"

Chapter 11b: Ideas for Final Projects

Final Assignment 1: Writing a Business Proposal for an Eco-Friendly Initiative

Objective: Develop a comprehensive business proposal for an eco-friendly initiative within an industry; conduct thorough research to support the viability and sustainability of their proposed initiative; apply sustainability principles to create innovative solutions for real-world business challenges; communicate their proposal in a clear, professional, and persuasive manner.

 

Instructions:

1 Select an Industry and Eco-Friendly Initiative

Choose one of the following industries or propose your own:

  • Automotive: Transitioning to Electric Vehicles
  • Technology and Electronics: E-Waste Recycling Program
  • Hospitality and Tourism: Eco-Friendly Tourism Packages
  • Construction and Real Estate: Green Building Construction
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Sustainable Medical Waste Management
  • Retail and Consumer Goods: Zero-Waste Retail Practices
  • Banking and Finance: Green Investment Funds
  • Transport and Logistics: Sustainable Shipping Solutions
  • Energy and Utilities: Community Solar Programs
  • Education and Public Sector: Green Campus Initiatives
  • Agriculture and Forestry: Regenerative Agriculture Practices
  • Entertainment and Media: Sustainable Production Practices
  • Textiles and Apparel: Closed-Loop Fashion Systems

2 Research

  • Conduct thorough research on the current practices and sustainability challenges within your chosen industry.
  • Identify innovative eco-friendly solutions and best practices that can be applied to your initiative.

3 Proposal Structure

  • Executive Summary: Provide a brief overview of your proposal, including the problem, solution, and expected benefits.
  • Introduction: Introduce your chosen industry and the specific sustainability challenge you aim to address.
  • Problem Statement: Clearly define the problem your eco-friendly initiative will solve.
  • Proposed Solution: Describe your eco-friendly initiative in detail, including how it will address the problem and promote sustainability.
  • Market Analysis: Conduct a market analysis to identify potential customers, competitors, and market opportunities.
  • Implementation Plan: Outline the steps required to implement your initiative, including timelines, resources, and key milestones.
  • Financial Plan: Provide a financial plan that includes projected costs, revenues, and return on investment (ROI).
  • Sustainability Impact: Discuss the environmental, social, and economic impacts of your initiative.
  • Conclusion: Summarize the key points of your proposal and make a compelling case for why your initiative should be supported.

Template for Business Proposal

Executive Summary

Provide a brief overview of your proposal, including the problem, solution, and expected benefits.

Introduction

Introduce your chosen industry and the specific sustainability challenge you aim to address.

Problem Statement

Clearly define the problem your eco-friendly initiative will solve.

Proposed Solution

Describe your eco-friendly initiative in detail, including how it will address the problem and promote sustainability.

Market Analysis

Conduct a market analysis to identify potential customers, competitors, and market opportunities.

Implementation Plan

Outline the steps required to implement your initiative, including timelines, resources, and key milestones.

Financial Plan

Provide a financial plan that includes projected costs, revenues, and return on investment (ROI).

Sustainability Impact

Discuss the environmental, social, and economic impacts of your initiative.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points of your proposal and make a compelling case for why your initiative should be supported.

References

Provide references in APA.

 

Grading Rubric

Criteria Excellent (5) Good (4) Adequate (3) Needs Improvement (2) Poor (1) Score
Executive Summary Provides a clear, concise, and engaging overview of the proposal. Provides a clear overview of the proposal. Overview is present but lacks engagement or clarity. Incomplete overview, missing key points. No clear overview provided.
Introduction Clearly introduces the industry and sustainability challenge with engaging content. Introduces the industry and challenge clearly. Introduces the industry and challenge but lacks engagement or clarity. Incomplete introduction, missing key points. No clear introduction.
Problem Statement Clearly defines the problem with strong evidence and justification. Defines the problem with good evidence and justification. Defines the problem but lacks strong evidence or justification. Problem statement is unclear or lacks evidence. No clear problem statement.
Proposed Solution Provides a detailed, innovative, and feasible solution with clear sustainability benefits. Provides a detailed and feasible solution with clear benefits. Provides a solution but lacks detail or feasibility. Solution is unclear or lacks detail and feasibility. No clear solution provided.
Market Analysis Thorough market analysis with clear identification of customers, competitors, and opportunities. Good market analysis with identification of key elements. Adequate market analysis but lacks detail. Market analysis is incomplete or unclear. No market analysis provided.
Implementation Plan Detailed and realistic implementation plan with clear timelines and milestones. Good implementation plan with timelines and milestones. Adequate implementation plan but lacks detail. Implementation plan is unclear or unrealistic. No implementation plan provided.
Financial Plan Comprehensive financial plan with clear cost, revenue projections, and ROI. Good financial plan with cost and revenue projections. Adequate financial plan but lacks detail. Financial plan is incomplete or unclear. No financial plan provided.
Sustainability Impact Thorough discussion of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Good discussion of sustainability impacts. Adequate discussion but lacks detail. Discussion is unclear or lacks detail. No discussion of impacts provided.
Conclusion Clear and compelling conclusion that reinforces the importance of the proposal. Clear conclusion that summarizes key points. Adequate conclusion but lacks engagement. Conclusion is unclear or lacks key points. No clear conclusion.
Overall Presentation Professional, engaging, and well-organized presentation of the proposal. Professional and well-organized presentation. Presentation is clear but lacks engagement. Presentation is unclear or unprofessional. Poor presentation quality.

