Robert Bush

Robert Bush is a Professor in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, affiliated with the College of Natural Resources and Environment. His work bridges forest products and packaging industries through marketing and business strategy research.

• Education: Ph.D. (1989), M.S. (1986) from Virginia Tech; B.S. (1984) from the University of Minnesota.

Bush focuses on forest products marketing, packaging as a marketing function, and competitive strategy in wood-based industries. His recent projects include evaluating environmental labels on packaging using eye-tracking technology and developing study abroad programs in Ireland to explore natural resources and design.

Scientific Awards:

• Department Teaching Award

Funded Projects include grants from the USDA Forest Service, Virginia Tech Graduate School, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, totaling over $500,000 for initiatives like Distance Learning, Global Education, and Sustainable Industry Growth.

Teaching spans courses like Principles of Packaging and Professional Skills for Sustainable Biomaterials, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning. He has advised graduate theses on topics like consumer response to eco-labels and sustainability of unit-loads.