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Within recent years, the drive for increased sustainability within large corporations has drastically increased. One critical measure within sustainability is the diversion rate, or the amount of waste diverted from landfills to recycling, repurposing, or reselling. There are a variety of different ways in which a company can improve their

Within recent years, the drive for increased sustainability within large corporations has drastically increased. One critical measure within sustainability is the diversion rate, or the amount of waste diverted from landfills to recycling, repurposing, or reselling. There are a variety of different ways in which a company can improve their diversion rate, such as repurposing paper. A conventional method would be to simply have a recycling bin for collecting all paper, but the concern for large companies then becomes a security issue as confidential papers may not be safe in a traditional recycling bin. Salt River Project (SRP) has tackled this issue by hiring a third-party vendor (TPV) and having all paper placed into designated, secure shredding bins whose content is shredded upon collection and ultimately recycled into new material. However, while this effort is improving their diversion, the question has arisen of how to make the program viable in the long term based on the costs required to sustain it. To tackle this issue, this thesis will focus on creating a methodology and sampling plan to determine the appropriate level of a third-party recycling service required and to guide efficient bin-sizing solutions. This will in turn allow for SRP to understand how much paper waste is being produced and how accurately they are being charged for TPV services.
ContributorsHolladay, Amy E. (Author) / Escobedo, Adolfo (Thesis director) / Kucukozyigit, Ali (Committee member) / Industrial, Systems & Operations Engineering Prgm (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
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Description
This project draws sustainability material out of the textbook and into the body using a
role play simulation modeled around Michigan wolf management. In this case, role play simulation is a game fabricated to reflect the complexity of real-world conflict. The goal of the exercise is to engage players in mock

This project draws sustainability material out of the textbook and into the body using a
role play simulation modeled around Michigan wolf management. In this case, role play simulation is a game fabricated to reflect the complexity of real-world conflict. The goal of the exercise is to engage players in mock negotiation and expand their knowledge of wicked environmental problems. By encouraging participants to question their own thought process, the activity aims to foster a transformational experience.
ContributorsVermeer, Danielle Nicole (Author) / Cloutier, Scott (Thesis director) / Movahed, Neda (Committee member) / School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
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Description
Freshwater is an essential component of life for most organisms on earth. "Civilization itself is built on a foundation of water (Fagan, 2011)," as people often congregate near water sources, and find innovative solutions to exploit these resources for food production and domestic needs. Rising demand for water due to

Freshwater is an essential component of life for most organisms on earth. "Civilization itself is built on a foundation of water (Fagan, 2011)," as people often congregate near water sources, and find innovative solutions to exploit these resources for food production and domestic needs. Rising demand for water due to altered lifestyles and population increase pose further stress on water availability. Alterations and pollution of freshwater ecosystems can dramatically compromise ecological services that many species, among them humans, depend on. Arid places are specifically vulnerable in regards to water, characterized by very low levels of precipitation, as well as many dry months, which are often followed by a short time of severe storms. Considering the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems in regards to freshwater services is crucial in order to sustainably manage freshwater resources and avoid ecological crises that in turn are likely to lead to social crises around the globe (Berkes et. al., 2003).
ContributorsHenenson, Einav (Author) / Anderies, M. John (Thesis director) / Aggarwal, Rimjhim (Committee member) / Golub, Aaron (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor)
Created2012-12
Description

Business Design is a thesis project where students can work in groups and consult for various projects. I had the opportunity to work on three major projects for my thesis involving a small entrepreneur looking for a go-to market plan for her board game, an app developer looking for a

Business Design is a thesis project where students can work in groups and consult for various projects. I had the opportunity to work on three major projects for my thesis involving a small entrepreneur looking for a go-to market plan for her board game, an app developer looking for a better way to connect to their target audience, as well as create my own digital product and consulting services that helped founder's lab groups build their online presence through e-commerce. All these projects allowed me to hone my critical thinking skills by working my way through real-life problems that don't have direct answers. I was also able to take away some valuable lessons in leadership and working in a team of very capable students.

ContributorsShosten, Madison (Author) / Akhter, Aliza (Co-author) / Bautista, Hariette (Co-author) / Chou, Chuhhsuan (Co-author) / Guan, Jessica (Co-author) / Flores, Lea (Co-author) / Kim, Min (Co-author) / Qin, Annie (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Lee, Christopher (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This project, Building the Backdrop, Expanding Perspectives on Sustainability, is a sculpture of a desert sunset that seeks to explore important sustainability issues and highlight the beauty in sustainable practices. Constructed for an honors thesis project at Arizona State University, the primary medium used was cardboard repurposed from package deliveries

This project, Building the Backdrop, Expanding Perspectives on Sustainability, is a sculpture of a desert sunset that seeks to explore important sustainability issues and highlight the beauty in sustainable practices. Constructed for an honors thesis project at Arizona State University, the primary medium used was cardboard repurposed from package deliveries to bring attention to modern overconsumption of packaging materials and showcase our ability to give new life to traditionally single use materials. I invite you to interact with the piece by sharing photos of yourself in front of it to help spread its message and exploring the resources shared along with the sculpture.
ContributorsSandoval, Nicole (Author) / Hines, Taylor (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The growth of luxury and fast fashion has coincided with increased environmental risk and damage in its production processes, necessitating the need for new practices to assess compliance with internal brand initiatives and regulatory enforcement. Brands and firms have introduced various initiative programs to meet societal and governmental needs with

