Developing a Sustainable Business Plan at the Shopping

Developing a Sustainable Business Plan at the Shopping Center of South. Pointe Mall in Lincoln, Nebraska Jessica Hanson Environmental Studies Program ABSTRACT: RESULTS: -Create a sustainable business plan for top 5 stores -Interview store managers with questionnaire topics including: Technological, Environment, Socio-Cultural, Economic, and Public Policy -Business analysis report was made for each business and recommendations shown visually through Eco. STEP Tool -The reports and Eco. STEP graph were delivered back to businesses and the different improvements were explained Scheels -score: 17/50 Improvements: -Advertisement to customers -Green Promotions -Implement Environmental Policy -Ship product fewer times per week -Learn how customers feel about eco-friendly businesses INTRODUCTION: -Lincoln has been actively involved in the environmental movement through Cleaner Greener Lincoln, but some places still need improvement -Intent to understand changes a business could make to improve and learn to persuade them to do so -Focus on top 5 businesses: Scheels, Von Maur, Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Old Chicago -Definition of Sustainability- Creating an efficient business environment by limiting the amount of resources a business uses and creating a reusable lifestyle METHODS: -Purpose of study- research current conditions of businesses and find improvements -Survey was made based off of the Eco. STEP Tool categories: Technological, Environment, Socio-Cultural, Economic, and Public Policy -Interviews with each of the 5 Store Manager using survey to find out the current conditions of the business -Responses from managers were analyzed and a number scoring system was created based off the responses -Research was done to find recommendations for the current conditions of the businesses -A graph called the Eco. STEP Tool was made for each business -The report and graph were both delivered and explained to the businesses College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Barnes and Noble -score: 28/50 Improvements: -Use recycled paper in office -Recycle materials in Starbucks café -Use BPA free receipt paper -Communicate with Facilities workers -Create local Environmental Policy Bed Bath & Beyond -score: 17/50 Improvements: -Monitor of waste produced -Recycle materials (packaging materials, paper) -Create a local Environmental Policy -Advertise green qualities -Use paper bags -Use BPA free receipt paper -Communicate with employees, facilities, and customers Von Maur -score: 13/50 Improvements: -Communicate with facilities, employees, and customers to understand how they feel about eco-friendly businesses -Advertise green qualities -Use high efficiency light bulbs or reduce lighting in store -Reuse display products and use wooden hangers RESULTS (CONTINUED): Old Chicago -score: 7/50 Improvements: -Advertise green qualities -Promote green activity -Recycle materials (glass, cardboard, paper, plastic) -Buy biodegradable takeout boxes -Monitor and reduce waste -Reuse/recycle display products -Use high efficiency light bulbs/reduce lighting in the restaurant DISCUSSION: -This study chose a diverse population of businesses to understand what improvements each business needs to focus on -All businesses were willing to participate in project, but only some were open to making changes to become more environmentally friendly CONCLUSION: -Measuring sustainability in a business environment is really needed to improve our overall environmental footprints, programs, and visions -This can help to spread sustainability to more businesses and improve our community -There can be so much more work done in this process because this project is only the first step -To go further with the project, more specific data could be gathered and improvements could be implemented in businesses ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thesis Advisor: Dave Gosselin Thesis Reader: Sara Cooper College of Arts and Sciences