Recent global trade policy shifts and escalating sustainability concerns are reshaping the landscape for businesses worldwide, raising urgent questions for supply chain management professionals and researchers. On June 10, a webinar co-organized by the Center for Responsible Supply Chain Management at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business and the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, brought together leading experts to discuss these vital topics. More than 300 participants from 35 countries registered for the event.

Cori Masters, Gartner

Cori Masters, a Senior Director and High-Tech Supply Chain Analyst at Gartner, kicked off the discussion by outlining current sustainability macro trends and the complex tariff landscape. She detailed the “Four B’s” driving U.S. tariffs—balancing trade, bringing back manufacturing, bolstering US borders, and building revenue—and emphasized the volatile nature of global trade policies, necessitating continuous scenario planning for businesses and advancing supply chain optimization.

Jan Fransoo, Tilburg University

Jan Fransoo, Professor of Operations and Logistics Management at Tilburg University, argued that the perceived “deglobalization” might primarily be a U.S. phenomenon, with global trade continuing to grow, particularly with emerging forces like India and Africa. He highlighted the inextricable link between global trade and sustainability, suggesting that increased information technology leads to greater transparency and, in turn, higher accountability pressures. Fransoo posited that we might be at a “tipping point” for sustainable supply chains.

Panos Kouvelis, Washington University in St. Louis

Panos Kouvelis, Emerson Distinguished Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, reinforced the idea that tariff uncertainty could be the “new normal,” necessitating fundamental changes in supply chain contracts and financial hedging. He urged practitioners and researchers to rethink supply chain strategy not just as a sourcing portfolio but also as a product and market portfolio. Kouvelis also emphasized the booming potential of reverse logistics and circular economy, as new inventories become more expensive due to tariffs.

Christopher Tang, UCLA

Bringing a new dimension to the conversation, Christopher Tang, UCLA Distinguished Professor, exposed the “covert weaponization of supply chains.” He described how actors might use supply chains for illicit activities, presenting serious risks to global security and economic integrity. This troubling reality raises an urgent question for research: how can emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and forensic science be most effectively leveraged to identify, track, and disrupt the movement of illicit materials across global supply chains?

The webinar underscored that global supply chains are entering an era of unprecedented complexity and uncertainty. The future demands not only traditional risk mitigation but also innovative approaches to supply chain sustainability, financing, and security, driven by advanced data and technology.

The webinar is co-hosted by Karen Donohue, a professor at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, and Owen Wu, a professor at IU’s Kelley School of Business.

Webinar “Rewriting the Rules: Global Trade, Sustainability, and Supply Chain Research”

Find the webinar slides here.

Register for the next webinar on August 12, in which we will take a closer look at two industries that sit at the center of today’s global trade and sustainability debates: agribusiness and consumer electronics.

A team of undergraduate students from the Kelley School of Business earned first place at the Fall 2024 Smeal Undergraduate Sustainability Case Competition, hosted by the Center for the Business of Sustainability at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. The two-round competition featured strong entries from across the country, with only six teams advancing to the final round.

Kelley Team Takes First Place at Smeal Sustainability Case Competition.

The challenge invited students to propose innovative strategies to reduce food waste. Kelley School’s team—Crossroads Consulting, consisting of Pallevi Pillai, Rikin Patel, Shreya Goda, and Kirtee Ayitha—presented a data-informed plan grounded in behavioral insights and stakeholder coordination.

The team’s participation was generously supported by the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability (IESS), which provided faculty coaching and sponsored the trip. Their success reflects the value of experiential learning and demonstrates IESS’s commitment to fostering applied sustainability leadership.

We also greatly appreciate the Center for the Business of Sustainability at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business for hosting this competition.

By Abigail Garrison and Kyle Springer, Class of 2025

Every year, IU sends a delegation of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students to attend the Conference of Parties (COP) hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For the Fall 2024 semester, the 29th COP was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Week One IU student delegates in Baku: Valerie Grau, Kathleen Suelzer, Declan Gallagher, Kyle Springer, Abigail Garrison, Khoi Hua, Daniel Farrell, and Madison Harris.

