Developing a Sustainable Business Plan at the Shopping
Center of SouthPointe 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 EcoSTEP Tool
-The reports and EcoSTEP 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 EcoSTEP 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 EcoSTEP 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