Action Learning
S-Lab Project Library
Credit: Rafael Albornoz
total S-Lab projects
Below are just a few examples of organizations that S-Lab has worked with in the past, many of which are repeat hosts, hosted by MIT alumni, or both. In total, the S-Lab class has completed 240 Action Learning projects with companies!
S-Lab project companies
-
2018 Helped 1% For The Planet decide which new service to offer, and how to market new service.
2017 Created a new product for philanthropic giving that costed less than 1% of profits annually and opened up a new market segment for giving.
-
2017 Introduced vertical growing to schools to improve childhood nutrition.
-
2021 Helped Allagash determine how to measure the impact of recycling grain bags at breweries.
2020 Proposed actions to how Allagash can reduce energy use, increase energy efficieny, and lead amongst their peers.
2019 Developed a learning guide for Allagash and peer brewers to increase rates of aluminum can recycling.
2018 Learned feasible pathways for CO2 recovery from the fermentation process to be used for carbonation.
2017 Explored options for local sourcing.
2016 Benchmarked the company's current sustainability activities against industry standards and wishes to explore.
-
2016 Gained a deeper understanding of of how its target customers respond to its socially minded value proposition.
-
-
2018 Improved corporate strategy in Mexico to increase returnable glass bottles.
-
2016 Made sustainability an integral part of its business, and communicated its commitment to customers.
-
2019 Helped measure the environmental impact of SowNaked™ Oats supply chain, enabling host company to tell their sustainability story.
-
-
2021 Recommendations to BlocPower on how to effectively enter a new market as they expand beyond New York.
-
2018 Helped BlueWave increase the number of installers willing to offer a first line of financing.
-
2018 Boston’s goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050. How can ISE and Green Ribbon help Boston achieve this goal?
-
2021 Outlined steps to create a framework to enable adequate evaluation of energy transition risks at the company level.
2020 Developed methodology for Breckenridge to begin to understand misalignment of corporate lobbying and sustainability goals.
2018 Performed in-depth ESG analysis on twelve investment grade corporations.
2017 Why ESG matters in Corporate Bond Performance.
2016 Understanding the potential for both risk mitigation and outperformance in fixed income portfolios based on sustainability-related criteria.
-
2021 Provided steps for CapZone on how to increase OZ investments in a southern county and potential barriers that exist.
2020 Developed steps for understanding and analysis of potential Opportunity Zones (OZ) Financing to other funding mechanisms for non-profit hospitals.
-
2018 Analysis as the Environment Department prepared for the release of an updated 2018 Climate Action Plan.
-
2021
2020 Created a roadmap for Colgate to reduce their plastic packaging from feasibility to rollout to feedback.
2018 Built on business continuity plans with scenario analysis to uncover potential risks and have institutional preparedness/strategy available.
2017 Access to Affordable Health and Wellness Products.
2016 Gained a deeper understanding of the ways in which climate change threatens to disrupt the supply of mint - a key ingredient in many of its products - and determined how to mitigate that risk.
-
2021 Developed steps for Cosan to integrate ESG criteria into investments as they work to support the transition to a clean economy.
2020 Developed framework to market benefits of shifting to clean transportation for moving containers.
-
2016 Made sustainability part of its mission with the goal of becoming a leader in sustainability in the jewelry industry.
-
-
2018 Analysis of how EDF could establish itself as an influential partner in mobilizing financing to rebuild Puerto Rico's energy infrastructure.
-
2019 Developed framework for Farmer's Fridge to further examine the recyclability of their products.
2018 Helped Farmer's Fridge understand which areas of their operations have the largest environmental impact, and how to measure it.
-
2021 Provided guidance on how the Red Sox can determine their emissions at each scope, gather baseline data, and select productive and feasible sustainability projects to improve sustainability performance.
2020 Identified pathway for Red Sox to further reduce park energy use between event and non-event days.
2019 Provided guidance to Boston Red Sox to improve the diversion rate of trash generated at Fenway Park.
-
2021 Recommendations to develop a methodology for evaluating past performance in GHG reductions, progress toward targets, and the probability a firm will meet or exceed its stated targets.