Each student prepares a research proposal and investigates their selected topic by attending negotiations, listening to panels, and interviewing experts. The delegation consists of students from a wide range of disciplines who have interests in climate change and sustainability.  

Before attending the conference, all students take part in a course that educates them on the inner workings of the UNFCCC. Much of this study focuses on the Paris Agreement, which is largely regarded as a guiding framework for future conferences to aspire to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius.  

An interdisciplinary approach is necessary to combat climate change, and every job is or will soon become a climate job. Examples of research topics from Kelley students Kyle Springer and Abigail Garrison include quality considerations of climate finance with a focus on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and the decarbonization of the maritime sector.  

This year was deemed the “Finance COP” because negotiations centered around the NCQG, which sets a financial goal of $300 billion annually to contribute to climate change. Along with overall quantity, quality was a major concern. While speaking to national representatives of climate funds from all around the world, Kyle was able to gain insight into the most pressing needs in climate finance, including debt-free financing, equitable accessibility to finance, and standardized reporting frameworks.  

The maritime sector is considered a hard-to-abate industry. This means that it is difficult for the maritime sector to reach carbon neutrality. During COP29, Abigail was looking at how this sector can reach the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. She spoke to a multitude of different individuals focused on the private sector and alternative fuels, and those from small island states. Many of the events she attended were about a carbon tax on the sector and how to scale up alternative fuels.  

This research opportunity was a life-changing experience for those passionate about solving the climate crisis. It was motivating to witness so many people doing great work to limit global temperature increase. This was a reminder that companies and governments need students who are passionate about climate change as it’s a global issue that goes beyond borders.  

Kyle and Abigail are extremely grateful for the financial support they received for this experience from the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability. Additional support for all participants was received from the Hamilton Lugar School, O’Neill School, College of Arts and Sciences, Kelley School of Business, School of Social Work, Ostrom Workshop, Integrated Program on the Environment, Environmental Resilience Institute, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Russian Flagship, Political and Civic Engagement, Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), and IU Housing.  

As the world faces the intensifying effects of climate change, the role of infrastructure investment and innovation in building resilience has never been more critical. On November 13th, 2024, the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability (IESS) hosted a focused workshop that brought together experts from diverse sectors to explore solutions to this urgent challenge. Held at the Kelley School of Business, the event featured discussions on decarbonization strategies, alternative energy sources, utility transformation, and the intersection of market dynamics and renewable energy integration.

The full program of the event can be found at this link.

Frameworks and Policies for Decarbonization

The morning session kicked off with a focus on decarbonization frameworks and policies, which are at the heart of the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. Heavy industries, often responsible for significant emissions, are key targets for policy intervention. Experts emphasized the importance of institutional frameworks and public policies in steering these industries towards cleaner, more sustainable practices. With the evolving social cost of carbon, the need for strategic investments in renewable energy was also highlighted, positioning it as a crucial driver of climate resilience.

• Anees Azzouni explored the challenges of decarbonizing heavy industries, emphasizing their significant energy use, high emissions, outdated processes, and the costs of transitioning to cleaner technologies. He highlighted the role of public policy in influencing industrial decarbonization, discussing the intersections of climate, industrial, and trade policies, as well as regulatory and corporate frameworks. Key obstacles include weak institutional frameworks, conflicting policy objectives, and hesitant adoption of new technologies by industries. The discussion underscored the need for cohesive strategies, stronger corporate commitments, and targeted policies to effectively align industrial efforts with global climate goals.

• Tom Palley explored the implications of the social cost of carbon (SCC) on renewable energy investments and policy. SCC, representing the economic damages of emitting one ton of CO₂, is challenging to estimate due to wide-ranging and uncertain forecasts. By modeling SCC’s evolution stochastically, his research examines how utilities adjust renewable energy investments under different scenarios and how policymakers might influence learning about SCC over time. The study underscored the role of SCC in shaping regulations and utility planning, despite the absence of a federal carbon tax.

Alternative Energy Sources in Transition

As the energy sector grapples with its transition away from fossil fuels, exploring untapped sources of alternative energy becomes essential. Wood fiber, an American energy resource often overlooked, was presented as a potential contributor to the renewable energy mix. Additionally, renewable natural gas (RNG) emerged as a key player in this transition, showcasing its ability to reduce emissions and provide reliable energy.