Total Score: ____ / 50

Submission Details

  • Submit your completed business proposal by [due date].
  • Ensure that your proposal is well-organized, clearly written, and free of grammatical errors.

Research Articles to Help Start the Final Assignment

Automotive Industry

  • Electric Vehicles and Sustainable Transportation
    • Harper, C. D., Hendrickson, C. T., Mangones, S., & Samaras, C. (2016). Estimating potential increases in travel with autonomous vehicles for the non-driving, elderly and people with travel-restrictive medical conditions. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 72, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2016.09.003
    • Communicating sustainability through electric vehicle marketing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(4), 58-65.

Technology and Electronics

  • E-Waste Management:
    • Kahhat, R., Kim, J., Xu, M., Allenby, B., Williams, E., & Zhang, P. (2008). Exploring e-waste management systems in the United States. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52(7), 955-964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.03.002
  • Energy Efficiency in Tech:
    • Murugesan, S. (2008). Harnessing green IT: Principles and practices. IT Professional, 10(1), 24-33. https://doi.org/10.1109/MITP.2008.10

Hospitality and Tourism

  • Eco-Friendly Tourism:
    • Dolnicar, S., & Leisch, F. (2008). Selective marketing for environmentally sustainable tourism. Tourism Management, 29(4), 672-680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.07.010
  • Green Hotels and Resorts:
    • Han, H., Hsu, L.-T., Lee, J.-S., & Sheu, C. (2011). Are lodging customers ready to go green? An examination of attitudes, demographics, and eco-friendly intentions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30(2), 345-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2010.07.008

Construction and Real Estate

  • Green Building and Construction:
    • Kibert, C. J. (2012). Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Urban Planning and Sustainable Development:
    • Beatley, T. (2011). Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning. Island Press.

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

  • Sustainable Healthcare Practices:
    • Jameton, A., & Pierce, J. (2001). Environment and health: Sustainable health care and emerging ethical responsibilities. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164(3), 365-369.
  • Eco-Friendly Pharmaceuticals:
    • Kümmerer, K. (2009). The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment due to human use–present knowledge and future challenges. Journal of Environmental Management, 90(8), 2354-2366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.01.023

Retail and Consumer Goods

  • Sustainable Retail Practices:
    • Hartmann, P., & Ibáñez, V. A. (2006). Green value added. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 24(7), 673-680. https://doi.org/10.1108/02634500610711842
  • Green Consumer Goods:
    • Ottman, J. A. (2011). The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools, and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Banking and Finance

  • Sustainable Finance:
    • Weber, O. (2014). Environmental, social and governance reporting in China. Business Strategy and the Environment, 23(5), 303-317. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1785
  • ESG Reporting:
    • Eccles, R. G., & Serafeim, G. (2013). The Performance Frontier: Innovating for a Sustainable Strategy. Harvard Business Review, 91(5), 50-60.

