#1
The online magazine Greenbiz.com puts out an annual report
called “The State of Green Business” in which they aggregate
data from across the business world to track progress on
sustainability over time. (See report in link above or website
link below). In 2013, they revamped their report to identify
approximately 20 indicators in five general categories,
reflecting a range of environmental, economic and
governance/ethical concerns. Skim pages 41 to 62 of the
report and choose one indicator to explore in more depth on
the discussion board. What aspect of sustainability does the
indicator measure, over what period of time? Why is it
important? What will determine the future direction of the
indicator?
#2
Starbucks recently introduced a $1 reusable plastic coffee cup
to reduce the environmental footprint of its product. Using the
concept of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), is the new cup
environmentally preferable to the old paper cup? What inputs
and outputs need to be evaluated in the LCA to make that
decision? Are there tradeoffs involved, and what are they? Do
you think you can ever definitively decide which has the least
impact, or are they just different?
