Environment
Faculty research in the business and environment arena examines the application of traditional business principles to environmental problems. Recent research has focused on topics such as cognitive barriers to environmental action; corporate reporting; new developments in renewable energy and accelerating the pace of innovation; agribusiness; and making sustainability work in a for-profit business.
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Going Green, Profitably
Global climate change: It's imperiling the earth's ability to generate breathable air, drinkable water, and adequate food. It's spurring ever-stricter environmental regulations and vocal public protests. And it's reshaping demand for companies' products and services in unpredictable ways. Yet these risks also come with new opportunities to seize competitive advantage.
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Living PlanIT
Living PlanIT is a start-up company that has developed a new, innovative business model for sustainable urbanization. This model reflects the software and technology backgrounds of its founders, Steve Lewis and Malcolm Hutchinson, and is in vivid contrast to other models for green or smart cities that are variations on a massive real estate development project.
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Note on the Global Wind Industry
This note provides background information on the global wind industry and is meant to accompany HBS cases focused on the wind industry including “The Suzlon Edge,” “Cape Wind: Offshore Wind Energy in the USA,” and “Supergrid.”
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Recent Publications
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“Environmental Federalism in the European Union and the United States”
Working Paper / David Vogel, Michael Toffel, Diahanna Post, and Nazli Z. Uludere Aragon / March 2010“Living PlanIT”
Case /Robert G. Eccles, Amy C. Edmondson, Susan Thyne, and Tiona Zuzul /February 2010“Responding to Public and Private Politics: Corporate Disclosure of Climate Change Strategies”
Article / Erin M. Reid and Michael W. Toffel /November 2009"Self-regulatory Institutions for Solving Environmental Problems: Perspectives and Contributions from the Management Literature" in Governance for the Environment: New Perspectives
Book Chapter / Andrew King and Michael W. Toffel /2009“Genzyme Center (A)”
Case /Michael W. Toffel and Aldo Sesia Jr. /September 2009 -
“Nanosolar, Inc.”
Case /Thomas Steenburgh and Alison Berkley Wagonfeld /August 2009“Sustainability at Millipore”
Case /Michael W. Toffel and Katharine Lee /July 2009“Verne Global: Building a Green Data Center in Iceland”
Case /Thomas Steenburgh and and Nnamdi Okike /May 2009“Generation Investment Management”
Case /Sandra J. Sucher, Daniela Beyersdorfer, and Ane Damgaard Jensen /March 2009“Note on the Global Wind Industry”
Case /Richard H. K. Vietor and Juliana Seminerio /October 2008
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Recommended Reading
Going Green, Profitably
Book / Various Authors / July 2007Harvard Business Review on Business & the Environment
Book / Various Authors / December 1999“Green and Competitive: Ending the Stalemate”
Article / Michael E. Porter and Claas Van Der Linde / September 1995 -
MBA Courses
Business and the Environment
Assistant Professor Michael ToffelInnovation in Business, Energy, and Environment: Field Project
Professor Lee Fleming, Professor Rebecca Henderson, Professor Joseph Lassiter, Senior Lecturer John Macomber, Professor Forest ReinhardtSustainable Cities
Senior Lecturer John D. Macomber
