USING A MULTILEVEL APPROACH TO TEACH SUSTAINABILITY TO UNDERGRADUATES

The goal of this chapter is to explain how a multilevel approach has been used to provide students with training and experience in applying pollution prevention and sustainability techniques in a business setting, thus yielding short- and long-term behavior change on the job as they begin their careers. These behaviors include championing measurable waste reductions and resource conservation efficiencies, effectively advocating for business decisions about sustainability, and being skilled practitioners at making sustainability work in the business environment. An effective teaching approach for undergraduates to learn about sustainability has been built around three distinct levels, based on the experiences of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) program. These levels are learning the technical essentials, understanding business operations, and hands-on practice.