• Tim Gawne discussed challenges and opportunities in utilizing timber residuals for biofuels and biomass energy, driven by an oversupply of timber in the U.S. Southeast. While projects like biofuel and wood pellet production show potential, high costs, regulatory hurdles, and competition with cheaper energy sources, like natural gas, pose significant challenges. He highlighted the need for government policies, carbon capture technologies, and holistic industry collaboration to address sustainability and resource management, emphasizing the economic and environmental complexities of transitioning to biomass as an energy solution.
• Anita Doyle discussed renewable natural gas (RNG) as a sustainable energy solution derived from organic waste, such as landfills and wastewater treatment plants. Highlighting its environmental benefits, the presentation emphasized RNG’s ability to capture methane emissions and its versatile applications in transportation, industry, and electricity generation. Despite its higher costs compared to fossil natural gas, demand for RNG is growing due to ESG commitments, government incentives, and its compatibility with existing infrastructure. The speaker underscored RNG’s role in the energy transition while acknowledging challenges like scalability, economics, and regulatory support.

Utility Transformation and Community Development

The transformation of electric utilities was another central theme of the workshop. With the rapid evolution of technology and energy needs, utilities must adapt to innovate while ensuring they support community development. Discussions on how companies like Whirlpool and Habitat for Humanity are partnering to address housing and energy needs in local communities underscored the importance of such collaborations in building resilient, sustainable systems that meet both environmental and social goals.

• Ed Coleman shared insights from his involvement in the energy sector, particularly the electric utility industry’s transition to net zero. He highlighted the industry’s focus on safety, reliability, customer affordability, and clean energy. Utilities have reduced carbon emissions by 41% since 2005, driven by ESG goals, investor demands, and regulatory shifts, but face challenges like demand growth, aging infrastructure, and transmission hurdles. Innovation in energy generation, grid modernization, financing stranded assets, and balancing local versus large-scale energy solutions are critical to achieving net zero by 2050, all while navigating political and social complexities.

Ed Coleman speaks on electric utility transformation and innovation

• Wendi Goodlett, Rosa Skinner, and Beat Stocker highlighted Whirlpool Corporation’s impactful partnership with Habitat for Humanity over the past many years, emphasizing their joint commitment to sustainability, affordable housing, and energy efficiency. The “BuildBetter with Whirlpool” program has focused on creating climate-resilient and energy-efficient homes, addressing global challenges like rising energy costs and environmental impacts while contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Energy Challenges and Transition

The afternoon sessions delved into the specific energy challenges faced by states like Indiana, with a focus on how emerging electricity issues could shape the future of energy transition. Experts discussed the timing of this transition, stressing that the question is not if but when energy systems must change to address climate impacts.

• Sunil Maheshwari shared insights into the energy industry and the challenges of forecasting electricity demand in Indiana. Reflecting on their extensive career in energy utilities, wholesale trading, and retail electricity markets, they emphasized the importance of accurate demand forecasts for effective resource planning, particularly in the context of data center growth and increasing electrification. They highlighted the role of econometric models, evolving industry trends, and the regulatory complexities utilities face, such as balancing customer affordability with infrastructure investment. They also discussed broader industry issues, including hedging practices, carbon regulation impacts, and the dynamic nature of energy markets, encouraging students to develop strong quantitative skills to address future energy challenges effectively.
• Stephanie Wang presents her research on energy transition from a temporal perspective, focusing on how firms manage the shift toward renewable energy. She discusses two papers: the first examines firms’ energy transition patterns using a framework that looks at strategic purpose and scope. The second paper explores how firms deal with regulatory uncertainty through time-calibrated responses, emphasizing the role of time in shaping compliance. Wang concludes by highlighting the importance of aligning managerial attention with transition goals.

Global Investment, Pollution, and Climate Uncertainty

The complexities of global investment, pollution, and the uncertainties surrounding climate change were also examined. The intersection of multinational investments, environmental pollution, and the race to innovate in the face of extreme weather events presented a multifaceted view of how global forces influence local and regional energy transitions.

