What is eco-innovation?
Teacher’s Notes
Business English Lesson Plan: Vocabulary Building & Application on EcoInnovation
Target Audience: Adult professionals
Level: Upper-Intermediate to Advanced (CEFR B2-C1)
Lesson Duration: 90 minutes
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand and use key eco-innovation vocabulary in professional discussions.
2. Apply the vocabulary in real-world business contexts through discussion and case
study analysis.
3. Improve fluency and accuracy when discussing sustainable business strategies.
Lesson Outline & Teacher’s Guide
1. Warm-Up (10 minutes) – Quick Recall & Discussion
Objective: Activate prior knowledge of eco-innovation.
🔹 Quick Poll or Mini-Quiz:
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Ask: “What comes to mind when you hear ‘eco-innovation’?”
Students write down 3–5 words or phrases and share them with a partner.
Instructor collects key words and writes them on the board.
🔹 Discussion Questions (Pairs or Small Groups):
1. How can eco-innovation give businesses a competitive advantage?
2. What industries have made the most progress in eco-innovation?
3. Can small businesses compete with large corporations in sustainability efforts? How?
2. Vocabulary Building (20 minutes) – Matching & Contextualization
Objective: Expand vocabulary related to eco-innovation.
Exercise 1: Matching Vocabulary with Definitions (Answer Key)
Instructions: Match the words in Column A with their definitions in Column B.
A – Vocabulary
B – Definitions
A system that reduces waste by reusing materials in
Circular economy
production.
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an
Carbon footprint
individual or business.
When a company falsely claims to be environmentally
Greenwashing
friendly.
Energy sources that can be replenished naturally, such as
Renewable energy
solar or wind power.
A sustainable approach where products are fully recyclable or
Cradle-to-cradle design
biodegradable at the end of their life cycle.
A system of producing and delivering goods with minimal
Sustainable supply chain
environmental impact.
ESG (Environmental, Social, A framework for measuring a company's commitment to
Governance)
sustainability and ethics.
📌 Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Instructions: Complete the sentences using the correct vocabulary words.
1. Many companies invest in renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint.
2. Carbon footprint helps businesses track their emissions and find ways to be more
sustainable.
3. Some corporations engage in greenwashing by exaggerating their environmental
efforts.
4. A sustainable supply chain ensures that raw materials and production processes are
eco-friendly.
5. The cradle-to-cradle design model focuses on designing products that never become
waste.
(Teacher’s Notes: Review answers with students and discuss real-life examples.)
3. Short Reading & Discussion (20 minutes)
Objective: Apply eco-innovation vocabulary in context.
📄 Text: The Future of Green Business (Teacher Reads or Provides Handout)
In today’s business world, eco-innovation is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Companies
like Patagonia, Tesla, and Unilever are investing in renewable energy and adopting circular
economy models. Businesses that fail to track their carbon footprint may lose investors who
prioritize ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria. However, the rise of
greenwashing has made consumers more skeptical of corporate sustainability claims. To
build trust, companies need to embrace transparency and cradle-to-cradle design, ensuring
their products are truly sustainable.
🔹 Discussion Questions (and suggested answers)
1. What are some key takeaways from the text?
Businesses must integrate sustainability into their models.
Some companies, like Patagonia and Tesla, are leading in eco-innovation.
Greenwashing is a concern, and transparency is key.
2. Can you think of a company that follows these principles?
o Possible answers:
§ IKEA – Uses recycled materials, sustainable sourcing.
§ Apple – Reducing packaging waste and increasing product
recyclability.
§ Tesla – Electric cars and solar energy solutions.
3. How can businesses ensure they are not engaging in greenwashing?
o Be transparent about sustainability efforts.
o Use third-party certifications (e.g., B Corp, Fair Trade).
o Provide data and measurable impact rather than vague claims.
4. How do investors influence eco-innovation strategies?
o ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings affect investment
decisions.
o Sustainable businesses attract impact investors and government incentives.
o Poor sustainability practices can lead to financial and reputational risks.
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4. Video Discussion (20 minutes)
Objective: Analyze real-world applications of eco-innovation.
