Sustainability Initiatives at Taylor Guitars
Yen-Ting Lin, Barbara Lougee, Jennifer Miles, and Steven W. Sumner
Knauss School of Business, University of San Diego, USA
Volume 16: 2022, pp. 35-58; ABSTRACT
This case study is based on Taylor Guitars’ decisions about whether to invest in two sustainability projects presented in 2018. Since acquiring an ebony mill in Cameroon in 2011, the company established a strong reputation for ethical sourcing through conservation and replantation efforts for ebony wood. The first project involved sourcing wood that was planted and was abundant in local municipalities across the state of California. The second project under consideration involved acquiring land on Hawaii Island for forest regeneration, with the goal of providing a plentiful supply of Hawaiian koa in 30 years. The accompanying teaching note includes guidance for instructors leading discussions, discussion questions, and potential answers to provide a thorough understanding of the opportunities and challenges for companies pursuing ethical sourcing.
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