• Juan Bu presents a study on the impact of environmental pollution on multinational firms’ foreign investment. The paper challenges the “race to the bottom” theory, suggesting that pollution havens may incur significant reputational and operational risks, leading firms to reduce investments in these countries. Bu introduces the concept of “pollution cost,” consisting of reputational and operational risks, and examines how firms’ environmental capabilities and transgressions affect their investment decisions. The study finds that firms with higher environmental capabilities are more likely to scale back investments in polluted countries, reflecting growing concerns over sustainability.
• Sumudu Watugala presents research on how extreme weather events, particularly hurricanes, influence uncertainty and firm returns. She explores the impact of extreme weather on firm-level uncertainty, specifically using changes in stock option prices around US hurricanes to measure uncertainty. The study finds that extreme weather leads to substantial uncertainty, with option prices increasing by 20%, and that uncertainty remains high for up to three months. Additionally, the paper shows that investors underreact to the uncertainty caused by these events, leading to pricing inefficiencies that are corrected after major incidents like Hurricane Sandy.

Market Dynamics and Renewable Integration

The final session explored the dynamics between competitive markets, capital investment, and the integration of renewable energy. Discussions focused on the role of renewable, flexible, and storage capacities, raising important questions about their compatibility and the challenges involved in optimizing these resources to ensure reliable and sustainable energy systems.

• Madeline Yozwiak’s research explores the impact of market structure on electricity generation investment in the US, particularly in the context of competitive reforms. She finds that deregulation leads to a substantial reduction in capital investment in fossil power plants, without negatively affecting operational efficiency, suggesting that prior investments were likely excessive. The study highlights that the decrease in investment could lead to cost savings for consumers. Maddy also suggests that similar effects could occur with future renewable energy investments, pointing out that deregulation may play a role in reducing infrastructure costs during the transition to clean energy.
• Owen Wu’s research explores how utilities should balance investments in battery storage, solar energy, and dispatchable generation (like natural gas). Using optimal control theory, the study evaluates when to charge or discharge batteries to maximize cost efficiency. The results show that solar and batteries can either complement or substitute each other, depending on the availability of renewable energy. For instance, excess solar energy can be stored in batteries for later use, while in cases of insufficient renewable generation, batteries might use natural gas. The research highlights the complex interplay between these resources and suggests that optimizing their use can inform investment decisions for utilities transitioning to cleaner energy.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The workshop underscored the critical need for collaboration across sectors—government, business, and communities—to drive meaningful progress in addressing climate change. From innovative energy solutions to market transformations, the discussions highlighted the importance of infrastructure investment and forward-thinking policies in shaping a resilient future for all. It is clear that as the challenges of climate change grow, so must our commitment to finding innovative, sustainable solutions that can withstand the test of time.

Written by Ling Li, PhD student, Kelley School of Business

On October 19, 2024, the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University collaboratively hosted the Third Annual Symposium on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Supply Chains. Building upon the success of the previous two symposiums held in 2022 and 2023, this symposium convened distinguished academic scholars and industry practitioners to deliberate on innovative advancements, disseminate critical insights, and emphasize the imperative for collaborative endeavors to address pervasive sustainability challenges on a global scale. Click here for the full program.

The Symposium on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Supply Chains, cohosted by the UW Foster School of Business and the IU Kelley School of Business

Making Hard Decisions in Sustainable Operations
Professor Charles Corbett explored the intricacies of sustainable decision-making, demonstrated by three recent projects. The first project delved into how context effects, such as attraction and compromise effects, influence decisions based on information from life-cycle assessments (LCA) studies. The second project examines how procurement managers think about trade-offs between reducing carbon footprint or water usage in their supply chain, and whether that interacts with a preference for environmental burdens to be local or far away. The third project is a survey of Los Angeles homeowners highlighted that those who took a satisficing approach were more likely to install rooftop solar panels compared to those aiming to optimize every detail. Overall, he emphasizes the research opportunities in understanding how people make sustainability-related decisions and how people should make such decisions.

