GEF

Unit 10  |  Toward a Sustainable Future 234 GROWYOUR KNOWLEDGE In this activity, you will learn more about a business of personal interest and complete a report card assessing the sustainability of that business. 1. Answer the questions below. a. What are three things you need to know about a product or service before deciding to buy it? b. Considering what you have learned about sustainability concepts in this course, what are three additional things you would want to know about a product or service before deciding to buy it? 2. B Lab, a non-profit organization, has developed a certification for businesses called “B Corporation.” Certified B Corps are “a new type of business which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.” The certification assessment looks at four main impact areas: Workers, Community, Environment, and Governance. Visit www.bcorporation.net to see the measures used in each of these impact areas. 3. Identify a business about which you want to learn more. Perhaps you regularly buy their products, use their services, or have a professional relationship. Spend 10-15 minutes exploring the Web site of the business to learn more about its practices in each of the four main impact areas: Workers, Community, Environment, and Governance. Focus on the areas and the information that is important to you, and be aware that you may not be able to find all the information you need. 4. For each of the following impact areas, assign a “report card” grade (A through F) to this business. The higher the grade, the more sustainable the business practices. Include comments to explain your grading. a. Workers b. Community c. Environment d. Governance 5. With a partner or as a class, discuss the following: How does this information help you better develop a “sustainability mindset”? How might you use what you learned to help others make more sustainable decisions?