Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW)

Friedman earns internationally recognized CSR accreditation.

2010-10-11T11:08:00.001-07:00

John Friedman, co-founding board member of the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) has earned the globally-recognized Sustainability and CSR Practitioner (CSR-P) designation by Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), an international advisory, coaching and training organization that provides corporate social responsibility and sustainable development solutions.

"The CSR-P designation distinguishes a professional as someone who is knowledgeable, confident and employs international sustainability and CSR best practices and frameworks to add significant value to their organization," says Nikos Avlonas, CSE President. "John joins an elite group of approximately 50 certified CSR practitioners in the United States."

Accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), the CSE certification process measures the strategic abilities and technical skills of professionals working in CSR and sustainability, and is a critical step for successful career growth.

A sound business strategy

2010-07-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the Washington Post ran a piece questioning CSR (http://bit.ly/cQdgbw) as a sound business strategy.

Ms. Freeland partially quotes Milton Friedman's famous maxim the the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. The entire quote reads: "there is one and only one social responsibility of business-to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud."

I submit that the rules of the game have changed, that businesses are being held accountable for their actions, whether they be polluting the environment, subjecting workers to harsh conditions or practices or engaging in nefarious practices such as collusion with the regulators that are supposed to be monitoring their actions. In each of these cases, short-term profits are persued rather than the long-term best interest of the company, its shareholders, customers and the larger community.

I much prefer the term 'corporate sustainability' to describe the model of having both a long and a short-term strategy. After all, companies like Enron made a lot of money but ultimately failed to stay within the rules of the game.

Goldman may not have been in the business of educating women, but educating the population that controls the purse-strings of the majority of households (around the world) IS a sound business strategy if they're educated about the value of investment and that results in increasing investors using Goldman Sachs. BP was not in the business of leading the 'green' revolution - but the first energy company that does come up with a solution to our dependence on foreign oil will have a strategic advantage.

As a leader of the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SBNOW) and an experienced director of corporate sustainability programs for more than 10 years, I can say with certainty that there are business benefits including license to operate, speed to market, increased productivity and reduced turn over, reduced legal and compliance costs - including health care - as well as access to investment capital that are true business benefits that companies enjoy by engaging not in charity (which they are ill prepared and designed to do) but rather in remembering that 'built to last' is a business model that served this country very well. Maximizing short-term shareholder value is the way to build economic bubbles rather than true growth.

John Friedman
Annandale, Va

Coming soon - a new blog

2010-06-18T10:12:00.001-07:00

no, not just a new blog posting. a new blog. one that reflects SB NOW's current level of activity.

REGION'S LEADING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK EXPANDS SERVICES AND LEADERSHIP

2010-05-14T06:41:00.001-07:00

Under the leadership of its new Chair, Marc Nichols, the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW), the Capitol Region's pre-eminent organization dedicated to environmental, social and economic progress, has expanded its board of directors and services to reflect the growing need and demand for its services.

"I am excited about the activities we have planned for the rest of the year that will enhance the growth of the Washington area's sustainability sector and improve the quality of life and the environment of our region," said Mr. Nichols.

Among these new activities are monthly networking opportunities aimed at growing DC's sustainability sector, as well as educational events with high profile speakers, including a June conference on sustainability-focused business opportunities in the National Capitol Region. SB NOW is also launching a new weekly publication, Sustainable Solutions, which will provide the latest sustainable developments in the region, including business growth ideas and opportunities, and sustainability tips to SB NOW's 4,000-person mailing list.

Guiding SB NOW's new strategic direction is a board that has been expanded to include eight new board members, including: Jigar Shah, Chief Executive Officer, Carbon War Room; Peter West, President and Chief Executive Officer, West Sustainability, LLC; Lyle Yablonsky, Divisional Vice President, AXA Advisors, LLC; Mark W. Carter, Senior Vice President, Market Transformation to Sustainability; Adam Clampitt, Vice President, Corporate & Public Affairs, Levick Strategic Communications; David Harwell, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Career Management and Development, American Chemical Society; Karen Marcus, Esq., Attorney, Finkelstein Thompson, LLP; and Lucille Pilling, Ed.D., Chief Executive Officer, Pilling & Associates

"SB NOW is fortunate to have these highly professional and respected people on our board. It speaks to the quality of this organization to have their respective backgrounds and expertise," said Mr. Nichols. "Each of these individuals brings specific strengths, skills and experiences that will help SB NOW serve its members and the community."