Charles Corbett, Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles

Bridging the Gap: Making Sustainability Good Business

Samantha Wai, Assistant Vice President, Global Sustainability & Compliance group, Costco Wholesale

Applying Design Thinking to Enhance Best Practices in Sustainability

Aleda Roth, Clemson University

ESG Regulatory Requirements and the New World of Double Materiality, Social Due Diligence and Remedy
Professor Anita Ramasastry examined the evolving landscape of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations, with a particular focus on mandatory human rights due diligence within global supply chains. She discussed the transition from voluntary compliance to mandated regulations, especially under emerging European Union directives that require corporations to identify, prevent, and mitigate social and environmental risks associated with their operations. Furthermore, Professor Ramasastry introduced the concept of “double materiality,” wherein organizations must evaluate both financial and societal impacts, presenting novel compliance challenges. She advocated for the development of comprehensive frameworks to guide corporations through these complexities, emphasizing the necessity for standards that bridge the governance gap in human rights and sustainability.

Anita Ramasastry, School of Law, University of Washington

Modeling Strategic Sustainability in Supply Chains
Professor Jeannette Song investigated the strategic integration of sustainability within multi-tiered supply chains, emphasizing efficiency, compliance, and resilience. She contrasted traditional supply chain models, which prioritize cost minimization and demand fulfillment, with contemporary frameworks that incorporate environmental and social responsibilities. Professor Song’s research highlighted the role of advanced data-driven and digital solutions in reducing waste and optimizing processes. She discussed practical applications such as blockchain technology for fresh produce tracking and smart contracts to minimize waste, alongside the challenges of ensuring supplier compliance with safety and labor standards. Ultimately, Professor Song proposed that sustainable supply chains necessitate adaptive compliance frameworks supported by third-party verifications, tailored scorecards, and tier-specific investment strategies to foster long-term sustainability.

Jeannette Song, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University

Net Zero by 2040: The Roadmap to Net Zero at Alaska Airlines

Scott Coughlan, Environmental Sustainability Program Manager, Alaska Airlines

Competitive Industry’s Technological and Market Response to Environmental Taxation
Professor Anton Ovchinnikov investigated the effects of environmental taxation on the adoption of green technologies within competitive markets. His research challenges the conventional assumption that environmental taxes uniformly encourage the uptake of sustainable technologies. Instead, Professor Ovchinnikov found that under certain conditions, particularly in markets with high demand elasticity, increased taxes can inadvertently favor less sustainable alternatives. This occurs because the substantial fixed costs associated with cleaner technologies become a barrier when demand decreases due to higher taxes. To address this issue, he recommends a strategic combination of taxes and subsidies, tailored to the specific market dynamics and demand responsiveness.

Anton Ovchinnikov, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University

Panel: Charting the Uncharted

Panelists: Charles Corbett, Anton Ovchinnikov, Aleda Roth, Jeannette Song.

In this panel, the discourse centered on the evolving challenges and opportunities within the field of operations management. Panelists underscored the critical importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry by engaging practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders early in the research process to ensure that studies are aligned with real-world issues. Moreover, they emphasized that operations management research must balance academic rigor with accessibility, relevance, and practical impact. Additionally, the panel explored the role of technology and artificial intelligence in advancing research, while cautioning against potential ethical and environmental concerns, such as the sustainability of data centers and the concealed labor involved in AI development. Overall, the discussion highlighted the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative dissemination methods, and responsiveness to societal needs to maintain the field of operations management as both impactful and forward-looking.

The Third Annual Symposium on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Supply Chains facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas among scholars and industry professionals. As sustainability remains a pivotal concern for global supply chains, such collaborative platforms are indispensable for driving meaningful progress and fostering innovation.

In September 2024, the Kelley Institute for Environmental & Social Sustainability (IESS), in collaboration with Kate Gaertner, founder and CEO of TripleWin Advisory, will launch Cultivate: Personal Sustainability for Professional Growth.

