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Wal-Mart: For Better or Worse

 
“I want to illustrate the way in which a private company, if it decides to make a difference against really large problems, and in particular environmental problems, can really shift the conversation and make a big difference.”
 
Cold Call Podcast
 
 

Addressing Climate Change through Agriculture

 
“Agriculture offers the opportunity to be beneficial and regenerative, since grass-fed beef actually sequesters carbon. There’s the potential for a net-net positive benefit.” —Charley Cummings (MBA 2011)
 
Charley Cummings
 
 

Drive Time

 
"The problem of climate change is not just related to clean energy, solar, wind, and batteries. There are many components that we need smart people working on, right now."
 
Stephanie Wu
 
 

Modeling Change

 
“I began to think that if I could measure my career success, it would be by bringing capital to work to address climate change.”
 
Taylor Lane
 
 

Shaping the Big Picture

 
“Commodities are as close to life as you can get—and energy is essential.”
 
Angela Amos
 
 

Sustainable Operations

 
“My research examines how companies strive to increase operational discipline, primarily in terms of environmental management and performance, but also with respect to occupational safety and process quality.”
 
Michael Toffel
 
Rebecca Henderson
Rebecca Henderson
Professor
Charley Cummings
Charley Cummings
MBA 2011
Stephanie Wu
Stephanie Wu
MBA 2017
Taylor Lane
Taylor Lane
MBA/JD 2018
Angela Amos
Angela Amos
MBA 2014
Michael Toffel
Michael Toffel
Professor; Initiative Faculty Chair
 
 
The Business & Environment Initiative Inspiring innovation at the intersection of business and the environment. More →
 
 
  • Wal-Mart: For Better or Worse
     
    “I want to illustrate the way in which a private company, if it decides to make a difference against really large problems, and in particular environmental problems, can really shift the conversation and make a big difference.”
     
    Cold Call Podcast
     
     
  • Addressing Climate Change through Agriculture
     
    “Agriculture offers the opportunity to be beneficial and regenerative, since grass-fed beef actually sequesters carbon. There’s the potential for a net-net positive benefit.” —Charley Cummings (MBA 2011)
     
    Charley Cummings
     
     
  • Drive Time
     
    "The problem of climate change is not just related to clean energy, solar, wind, and batteries. There are many components that we need smart people working on, right now."
     
    Stephanie Wu
     
     
  • Modeling Change
     
    “I began to think that if I could measure my career success, it would be by bringing capital to work to address climate change.”
     
    Taylor Lane
     
     
  • Shaping the Big Picture
     
    “Commodities are as close to life as you can get—and energy is essential.”
     
    Angela Amos
     
     
  • Sustainable Operations
     
    “My research examines how companies strive to increase operational discipline, primarily in terms of environmental management and performance, but also with respect to occupational safety and process quality.”
     
    Michael Toffel
     
     
The Business & Environment Initiative Inspiring innovation at the intersection of business and the environment.
About Us→
 

Featured Videos

 
 
  • 12 Sep 2019

Tackling Climate Change in the MBA Classroom

 
 
  • 21 Jun 2018

Leadership and the Climate Change Challenge

→ More Videos
  • 12 Sep 2019
    Tackling Climate Change in the MBA Classroom
  • 21 Jun 2018
    Leadership and the Climate Change Challenge
→ More Videos
 
Page Content 2

Highlights

 
    • MAY 2019
    • HBS CASE

    Rio Tinto: Decommoditizing Aluminum

    Rio Tinto, a global mining company, sought to decommoditize its aluminum products by differentiating some production lines as a lower-carbon branded product. In order to create a market for this product, Rio Tinto needed the support of the global aluminum
    • 2019
    • HBS WORKING PAPER

    Understanding and Overcoming Roadblocks to Environmental Sustainability. Past Roads and Future Prospects

    This working paper examines key barriers to business sustainability discussed at a multidisciplinary conference held at the Harvard Business School in 2018. Drawing on perspectives from both the historical and business literatures, speakers debated the historical success and future opportunities for voluntary business actions to advance sustainability. Roadblocks include misaligned incentives, missing institutions, inertia of economic systems, and the concept of sustainability itself. It appears that overcoming these roadblocks will require systematic interventions and alternative normative concepts.
    • MAY 2019
    • WORKING PAPER

    How Transparency into Internal and External Responsibility Initiatives Influences Consumer Choice: Evidence from the Field and Lab

    Amid growing calls for transparency and social and environmental responsibility, companies are employing different strategies to improve consumer perceptions of their brands. Some pursue internal initiatives that reduce their negative social or environmental impacts through responsible operations practices (such as paying a living wage to workers or engaging in environmentally sustainable manufacturing). Others pursue external responsibility initiatives (such as philanthropy or cause-related marketing). Through three experiments, conducted in the field and lab, the authors compare how transparency into these internal and external initiatives affects customer perceptions and sales, and explore the psychological processes linking transparency to sales.
    • MAY 2019
    • WORKING KNOWLEDGE

    Activist CEOs Are Rising Up—and Their Customers Are Listening

    Are product sales affected by the CEO's stance on political and social issues? Michael Toffel and Aaron Chatterji study how consumers react to vocal chief executives.
Page Content 3

Campus Sustainability

Find out about HBS' commitment to environmental stewardship and about our greenhouse gas reduction plans and broader efforts to realize cost savings through efficiency and waste reduction.

Campus Sustainability

 

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