2020 Provided plan to develop analysis of relationships among ESG rating scores and metrics amongst industries and companies to reduce measurement confusion.
-
2020 Helped Gap understand the benefits, risks, and requirements of supply chain traceablity.
2019 Helped develop a framework for the Sustainability Team to prioritize new sustainable product technology requests.
2018 What levers in the supply chain can GAP pull in order to reduce the cost of incorporating recycled polyester?
2017 Better shipping options for Athleta.
2016 Understanding the potential opportunities and risks around using recycled cotton in its clothing.
-
2021 Insights on how to improve efficiency of distrubition to reduce both costs and their carbon footprint.
2020 Recommendations to reduce and divert in-air cabin plastic waste.
-
2018 Gained an understanding of market potential in Africa, and increased revenue with scalable business models of positive net impact.
-
2021 Steps to close the knowledge gap around bioplastics, and potential next steps to leverage benefits.
2020 Supported GM's goal of reducing virgin plastic with sustainable materials.
-
2016 Launched a pilot self-contained hydroponic farm using the leafy green machine (lgm) provided by freight farms.
-
2016 Sought ways to incentivize small and mid cap companies in the US and Europe to begin reporting that kind of information.
-
2021 Offered approaches to improve traceability in Nike's supply chain.
2020 Recommendations on how Nike can increase support of human resources management throughout workforce.
2019 Recommended steps to improve employee and community engagement in specific areas of the supply chain.
-
2018 Aided NRG in developing a pilot program to understand the feasibility of a Blockchain initiative in the natural gas supply chain.
-
2021 Propose framework and potential solutions for Patagonia to ensure they are better supporting workers if a region experiences a major crisis.
2020 Helped Patagonia understand the impact that climate change has on workers in factories.
2019 Aid in strategy to identify and promote Patagonia's progress in securing a living wage for their workers.
2018 How much does it cost to implement a living wage in Patagonia's factories? Analysis on how the company can implement living wages in their supply chain.
2017 Fair wages in overseas factories.
-
2016 Understanding the potential impact that sustainable lab buildings may have on occupant wellness, community resilience, and employee engagement.
-
2017 Investment opportunities in the food waste sector.
2016 Scaled the impact of its activities by entering the impact investment industry and needs assistance determining how best to structure its fund.
-
2021 Recommendations on strategies needed for Station A to better understand and expand their clean energy market base.
2020 Guidelines for Station A to identify barriers of companies increasing renewable energy procurement.
2019 Identified steps for Station A to increase commercial and industrial adoption of software to aid in clean energy development.
-
2021 Improvements and next steps for Takeda to reduce landfill waste at one of their sites.
2020 Guidelines to source and evaluate new technologies to help Takeda reduce emissions at a manufacturing site.
-
2018 Understand the dynamics between TNCs and public transportation (MBTA) to find a healthy balance that increases access to mobility and a sustainable transportation market.
2017 Evaluated the effects of shared mobility on fleet size and turnover rate. Evaluated the market opportunity for electric drive.
-
2020 Helped Wayfair identify key stakeholders in their effort to increase their renewable energy use.
2019 Aided in creation of report outlining benefits of increasing resources for sustainability strategy around staffing, metrics, and goal setting.
-
2018 Developed targeted recommendations for a pilot program to divert 75% of waste at the store level from landfills to recycling and composting streams across all operations by 2021.
-
2019 Supported WRI's goal of advocating for sustainable consumption with their stakeholders.
2018 Created a template WRI can provide to corporate sustainability staff for their C-Suite executives, and prepare CEOs to engage meaningfully on climate issues with national leaders.
2017 Commercialized the Aqueduct tool.
In addition to the above projects, S-Lab has also worked with:
- Cargill
- Ceres Inc.
- Gorton's
- Impossible Foods, Inc.
- Intel
- JetBlue
- Kraft-Heinz
- New Balance
- NHL
- Novartis
- Rothy's Shoes
- Solstice
- Starbucks
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Verizon
Click here for information about the Sustainability Initiative at MIT Sloan, including profiles of our faculty, students, and past project hosts.