This 10-week online course begins with a discussion on how we understand and define personal sustainability, identifying personal values and linking them with sustainable action. It includes consideration of how we talk about successful behavior change to help us rewire our thoughts and actions in order to embrace sustainable living as an everyday norm. The course ends by emphasizing action — at home, with friends and family, and in our work and communities. As Gaertner says, “Scale of action is important, but we must embrace a sustainable mindset in ourselves before we can affect change in our systems of operating economically, culturally, politically, and industrially.”

Between those bookend considerations are modules on the significant areas of sustainable impact. This includes travel, how we source and use energy, the food we eat, and how and what we buy, both consumable and durable. Participants are challenged to think about consumerism and their waste streams, with a particular emphasis on plastics and personal electronics. The course also addresses water use and impacts on the built environment, as well as land and biodiversity.

Cultivate will welcome faculty and corporate experts for live sessions and recorded interviews. They will share how personal sustainability extends to what we do in our professional lives and in our communities.

This fall, we are pleased to welcome Helen Colby, Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Kelley School of Business and an expert on successful behavior change within organizations; Kelly Carmichael, a veteran leader in energy, with over 25 years of experience in advancing corporate and non-profit organizations to the forefront of environmental and sustainability leadership; Jackie Suggitt, the vice president of Business Initiatives & Community Engagement at ReFED, who has spent over 10 years working in sustainable food systems; Mary Embry, Senior Lecturer in the renowned Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture & Design, an expert on sustainability in the fashion industry whose teaching focuses on community engagement and fair trade; Meredith Soward, a Global Plastic Policy Specialist at World Wildlife Fund; Thomas Landis, Senior Lecturer at Kelley, discussing sustainable living within our communities, including lessons from a current house rehab project; and Kelly Bousman, senior vice president of Marketing and ESG at AVI-SPL, a global collaboration technology company with 4,000+ employees and 65 offices worldwide. Bousman spearheaded AVI-SPL’s sustainability journey by creating its multi-year ESG roadmap.

Kate Gaertner is the author of the award-winning book Planting A Seed: Three Simple Steps to Sustainable Living. This is the foundational text for the course. Kate is also a contributing author to BF Nagy’s book Proven Climate Solutions: Leading Voices on How To Accelerate Change, a collection of essays on best sustainable practices.

Kelly Eskew is a Clinical Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Director of Education for IESS. Her teaching addresses sustainability, climate change, human rights, and poverty law. She has received numerous teaching awards, including the John Bonsignore Memorial Award for Excellence, a national honor for teachers whose teaching or research is interdisciplinary, demonstrates critical thinking skills, and reflects humanitarian concerns.

In addition to earning a professional certificate upon completion of this program, you will also earn a digital badge to showcase your skills on platforms like LinkedIn. These credentials show your network the concrete and in-demand skills you earned from taking this Kelley program.

For more information, visit the Kelley website and register for Cultivate: Personal Sustainability for Professional Growth.

Chengcheng Zhai, a Kelley School PhD student with a deep personal connection to rural life, has spent her academic career focused on addressing inequities in resource allocation, particularly in rural areas of developing countries. Growing up in a remote village called GanQiKa in Inner Mongolia, China, Zhai experienced firsthand the stark contrasts between rural and urban living conditions. “My first elementary school had latrines, no running water, and families took turns donating coal to heat the classrooms,” she recalled. These experiences, contrasted with later years spent in Beijing where her school had bathrooms, running water, and central heating, ignited her interest in addressing disparities in resource access.

Chengcheng Zhai, Ph.D. in Operations Management, Kelley School of Business, 2024

Zhai successfully defended her dissertation in May 2024, a culmination of years of research into drinking water access issues in Africa. She is joining the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame as an Assistant Professor of IT, Analytics, and Operations. Her dissertation committee members include Kurt Bretthauer and Jorge Mejia, Faculty Fellows at the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability.

Her dissertation is a comprehensive investigation into how NGOs operating in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) can improve their operational decisions regarding the location of new water points, the maintenance of existing water points, and the fundraising strategies to boost donations. As Zhai emphasizes, “Worldwide, over 700 million people still lack access to clean drinking water, with more than half living in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.” This global challenge is a focus of one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working tirelessly to improve water access.

