Incorporating Co‐Benefits and Environmental Data into Corporate Decision‐Making

This case study deals with The Dow Chemical Company’s (Dow) decision on how to restore a greenbelt area with historical issue that borders a brownfield property owned by the city of Midland, Michigan. Dow has a stated goal to apply a “business-decision process that values nature” and to deliver $1 billion in “value through projects that are good for business and good for ecosystems.” In line with this goal, Dow wanted to restore the greenbelt area by enhancing habitat and ecosystem services to Dow and Midland in a way that was also beneficial to the company’s bottom line. This case study presents three alternative restoration designs along with detailed financial cost and environmental data for each design. Students perform cost-benefit analysis, highlighting potential differences between how costs are calculated in a public setting relative to a private setting. In addition, students assess how the inclusion of important non-financial environmental data may be used to inform decision making.