🎬 Video Option 1: What is a Circular Economy? (3:43 min) – Ellen MacArthur Foundation
🔗 Watch on YouTube
🎬 Video Option 2: How Unilever is Leading Sustainable Business (4:55 min) – World
Economic Forum
🔗 Watch on YouTube
📌 Activity:
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Watch the video and write down 5 key points.
In pairs, discuss:
1. What eco-innovation strategies did the company implement?
2. How do they compare to the case studies discussed earlier?
3. Do you think their approach is sustainable long-term? Why or why not?
🎬 Video Option 1: What is a Circular Economy? (3:43 min) – Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Key Points from the Video:
✅ A circular economy eliminates waste by designing products that can be reused.
✅ Encourages businesses to redesign products for long-term use.
✅ Moves away from the traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose).
✅ Uses recycled materials and biodegradable packaging.
Discussion Questions & Suggested Answers:
1. What eco-innovation strategies did the video highlight?
o Reducing waste through product design.
o Switching to sustainable materials.
o Creating business models that prioritize reusability.
2. How does this compare to case studies we discussed?
o Similar to IKEA’s use of recycled materials.
o Aligns with Patagonia’s focus on durability and repairability.
3. Do you think this approach is sustainable long-term? Why or why not?
o Yes: Encourages less reliance on finite resources.
o Challenges: Requires high initial investment and consumer behavior change.
🎬 Video Option 2: How Unilever is Leading Sustainable Business (4:55 min) – World
Economic Forum 🔗 Watch on YouTube
Key Points from the Video:
✅ Unilever has reduced plastic waste in its packaging.
✅ Focuses on supply chain sustainability (e.g., sourcing palm oil responsibly).
✅ Uses renewable energy in production.
✅ Implements water-saving solutions in manufacturing.
Discussion Questions & Suggested Answers:
1. What eco-innovation strategies did Unilever implement?
o Sustainable sourcing (ethical supply chains).
o Reducing plastic waste (alternative packaging).
o Energy efficiency in manufacturing.
2. What challenges might Unilever face in maintaining these efforts?
o Cost of sustainable materials may be higher.
o Consumer demand for convenience vs. sustainability.
o Maintaining supply chain integrity across global markets.
3. Would you apply these strategies in your own industry? Why or why not?
o Open-ended for students to relate to their business sectors.
(Teacher’s Notes: Guide students to link ideas from the video to the vocabulary and case
studies.)
5. Application Task (20 minutes) – Business Simulation
Objective: Use eco-innovation vocabulary in a real-world scenario.
📝 Scenario: You are consultants advising a manufacturing company on becoming more
sustainable. Your goal is to propose three eco-innovation strategies that improve
sustainability without hurting profitability.
🔹 Steps:
1. Brainstorm (5 min): Each group lists possible strategies.
2. Discussion (5 min): Select the top three strategies.
3. Presentation (10 min): Each group presents their solutions in 1-2 minutes.
Notes: Use vocabulary from today’s lesson.
🔹 Possible Strategies Students Might Propose:
✔ Switch to renewable energy (e.g., solar panels in production plants).
✔ Develop a product take-back program (e.g., companies collecting used items for
recycling).
✔ Use biodegradable or recyclable materials (e.g., eco-friendly packaging).
✔ Implement AI-driven waste reduction (e.g., machine learning to optimize supply
chains).
✔ Certify products with a sustainability label (e.g., Fair Trade, B Corp).
🔹 Guiding Questions for Student Presentations:
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What is your company’s current sustainability challenge?
What eco-innovation solution are you proposing?
How will this strategy impact profitability?
How will you measure success?
📌 Teacher Tips for Feedback:
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Encourage clear business language (ROI, cost reduction, branding).
Push for realistic implementation plans (not just idealistic ideas).
Ensure proper vocabulary use (e.g., "supply chain sustainability" instead of "just
using green products").
6. Wrap-Up & Homework (5 minutes)
📌 Class Reflection:
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Ask students: “Which new words/phrases did you find most useful?”
Encourage students to set a goal: “How will you use today’s vocabulary in your
work?”
📌 Homework Assignments & Notes:
✅ Research a company’s sustainability report and summarize their eco-innovation
strategies.
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Look at companies like Nike, Google, Microsoft, IKEA, Unilever.
Provide specific numbers/data when possible.