Ethiopia, January 2020. A public stand-tap in Tigray, Ethiopia. Typically, a community member, usually a woman, manages the opening and closing of the water site and collects fees from those who come to fetch water.	Ethiopia, January 2020. People use jerrycans to store water. Each jerrycan holds 20 liters and weighs about 45 pounds. People carry jerrycans on their shoulders or heads, while wealthier families may use donkeys to transport water.

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On April 10, 2024, the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability (IESS) hosted the “Focused Fields Workshop on Sustainable Consumption in a Finite World.” This workshop marked a significant moment in our interdisciplinary dialogue on sustainability.

The workshop featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including industry professionals from sectors such as water technology solutions, medical device, and consulting. Faculty members from the Kelley School of Business and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs presented their current research. Their expertise spanned various fields, including business economics, public policy, marketing, environmental economics, and business laws. Together, they delved into a broad spectrum of crucial topics, fostering a comprehensive exploration of topics related to sustainable consumption.

Rebecca Slotegraaf, Associate Dean for Research at the Kelley School of Business opened the event by underscoring the important role of the IESS plays within the Kelley School and the significance of this event.

Patrick Decker (former CEO of Xylem) speaks at the workshop on Sustainable Consumption in a Finite World

Patrick Decker, former president and CEO of Xylem and IU Kelley alum echoed that not only we have a finite world but also a finite time, and delivered a key message to the audience: Time + Purpose = Impact.
Kate Christensen, Assistant Professor of Marketing, brought us fascinating perspectives on how thinking about past can help connect us to our future selves end generations which increases concerns for the environment and the willingness to save for the future.
Ken Richards, Professor at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and Maurer School of Law, shared a framework for understanding the influencing forces for business sustainability and implications for government policy.

Makayla Bonney, Sustainability Manager at Deloitte, provided a comprehensive overview of the global ESG regulatory landscape, highlighting the relevant standards and potential challenges.
In the research of product labeling, John Maxwell introduced the dual-updating problem about both the quality of the product and the quality of the label and made deep economic theory behind labeling easier to understand.
Scott Shackelford, Professor of Business Law and Ethics, discussed the role of cybersecurity in sustainability.

Barry Slowey, Vice President – Chief Sustainability Officer at Cook Medical, shared Cook Medical’s social impact and sustainability programs.
Erick Mas, Assistant Professor of Marketing, shared his research on the link between food waste and political ideology.
Kelley Wight, Assistant Professor of Marketing, shed light on how social media can promote prosocial behavior.

Owen Wu, Director of Research and Outreach at IESS, emphasized the importance of cross-disciplinary collaborations in addressing environmental and social sustainability, noting that the Focused Fields Workshop wasn’t just about identifying problems but also exploring practical solutions and innovative strategies that can help us respect and conserve our finite resources.

As we reflect on today’s significance, let’s renew our commitment to making informed and sustainable choices that respect our finite world.

Written by Julianne Hatcher, Environmental Sustainability/International Studies, Class of 2024

Each fall, Professor Kelly Eskew hosts a poverty simulation to help students better comprehend the realities of poverty for American families. I was a part of this educational demonstration during my time in Professor Eskew’s Business and Poverty Alleviation course.

Our class had been exploring the complicated intersections between poverty and business throughout the semester to better understand solutions to the poverty crisis. We brought this intersectionality to life through the poverty simulation, an interactive experience that touches on the difficulties of maintaining a family while living below the poverty line.

The demonstration was exceptionally powerful for me and my peers. The simulation begins by grouping students into nuclear families and giving them a file on their family dynamic and income. Students are then given an allotted amount of time – four 12-to-15 minute “weeks” – to meet the needs of their family through interactions with employers, the government, and themselves.

Students were asked to go to work, if able, provide childcare and balance the other stressors of life. Booths were set up around the room providing a variety of lackluster services that seemed to cause more frustration than they alleviated. Many of these services including a welfare office, bank, grocery store, pawn shop, and more required transportation and often were unable to help families. The actors did an exemplary job highlighting the barriers many real families face when attempting to access services and pay for groceries, utilities, and other necessities for a healthy and dignified life.