Transport and Logistics

  • Green Logistics:
    • Rodrigue, J.-P., Slack, B., & Notteboom, T. (2013). Green logistics. In A. McKinnon et al. (Eds.), Green Logistics: Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Logistics (pp. 339-359). Kogan Page.
  • Sustainable Shipping:
    • Psaraftis, H. N. (2019). Decarbonization of maritime transport: to be or not to be? Maritime Economics & Logistics, 21(3), 353-371. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41278-018-00145-1

Energy and Utilities

  • Renewable Energy:
    • Sovacool, B. K. (2009). The importance of comprehensiveness in renewable energy policy. Energy Policy, 37(4), 1529-1541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2008.12.016
  • Energy Efficiency Programs:
    • Jaffe, A. B., & Stavins, R. N. (1994). The energy-efficiency gap: What does it mean? Energy Policy, 22(10), 804-810. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-4215(94)90138-4

Education and Public Sector

  • Sustainability in Education:
    • Lozano, R. (2010). Diffusion of sustainable development in universities’ curricula: an empirical example from Cardiff University. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(7), 637-644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.07.005
  • Public Sector Initiatives:
    • Mazmanian, D. A., & Kraft, M. E. (2009). Toward Sustainable Communities: Transition and Transformations in Environmental Policy. MIT Press.

Agriculture and Forestry

  • Sustainable Agriculture:
    • Tilman, D., Balzer, C., Hill, J., & Befort, B. L. (2011). Global food demand and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(50), 20260-20264. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1116437108
  • Food Security and Sustainable Practices:
    • Godfray, H. C. J., et al. (2010). Food security: The challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science, 327(5967), 812-818. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1185383

Entertainment and Media

  • Sustainable Production Practices:
    • Russell, S., & Drew, D. (2010). The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design. Architectural Press.
  • Raising Awareness through Media:

Final Assignment 2: Presenting Your Business Proposal

Objective: Articulate the importance of sustainability in a chosen industry; summarize key takeaways from current research on sustainability in their chosen field; apply communication of sustainability concepts to real-world industries and jobs; develop and deliver a professional and engaging presentation.

Instructions

1 Select a topic

Choose one of the following topics related to communicating sustainability in business:

  • Automotive Industry: Electric Vehicles and Sustainable Transportation
  • Technology and Electronics: E-Waste Management
  • Hospitality and Tourism: Eco-Friendly Tourism
  • Construction and Real Estate: Green Building and Construction
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Sustainable Healthcare Practices
  • Retail and Consumer Goods: Sustainable Retail Practices
  • Banking and Finance: Sustainable Finance
  • Transport and Logistics: Green Logistics
  • Energy and Utilities: Renewable Energy
  • Education and Public Sector: Sustainability in Education
  • Agriculture and Forestry: Sustainable Agriculture
  • Entertainment and Media: Sustainable Production Practices
  • Textiles and Apparel: Sustainable Textiles
  • Beauty and Other Health Products
  • Food, Animal, or Agriculture-Related industries

2 Research

  • Conduct thorough research on your chosen topic, using academic and credible industry sources. Summarize the key findings and their implications for sustainability in your chosen industry.
  • See the section before this one on resources to help get you started.

3 Presentation Structure

  • Introduction: Briefly introduce your topic and explain why it is important.
  • Key Takeaways from Research: Summarize the most important points from your research.
  • Applications to Real Industries/Jobs: Discuss how sustainability practices are applied in real-world industries and jobs related to your topic.
  • Conclusion: Recap the key points of your presentation and the importance of sustainability in your chosen industry.
  • Q&A: Be prepared to answer questions from your classmates and instructor.

4 Create Your Presentation

  • Use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another presentation software to create visual aids that support your presentation. Ensure your slides are clear, professional, and visually engaging.
  • Include images, graphs, and charts to illustrate key points and data.

5 Deliver Your Presentation

  • Practice delivering your presentation to ensure you are confident and clear in your delivery.
  • Each presentation should be 5-15 minutes long, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session.
  • Dress professionally and use appropriate body language and eye contact.

Grading Rubric

Criteria Excellent (5) Good (4) Adequate (3) Needs Improvement (2) Poor (1) Score
Introduction Clearly introduces the topic and its importance with engaging content. Introduces the topic and its importance clearly. Introduces the topic but lacks engagement or clarity. Incomplete introduction, missing key points. No clear introduction.
Research Summary Thorough and insightful summary of research with clear key takeaways. Good summary of research with clear key takeaways. Adequate summary of research, some key points. Incomplete or unclear summary of research. Little to no research summary.
Real-World Applications Excellent application of sustainability practices to real industries/jobs. Good application of sustainability practices to real industries/jobs. Adequate application of sustainability practices. Limited application of sustainability practices. No clear application to real industries/jobs.
Presentation Delivery Highly professional, engaging, clear speech, excellent body language. Professional and clear, good engagement and body language. Clear presentation but lacks engagement or professionalism. Unclear or unprofessional delivery, needs improvement. Poor delivery, very unclear or unprofessional.
Visual Aids Excellent use of visuals, clear, relevant, and professional. Good use of visuals, mostly clear and relevant. Adequate use of visuals, some relevance issues. Limited or unclear visuals, not very relevant. No or poor use of visuals.
Q&A Session Answers questions clearly and thoroughly, shows deep understanding. Answers questions clearly, shows good understanding. Adequate answers to questions, some understanding. Incomplete or unclear answers, limited understanding. Cannot answer questions, lacks understanding.
Overall Engagement Highly engaging, keeps audience interested throughout. Engaging, maintains audience interest most of the time. Somewhat engaging, occasional loss of audience interest. Limited engagement, audience interest often lost. Not engaging, audience not interested.

