Big Ideas

• Green practices, utilizing existing and emerging technologies, are those practices which are environmentally friendly, are based on principles of sustainability, replace demand for non-green products and services, and are created based on an enduring commitment to environmental principles.
• Green or sustainable businesses can provide a wide variety of benefits to the environment, consumers, and a company’s bottom line.
• Informed consumers, making planned purchases based on green principles, have a strong impact on the production of environmentally friendly goods and the development of emerging green technologies.

Essential Questions

• What is the green industry?
• What does it mean for a business to “go green”?
• What does sustainability mean, and what are sustainable practices?
• Why should entrepreneurs care about sustainability?
• What are the differences between recycling, reusing, reducing, and upcycling?
• What is the impact of consumer demand on the production of environmentally friendly goods?
• How do consumer purchases impact the environment?
• How can you evaluate goods before making a purchase in order to ensure they will not have a negative impact on the environment?
• What specific practices can a business implement in order to become green or sustainable?
• How does implementing sustainable practices benefit a business? Its customers? The environment?

In addition, students will learn from “Coffee With…” Show from a variety of government officials, including:

During discussion of the video and question sheet, encourage students to draw connections between the entrepreneurs and their own career paths, so that they can begin to identify their own personal traits that will make them successful, and to identify fields they may be interested in pursuing.

A. Watch the video “Coffee With...Audrey Russo”.

B. Review the biography of Audrey Russo together and have students complete the question sheet.

C. Watch the video “Coffee With...Justin Premick”.

D. Review the biography of Justin Premick together and have students complete the question sheet.

E. Watch the video “Coffee With...Ilana Diamond”.

F. Review the biography of Ilana Diamond together and have students complete the question sheet.

G. Watch the video “Coffee With...Michael Halperin”.

H. Review the biography of Michael Halperin together and have students complete the question sheet.