This was then coupled with the need to maintain social relations with your kids and spouse. In particular, my group had a burdensome lack of transportation that led to several miscommunications. For example, I remember coming back home to my “husband” only to find out we both went grocery shopping and wasted most of our money since we did not have time or gas to come home and realize what we had done until it was too late. This error set us back the rest of the exercise.

Our facilitator, Ron Duncan, did an excellent job building the stress and keeping us aware of how vital it was to provide for their families, even as students began to get frustrated. His guidance kept us engaged, reminding us that, while this was a simulation for us, it is the reality for many people in the United States today.

Ron Duncan leading the poverty simulation

Ron’s explanation that the case files we had been given were modeled after real families was a startling realization for me and many of the other students. Throughout our time in the simulation, we became stressed, and many students were laughing at their own frustration. However, following the chilling revelation that this was daily life for real people, most of the room fell into an embarrassed silence. Students seemed shocked that the pure anxiety and heartache they had grown so exhausted with, in less than an hour, could be a typical feeling for many people in poverty. As Ron said, “You are the best and the brightest, and you fell apart in an hour. Imagine this as a daily reality.”

Family evicted in the simulation

Looking back to my earlier example of how my group accidentally bought groceries twice, I was hit with the startling realization that one mistake can be a devastating cost to a family in poverty. Others failed to pay rent or utilities, leading to disconnections and evictions. Throughout our course, we discussed many aspects of poverty, including the risks a low-income family can face, but I was unable to actualize this until the simulation. This hands-on experience aided me and the others in understanding the humanity of the statistics we had learned about. This interactive lesson pushed us to remember that the cases we studied in class represent real people and the solutions we were discussing needed to be catered to those people.

Overall, this simulation is not only powerful, but important. This experience brought together dozens of students to think critically about poverty in the U.S. and how poverty may fluctuate in times of a changing climate, policy changes, and more. We send a special thank you to Ron Duncan and the other volunteers who helped orchestrate this simulation.

As 2023 concludes, we at the Institute for Environmental and Social Sustainability (IESS) at the Kelley School of Business reflect on our inaugural year, a period brimming with vibrant activities, engaging discussions, and distinguished speakers, all centered around our commitment to environmental and social sustainability.

A Promising Beginning
IESS’s establishment, aligning with Earth Week 2023, was more than a ceremonial milestone; it was a profound statement of our intent. The excitement and enthusiasm of nearly 50 Kelley faculty from diverse disciplines joining the institute reflect a shared dedication to create meaningful change through research, teaching, and outreach.

Cross-Disciplinary Synergy
Our faculty, representing a spectrum of business disciplines, engaged in an innovative mapping of our research to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This strategic initiative has not only facilitated interdisciplinary collaborations but also enriched the academic discourse with diverse perspectives. For more details, visit our Institute’s research webpage.

A Confluence of Minds and Ideas
The “Innovations to Tackle Global Sustainability Challenges” Conference in mid-September brought together thinkers and leaders, sparking dialogues critical for addressing global sustainability issues. This event underscored our role as a hub for progressive ideas and solutions.

This momentum continued with two significant events. On October 14, 2023, the “Symposium on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Supply Chains,” hosted at the Walton Center for Planetary Health and co-organized with the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, provided a vital platform to examine sustainable supply chain management’s challenges and opportunities.

Subsequently, on October 30, 2023, the “Focused Field Workshop on the Environment, Energy, and Entrepreneurship” at the Kelley School of Business explored the complex, contemporary environmental and energy issues.

Engagements with Thought Leaders
The fall semester was further enriched by interactions with prominent leaders in sustainability and climate change. Nobel Laureate Lars Hansen’s visit on September 29, 2023, Kelly Carmichael, VP Environmental of NiSource, on October 9, 2023, Professor Michael Oppenheimer on October 25, 2023, and Auden Schendler, SVP Sustainability of Aspen Skiing Company, on November 6, 2023, provided our community with invaluable insights. Their educational and inspirational talks motivated us to engage proactively with environmental issues.

Looking Ahead to 2024
As we step into 2024, IESS remains committed to advancing our goals in sustainability research and education. We are poised to build upon this year’s achievements and continue our journey towards making a significant impact in the field of environmental and social sustainability.