Total Score: ____ / 35

Submission Details

  • Submit your presentation slides by [due date].
  • Be prepared to deliver your presentation in class on [presentation date].

Final Assignment 3: Pitching Your Eco-Friendly Initiative

Objective: Develop and deliver a compelling business pitch for an eco-friendly initiative within an industry; effectively communicate the key elements of their business proposal, including problem statement, solution, market analysis, and financials; demonstrate professional presentation skills, including clear articulation, engaging delivery, and persuasive techniques; answer questions and handle feedback from potential stakeholders.

Instructions

1 Prepare Your Business Pitch

Select an Industry and Eco-Friendly Initiative. Choose one of the following industries or propose your own:

  • Automotive: Transitioning to Electric Vehicles
  • Technology and Electronics: E-Waste Recycling Program
  • Hospitality and Tourism: Eco-Friendly Tourism Packages
  • Construction and Real Estate: Green Building Construction
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Sustainable Medical Waste Management
  • Retail and Consumer Goods: Zero-Waste Retail Practices
  • Banking and Finance: Green Investment Funds
  • Transport and Logistics: Sustainable Shipping Solutions
  • Energy and Utilities: Community Solar Programs
  • Education and Public Sector: Green Campus Initiatives
  • Agriculture and Forestry: Regenerative Agriculture Practices
  • Entertainment and Media: Sustainable Production Practices
  • Textiles and Apparel: Closed-Loop Fashion Systems

2 Pitch Structure

  • Hook: Grab the audience’s attention with a quote, statistic, story, interesting fact, etc.
  • Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and your team (if applicable), and state the purpose of your pitch.
  • Problem Statement: Clearly define the problem your eco-friendly initiative aims to solve.
  • Proposed Solution: Describe your initiative, how it addresses the problem, and its sustainability benefits.
  • Market Analysis: Summarize the market analysis, including potential customers, competitors, and market opportunities.
  • Implementation Plan: Outline the steps to implement your initiative, including timelines and key milestones.
  • Financial Plan: Provide a summary of projected costs, revenues, and return on investment (ROI).
  • Sustainability Impact: Discuss the environmental, social, and economic impacts of your initiative.
  • Conclusion: Recap the key points of your pitch and make a compelling call to action for support or investment.
  • Q&A: Be prepared to answer questions from the audience.

3 Create Visual Aids

  • Use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another presentation software to create visual aids that support your pitch.
  • Include images, graphs, and charts to illustrate key points and data.

4 Practice Your Pitch

  • Rehearse your pitch to ensure it is within the 3-5-minute time limit.
  • Focus on clear articulation, engaging delivery, and confident body language.

5 Deliver Your Pitch

  • Each student/team will deliver their pitch in class on [presentation date].
  • Dress professionally and use appropriate body language and eye contact.
  • Engage the audience and be prepared to handle questions during the Q&A session.

Example Business Pitch

(Please do not submit this as your own)

Slide 1: Title Slide

  • Title: Eco-Friendly Tourism Package
  • Presenters: Jane Doe, John Smith
  • Date: March 15, 2026

Slide 2: Introduction

  • “Good morning, everyone. My name is Jane Doe, and this is my colleague, John Smith. Today, we are excited to present our proposal for an Eco-Friendly Tourism Package aimed at promoting sustainable travel.”

Slide 3: Problem Statement

  • “The tourism industry significantly impacts the environment through high energy consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions. According to the United Nations, tourism accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions. There is an urgent need for sustainable travel options.”

Slide 4: Proposed Solution

  • “Our Eco-Friendly Tourism Package includes sustainable transportation options, eco-friendly accommodations, and community-based tourism experiences. This package will reduce carbon footprints and promote local economic development while providing enriching travel experiences.”

