Polk Library Research Guide

Researching Sustainability Claims

Find credible evidence to evaluate a company’s sustainability claim and build your MLA-formatted case study.

Assignment Overview

Length: 3–4 pages

Citation style: MLA

Choose a company that claims to be sustainable. Identify the claim on the company site, then use at least two academic database articles published from 2020 to the present to support or refute that claim. Avoid blogs, Wikipedia, and company PR.

Key Question

Does independent evidence support or challenge the company’s sustainability claim?

Step 1

Collect the Claim

Visit the company’s official sustainability, CSR, or ESG pages. Copy the exact wording of the claim and note the page URL; you will cite this source in MLA.

Research tip: Keep screenshots or archived links if the wording might change. This gives you a record of the claim you evaluated.

Step 2

Search Recommended Databases

Start with the Polk Library Business databases. Aim for peer-reviewed or industry-trade articles that analyze corporate sustainability, environmental impact, or supply-chain practices.

Search Examples

Sample Searches

"Nike" AND sustainability AND "supply chain"

"Tesla" AND "carbon neutrality" AND (policy OR lifecycle)

"greenwashing" AND ("Volkswagen" OR automotive)

Filters to apply
  • Date range: 2020–present
  • Source type: Peer-reviewed journals, trade publications
  • Subject terms: ESG, CSR, sustainability, environmental impact

Step 3

Evaluate the Evidence

Key Question

Is this source independent, and does it provide data or rigorous analysis?

As you read, consider who produced the information, what evidence is provided, and whether the source independently evaluates the company rather than repeating its sustainability messaging.

Step 4

Write and Cite in MLA

Use MLA 9th edition. Every non-common-knowledge fact must have an in-text citation.

View the Polk Library MLA Formatting Guide

Bottom Line

Build your case from independent evidence.

Start with the company’s sustainability claim, investigate it using credible library sources from 2020 to the present, and use the evidence you find to support or refute the claim in your case study.