaPro models;
- Conduct scenario and sensitivity testing to inform decision-making;
- Translate LCA results into business-ready insights and executive presentations; and
- Understand how LCA supports market differentiation, compliance, and capital strategy