Slide 5: Market Analysis

  • “The demand for sustainable tourism is growing. A survey by Booking.com found that 87% of travelers want to travel sustainably. Our target market includes environmentally conscious travelers and families seeking meaningful experiences. Competitors include traditional travel agencies and emerging eco-friendly tour operators. Our unique selling proposition is the comprehensive nature of our packages.”

Slide 6: Implementation Plan

  • “We will establish partnerships with eco-friendly hotels and local communities, launch a targeted marketing campaign, and start with a pilot program in a popular destination. Based on the success of the pilot, we will expand to additional locations.”
  • Visual Timeline:
    • Month 1-2: Establish partnerships and develop marketing materials.
    • Month 3-4: Launch pilot program.
    • Month 5-6: Collect feedback and make adjustments.
    • Month 7: Expand to additional destinations.

Slide 7: Financial Plan

  • “Our projected costs include $10,000 for partnerships, $15,000 for marketing, $20,000 for the pilot program, and $30,000 for expansion. We expect the pilot program to generate $50,000 in revenue, with first-year expansion revenue at $200,000 and second-year revenue at $500,000, yielding a 150% ROI in the first year and 300% in the second year.”
  • Financial Graphs: Include charts illustrating costs vs. projected revenues.

Slide 8: Sustainability Impact

  • “Our initiative will reduce carbon emissions through sustainable transportation, minimize waste with eco-friendly accommodations, support local economies, and educate travelers on sustainable practices, leading to long-term behavioral change.”

Slide 9: Conclusion

  • “In summary, our Eco-Friendly Tourism Package addresses the urgent need for sustainable travel options, offers significant environmental and social benefits, and meets the growing demand for eco-friendly tourism. We invite you to support this initiative and help us make a positive impact on the tourism industry.”
  • Contact Information: “Thank you for your time. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us at [email@example.com].”

Slide 10: Q&A

  • “Thank you! We are now open to questions.”
  • Thank You Slide: Display “Thank You” and prompt for questions.

 

Grading Rubric

Criteria Excellent (5) Good (4) Adequate (3) Needs Improvement (2) Poor (1) Score
Introduction Clear, engaging, and professional introduction. Clear and professional introduction. Adequate introduction but lacks engagement. Incomplete or unclear introduction. No clear introduction.
Problem Statement Clearly defines the problem with strong evidence. Defines the problem with good evidence. Defines the problem but lacks strong evidence. Problem statement is unclear or lacks evidence. No clear problem statement.
Proposed Solution Detailed, innovative, and feasible solution with clear sustainability benefits. Detailed and feasible solution with clear benefits. Provides a solution but lacks detail or feasibility. Solution is unclear or lacks detail and feasibility. No clear solution provided.
Market Analysis Thorough market analysis with clear identification of customers, competitors, and opportunities. Good market analysis with identification of key elements. Adequate market analysis but lacks detail. Market analysis is incomplete or unclear. No market analysis provided.
Implementation Plan Detailed and realistic implementation plan with clear timelines and milestones. Good implementation plan with timelines and milestones. Adequate implementation plan but lacks detail. Implementation plan is unclear or unrealistic. No implementation plan provided.
Financial Plan Comprehensive financial plan with clear cost, revenue projections, and ROI. Good financial plan with cost and revenue projections. Adequate financial plan but lacks detail. Financial plan is incomplete or unclear. No financial plan provided.
Sustainability Impact Thorough discussion of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Good discussion of sustainability impacts. Adequate discussion but lacks detail. Discussion is unclear or lacks detail. No discussion of impacts provided.
Presentation Delivery Highly professional, engaging, clear speech, excellent body language. Professional and clear, good engagement and body language. Clear presentation but lacks engagement or professionalism. Unclear or unprofessional delivery, needs improvement. Poor delivery, very unclear or unprofessional.
Visual Aids Excellent use of visuals, clear, relevant, and professional. Good use of visuals, mostly clear and relevant. Adequate use of visuals, some relevance issues. Limited or unclear visuals, not very relevant. No or poor use of visuals.
Q&A Session Answers questions clearly and thoroughly, shows deep understanding. Answers questions clearly, shows good understanding. Adequate answers to questions, some understanding. Incomplete or unclear answers, limited understanding. Cannot answer questions, lacks understanding.

Total Score: ____ / 50

Submission Details

  • Submit your presentation slides by [due date].
  • Be prepared to deliver your pitch in class on [presentation date].
  • Your classmates will vote for their favorite pitch, so think of them as your audience!

License

Communicating Environmental Sustainability in Business for Global Audiences Copyright © by Marie Moreno. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book