Sustainability is an often talked about issue. It seems that my generation places more emphasis on it than previous generations. I believe that generally, we have learned that adopting sustainable practices is the responsible thing to do for not only our generation, but also future generations as well. I am happy to go to a College that supports this mindset and offers programs that reflect and embody these principles.
The College of Charleston offers many exciting and diverse programs for it's students. As a business student, I have been looking for meaningful opportunities that will help me explore and learn beyond the scope of my major requirements. A few weeks ago, I found an excellent opportunity in the form of the ImpactX Program. The ImpactX program is a unique experience offered by the school of business that centers around entrepreneurial endeavors. The program works by having a selected cohort of students that work in teams of three, with the guidance and support of professors, to create their own business. The teams are composed of one liberal arts student, one business student and one computer science student. The idea is that each person has something different and valuable to offer, and therefore it ensures a diversified team with students who will have different approaches to tackling issues.
In the program, there is a strong emphasis on the value of sustainability in business. I first learned about an idea called the "triple bottom line" in an intro to entrepreneurship class my freshman year. The "triple bottom line" includes social, environmental and of course economic. Essentially the idea is the make a profit while making a difference. This is where creativity will play a very important role. In order to create a business that has a positive impact on the world and is also profitable is a serious task. Going into this program, it is going to be important to do research into ways that people are successfully doing this already in order to draw inspiration and understand the systems that are in place.
While doing some light research into sustainability initiatives in the business world, I came across an interesting program that Adidas is planning to roll out. The details are still foggy, but the general idea is to make shoes that are 100% recyclable. When every component of the shoe can be recycled, it can broken down and then manufactured back into a new shoe. This method would reduce material consumption by both the consumer and the manufacturer, creating an overall more sustainable business model. A company producing goods on a scale as large as Adidas has the potential to make a significant difference for both the economy and the environment.
Using forward thinking ideas such as the one Adidas has been exploring is going to be crucial to my success in this program. I look forward to the opportunities I will have to explore creativity and sustainability in relation to business. I envision that as time goes forward, more parts of the economy will continue to move toward sustainable initiatives. This upcoming program will challenge my thinking and I am happy to know that I will be a part of something that may be able to make a serious positive difference, all while making a profit.
