Erb Featured Business Sustainability Case Study | Dow and the Circular Economy: Trash to Treasure?
By Sneha Rao, Chris Mills, Imani David and Nicholas Machinski. This case was written under the supervision of Andrew Hoffman, Erb Faculty Member.
Full report available on WDI Publishing
Erica Ocampo, sustainability and advocacy manager at The Dow Chemical Company, is getting ready to present her report on the pilot Energy Bag program to her boss. The waste-to-energy program has been met with success in converting plastics to energy, but Ocampo is wondering how she can take the project a step further and truly make Dow a participant and leader in the circular economy. Students are asked to identify with Ocampo and develop a plan of action for the company.
Teaching Objectives
After reading and discussing the material, students should:
- Explain the concept of the circular economy.
- Identify why Dow is applying a long-term approach to sustainability.
- Describe what a pilot program is and why it was important for Dow implement such a program.
Download the full report here.
Interested in having your company featured in a case study? A successful case study requires three key components: at topic that fits the pedagogy of a business school classroom, a protagonist around which the story centers and a central tension or question to focus discussion. Once these components have been established, faculty and select students will work with the company to develop the storyline and the necessary data. Please contact the Erb Institute for more information.