In addition, to manage its expanding services, SB NOW has hired LRG, Inc., a D.C.-area public affairs and association management firm to oversee the organization's operations. Ranked among the top 20 public relations firms in the highly competitive Washington, D.C. market by the Washington Business Journal, LRG is a private company with a public service mission-advancing organizations and issues that help individuals, strengthen communities, and promote sustainability.

For complete bios of all SB NOW board members, visit http://www.sbnow.org/template/page.cfm?page_id=41

About SB NOW

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) was founded in 2004 as a community of businesses, non-profit leaders, professionals, academia, and government representatives dedicated to building a more socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable local economy. The mission of the organization is to help make the Washington D.C. metro region a more sustainable place to live and work now -- and in the future - fully realizing its potential as a world-class capital city.

The Network exists to help empower consumers and businesses, working in partnership with communities, to embrace a corporate citizenship/corporate social responsibility (CSR) business model informed by the concept of the triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Profit. SB NOW offers targeted services such as its recently developed Certifiably Green© green certification and benchmarking program, and provides practical programs that address the unique needs and leverages the singular aspects and resources of the National Capital region to create measurable business and social value in the Washington, D.C. metro region.

The New PR 2010 edition for FREE

2010-02-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

SB NOW co-founding board member John Friedman has put together his model for implementing a fully realized sustainability program that engages, inspires and motivates employees, improves reputation and brand image and that effectively integrates environmental and social progress into a successful business model. You can download it for FREE or send an email to JohnF@sbnow.org for a PDF copy.

SB NOW profiled in Washington Business Journal

2009-11-06T07:03:00.001-08:00

Green guru shows firms way to help environment Washington Business Journal - November 5, 2009

John Friedman was walking the talk on environmentally friendly business practices long before he became chairman of the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW). Friedman heads a coalition of volunteers, staff and corporate members that is striving to make "green" a common concern throughout the local business community.

Has the push for sustainable business practices been effected by the recession?
The concept of sustainability is based the inter-dependent relationship between an organization's environmental, social and economic performance. The recession has proved the point that focusing on sustainability encourages a more strategic focus and better decision-making for the long-term health of any enterprise. Many organizations have been looking at ways to improve their efficiency and reduce costs. One of the best examples is when fuel prices were high, companies found ways to cut back on transportation-related costs (such as reducing delivery frequency). That, of course, had a positive impact on the environment as well, reducing emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels.

How does the Washington area stack up when it comes to corporate social responsibility?
Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Adrian Fenty and the D.C. Council, Washington was the first major city to require private developers to adhere to the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition to new construction, there is a long list of organizations with existing buildings lined up to get LEED certified. Our waterways (the Potomac and Anacostia rivers) are cleaner than they have been in years past, but they still have a long way to go. Bethesda Green is developing a living example of a model green city, and Montgomery County is putting in programs as well, such as the concept of requiring nutrition information on restaurant menus. And Alexandria was recognized last year by Popular Science as one of the top (No. 30) "greenest" cities in the country.

What are D.C. businesses doing right on sustainability?
There are a lot of examples, from Community IT Innovators that reduced its energy usage nearly in half in one year through in-house green IT initiatives that it now makes available to clients, to environmentally friendly Eco-Print, to Calvert Investments that literally pioneered the concept of socially responsible investing. The headquarters of Washington Gas received the highest score on SB NOW's Green Business Certification by adopting innovative practices that include being among the first publicly traded companies in the nation to adopt e-delivery of annual meeting materials which, to date, has saved over 50 tons of paper. AARP also earned "four stars" from us. The Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District was the first to go through, late last year, and they have been a wonderful partner in helping not only promote but to develop the program.

What could the local business community do better?
As we rebuild our local economy, I hope businesses will look at making decisions that make sense for the long term. Options like working from home not only reduce commuting time, they help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the need for office space (and the associated heating/cooling, etc.) costs. It actually improves worker productivity. Companies can look for ways to facilitate commuting by public transportation. And companies should look for ways to reduce costs through energy reduction, waste reduction and the use of renewable materials. One way to do this is to look at the list of SB NOW members on our Web site when they're looking for business partners and services.

What's SB NOW up to now?
SB NOW has spent the last three years developing our Green Business Certification that not only is compatible with programs such as LEED and EnergyStar, it uniquely evaluates how well organizations are mobilizing their employees in their efforts to reduce negative environmental impacts. Together with our partner Eco-Coach, we are teaching companies how to be greener and to give the public a way to assess how well they're doing. We're also continuing our "MasterMind" series of events bringing world-renowned speakers on sustainability to share their expertise. We'll continue to host our networking events that have resulted in over $2 million worth of business transactions between SB NOW members.