The growth of luxury and fast fashion has coincided with increased environmental risk and damage in its production processes, necessitating the need for new practices to assess compliance with internal brand initiatives and regulatory enforcement. Brands and firms have introduced various initiative programs to meet societal and governmental needs with moderate success. Given new regulations from multiple agencies on both environmental and human rights compliance in production processes, fashion brands now more than ever need a viable solution to maintain a competitive business and creative advantage. In this paper, it would be significant for brands to introduce environmental and social initiatives premised on the implementation of blockchain technology across supply and value chains for transparency in business practices and elevated brand image to drive continued sales and patronage amongst consumers.
ContributorsTunac, Joshua (Author) / Testa, Danielle (Thesis director) / Pino, Rudy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The primary goal of our nonprofit organization, Plant-ED, is to deepen the average individual’s knowledge regarding sustainability and to inspire our users to engage in a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for sustainability. To accomplish this vision, we have created a digital platform where users can easily

The primary goal of our nonprofit organization, Plant-ED, is to deepen the average individual’s knowledge regarding sustainability and to inspire our users to engage in a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for sustainability. To accomplish this vision, we have created a digital platform where users can easily find information on upcoming events, activities, and alternative products that truly embody a mindset of sustainability. Our team will be the main and constant source of content for our website, however our users are also able to interact with the website through blog posts and subscriptions. Additionally, our platform has a section dedicated to explaining the impact of recycling and shows the devastating effects if humans do not take accountability for their choices and develop more sustainable habits. The ultimate goal for our website is for it to be a place where we can promote our partners’ products which are either alternatives to unsustainable products or companies who donate some of their proceeds to help create a greener world. The profit from the commission we receive from our partners and subscription services will be reinvested into expanding our digital platform and partnerships.
ContributorsMahoney, Emma (Author) / Weiderhoft, Isabella (Co-author) / Meyers, Zoe (Co-author) / Smith, Connor (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Balven, Rachel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Historically, young people have spearheaded environmental movements, demanding equitable involvement in decision-making processes that impact their future. Despite their active participation, barriers such as inadequate knowledge, lack of empowerment, and diminished hope often hinder meaningful engagement and impact. This study addresses these challenges by implementing a series of educational workshops

Historically, young people have spearheaded environmental movements, demanding equitable involvement in decision-making processes that impact their future. Despite their active participation, barriers such as inadequate knowledge, lack of empowerment, and diminished hope often hinder meaningful engagement and impact. This study addresses these challenges by implementing a series of educational workshops designed to equip youth with the necessary tools to effectively influence climate policy and urban planning so that they can feel more hopeful about the future in the face of climate change. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research evaluates how different methods of arts-based educational engagement impact workshop participants' knowledge, empowerment, and optimism regarding their ability to inspire environmental change. The findings aim to contribute to the discourse on effective youth engagement in environmental justice, advocating for strategies that equip youth with the tools they need to foster sustainable community development and hope for the future.
ContributorsKarthikeyan, Amritha (Author) / Eakin, Hallie (Thesis director) / Pfeiffer, Deirdre (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Ice rinks are unique structures that provide communities with a space for socializing, exercise, and entertainment; however, these structures have traditionally been energy-intensive and unsustainable. Creating and maintaining the sheet of ice consumes large amounts of energy while producing harmful pollutants, with the refrigeration system accounting for almost half of the

Ice rinks are unique structures that provide communities with a space for socializing, exercise, and entertainment; however, these structures have traditionally been energy-intensive and unsustainable. Creating and maintaining the sheet of ice consumes large amounts of energy while producing harmful pollutants, with the refrigeration system accounting for almost half of the rink’s energy use. Therefore, my Barrett Honors Creative Thesis Project is to research and design a net-zero community ice rink that utilizes sustainable practices to create a system that works with the environment rather than against it. Through waste heat recovery, renewable solar energy, biomimicry, rainwater collection, and other sustainable practices, I will design innovative and environmentally friendly solutions to the current issues circulating traditional ice rinks. Looking at nature as a measure, mentor, and model instead of a resource to be inappropriately used will allow me to utilize the systems within an ice rink for benefit rather than waste.
ContributorsHughes, Brad (Author) / Spellman, Catherine (Thesis director, Committee member) / Murff, Warren (Thesis director, Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / The Design School (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Braille Retail is a student-led effort to promote awareness and inclusivity for visually impaired and blind individuals through legible braille designs on fabric. Our mission is to bring awareness to the visually impaired and blind community and increase braille literacy. We plan to reach our mission by placing legible braille

Braille Retail is a student-led effort to promote awareness and inclusivity for visually impaired and blind individuals through legible braille designs on fabric. Our mission is to bring awareness to the visually impaired and blind community and increase braille literacy. We plan to reach our mission by placing legible braille and its translation on our sweatshirts. Furthermore, we want to support the visually impaired and blind community by donating 5% of our profits to local blind charities.
ContributorsShereck, Kennedy (Author) / Pearson, Morgan (Co-author) / O'Shea, Hannah (Co-author) / Soto, Tatum (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Giles, Bret (Committee member) / Thomasson, Anna (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2024-05