Explore Materials
Discover climate course materials and resources.
Search the shared repository of simulations, case descriptions and course syllabi to enhance your own climate-related teaching.
- Case Description
Allbirds is a footwear startup focused on simple design, comfort, and sustainable natural materials.
- Topics on: Decarbonization, Operations, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
The case describes the landscape of French dairy farms, detailing their economic performance, structure, and the ongoing workforce reorganization. Environmental challenges, especially the complex assessment of a dairy farm’s impact on the environment, are discussed, emphasizing the delicate balance between emissions and carbon sequestration.
- Topics on: Strategy
- Case Description
Allbirds, Inc., the sustainable footwear company whose sneakers were rocked by public figures from Barack Obama to Leonardo DiCaprio, was a promising startup in 2016. But by end of 2022, its stock price had plummeted to ~4% of its previous high. Born out of co-founder Tim Brown’s frustration for the lack of comfortable, minimalist sneakers on the market, Allbirds aimed to address both ease of wear and sustainability as a “purpose-native company built upon a system that leverages nature in a responsible way.” It was met with an almost immediate cult following in Silicon Valley, perceived as both luxurious and responsible. However, the company struggled to realize its anticipated growth, and now, CEO Joey Zwillinger must explore how to turnaround the brand.
- Topics on: Marketing, Net Zero Strategies, Strategy
- Case Description
In November 2023, top of mind for Kristen Siemen, chief sustainability officer at General Motors (GM), was how to increase consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). After committing to be carbon neutral by 2040, the automotive giant has its work cut out for it: while EV purchases increased to 14% in 2022, consumer concerns, such as range anxiety and cost sensitivity, are limiting adoption. Kristen Siemen must consider how the marketing, sustainability, and communication teams should continue to work collaboratively to address this slowdown in market penetration and how to optimally position GM to reach its goal of carbon neutrality.
- Topics on: Marketing, Net Zero Strategies, Reporting and Measurement, Strategy
- Case Description
The case describes the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, formally launched by the city of Vancouver in 2011, which is intended to make Vancouver the greenest city on the planet. Gregor Robertson, mayor of Vancouver, is the main champion of the ambitious strategic plan. While he has a successful past as a social entrepreneur and has implemented several green urban initiatives as mayor, he struggles with some areas and aspects of the plan. Moreover, a recent report has indicated that the city’s reputation has suffered. This all happens in the context of imminent elections, and he has doubts about the plan’s true value as a valid vehicle for improving quality of life for Vancouver’s residents and as a tool for attracting voters.
- Topics on: Impact, Planning
- Case Description
In 2013, Hampton Creek entered the mayonnaise marketplace with the world’s first plant-based, vegan mayonnaise “Just Mayo”. The creation of an egg-free version of mayonnaise had the potential to upset the market, especially for Unilever’s Hellmann’s brand.
- Topics on: Food, Impact
- Case Description
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland.
- Topics on: Food, Impact
- Case Description
This case describes DuPont’s sustainable seaweed program, in partnership with the New England Aquarium, and discusses the changing market landscape for seaweed: an undervalued ingredient widely used in much of the world’s food supplies, fertilizers, industrial gums, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, plastic, and more.
- Topics on: Circular Economy, Food, Strategy
- Case Description
In 2018, the city of Montreal debated a ban on the commercial use of wood-burning ovens used by the city’s famous and iconic bagel shops.
- Topics on: Analytics, Food, Investing, Reporting and Measurement, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
Aleph Farms, an Israeli food-tech start-up, was hoping to play a major role in disrupting the conventional meat sector.
- Topics on: Food, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
After Mozambique’s independence in 1975 from nearly five centuries of Portuguese rule, the country’s development continued to be hindered by large-scale emigration, drought, and a brutal 15-year-old civil war. Beyond the emotional and social scars that continued…
- Topics on: Food, Impact, Strategy
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Impact, Investing, Technology
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Investing, Statistics, Technology
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Statistics, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Impact, Operations, Statistics, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Investing, Technology
- Case Description
With increasing attention from consumers surrounding food safety and public health, it comes at no surprise that Perdue Farms is considering eliminating antibiotic use in its poultry operations. Perdue is positioned to receive…
- Topics on: Food, Impact, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan, began operations as a corner delicatessen selling sandwiches. It grew to become a community of ten businesses, establishing itself as a local favorite and a nationally known achiever…
- Topics on: Food, Impact, Investing, Statistics, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
The “Whole Foods: A Luxury Grocer in Detroit?” case describes the various considerations store manager, Larry Austin, must make when the co-CEO requests a report on whether targeting store locations outside of the normal company demographic is advisable.
- Topics on: Food, Impact