For students in the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) course, sustainability moved outside the classroom during a recent field trip to the Goodwill Distribution Center on March 31st, 2026. Over there, every day donations become part of a much larger story.
PCGS students inside the Goodwill Distribution Center
What many people see as a simple drop-off point is, in reality, a complex system designed to extend product lifespans, reduce waste, and support communities. During the visit, students had the opportunity to hear directly from Goodwill鈥檚 leadership team, including Ken Karbowski, Larry Hartman, Tessa Jones, Tom Dickerson, Alan Scarf, and Tim Felder, who shared how their work intersects with sustainability across operations.
At the heart of the conversation was scale. Goodwill processes more than a million donations each year, working to ensure as much as possible is resold, repurposed, or recycled rather than ending up in landfills. From clothing and electronics to books and plastics, each item follows a carefully designed path, one that reflects both environmental responsibility and operational efficiency.
PCGS Students learning about Goodwill Distribution Center
Students were especially intrigued by the organization鈥檚 evolving approach to sustainability. Initiatives such as textile recycling, plastic diversion, and the development of upcycled products demonstrate how Goodwill is continually rethinking waste. What happens to items that can鈥檛 be sold? Where do they go next? These were the kind of questions answered during the visit.
The experience came full circle during a guided tour of the distribution center. Walking through the facility, students saw firsthand how donations are sorted, processed, and redistributed. What had been discussed in theory suddenly became tangible systems, decisions, and impact unfolding in real time.
Goodwill's Leadership Team giving a tour to PCGS students
More than anything, the visit reinforced a key lesson: sustainability is not just about big ideas, but about the systems and people working behind the scenes to make those ideas possible.
Through experiences like this, students are not only learning about sustainability, they are witnessing how it operates at scale, preparing them to contribute to solutions that extend far beyond the classroom.