What do you think about the effort to bring trolley cars to the District?
Personally I think it is an idea whose time has come again. The U.S. cities that are consistently pointed to as being the most sustainable -- Portland, San Francisco, Seattle -- all have extensive and popular light-rail systems.

You are also senior director of public relations for Sodexo. Can you tell us a little about what Sodexo is doing that is sustainable?
Sodexo's commitments focus on three key areas where we can have an impact and our stakeholders expect us to act: community development, the environment, and health and well-being. Sodexo is known for our efforts in the areas of diversity and inclusion and fighting hunger and malnutrition. We were the first in our industry to go to zero trans fats in our food preparations. We have installed new dish washing systems in thousands of client sites around the country that reduce energy and water consumption. We most recently announced a partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council as part of our commitment to provide sustainable seafood.

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/11/09/focus3.html?jst=pn_pn_lk

Join Our Facebook and/or LinkedIn Groups

2009-09-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

The world appears to be migrating to those social media platforms, and SB NOW has gone with them.

SB NOW Mastermind Series - How Green Are Consumers Really Willing to Be?

2009-07-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Shelton, of the Shelton Group, was presenting, discussing the results of the recent EcoPulse survey, the premier survey for green consumerism in the US.

The Shelton Group also runs UtilityPulse, EnergyPulse, and GreenLiving Pulse.

As Suzanne (the self-described "fastest talking Southern woman you'll ever meet") said herself, there was a lot of information packed into that one hour seminar (full of graphs and focus groups), so I am going to highlight here what I found most shocking or interesting.

1) American consumers say one thing an do another. The best way to put this one is the fact that Americans are fantastic at being "armchair environmentalists." We like the government and corporate America to take action (and think that they should be the ones to make the changes), but when it comes to taking actions ourselves, we fall short.

Concerning this point, consumers were asked whether or not a company's environmental practices affect their purchases.

47% of respondents said it did.Now the question got more specific. Consumers were asked if they have actually made such a choice based on environmental practices.14% actually did.Then, they were asked to name the product.

7.5% could.

Basically, consumers are, as Suzanne put it, "terrified of getting screwed."

With all of the greenwashing going on, consumers don't know what to do, and the default ends up being to do nothing. Another highlight from this first section of the presentation was the question about motivation, i.e. what is the best motivation for energy efficiency. Saving money was, not shockingly, the top motivation this year; however back in 2005, "promoting energy independence and protecting the domestic economy" was number one. This motivator went from 35.7% to 4% over the past few years.

2) Consumers know less about green than you think. Just as we had our armchair environmentalists before, we now have our "cocktail green" here; in other words, most consumers only know enough about sustainability issues to get by a cocktail party conversation.

Only about 53 percent of consumers could provide a feature of a green home. (The vast majority named solar panels as a characteristic.)

When asked what label was the best to read (100% natural, natural, organic, bio-engineered, etc.), 100% natural (which has no regulation at all to it) beat organic.

61.3 percent of consumers did not think that they used more electricity than they did five years ago.d) 40 percent can't name an example of renewable energy.

3) Skepticism

8.9 % Skeptics: Those that react adversely to any mention of green, environment, sustainability, etc and that tend to deny climate change has any correlation to man's behavior.

24.5% Activists: Obviously, this section has its fair share of tree huggers, but it also has more mainstream consumers--often well-educated people who know the issues and act upon them.

33.1% Distracteds: These are the people who tend to see themselves as too busy to focus on the issue; they may be confused or apathetic.

33.6 % Wannabes: These are the people who like the idea of green behavior and may have the thoughts, but when it comes to the actions, they aren't there.

What Makes A Leader

2009-07-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Reprinted from Sustainabe Life Media

A lot has been written about what it means to be a leader. Certainly the area of sustainability and all the sub-categories under that umbrella offer a myriad of opportunities for organizations, companies and individuals to carve out a niche as a leader in a specialty or sub-specialty.

At the same time, however, I continue to be amazed at groups and organizations that refer to themselves as 'a' leader or 'the' leader without being questioned by their stakeholders or the community. I once worked for a very intelligent person who decried those who declared leadership based on size alone; "just because we're the biggest, that does not make us the best." In fact, he went on to point out that the larger a company or organization, the more important it was to be a leader lest it "lose more money" or "destroy more of the environment" based on its size alone.

Wise words from a savvy leader who understood that while size matters, excellence matters more. Excellence is a constantly moving target. And there are different ways by which a person, an organization or a business can seek to be one that sets and then continually seeks to improve upon, the standard of behavior. True excellence can be achieved through leadership, or closely following the leaders in a given area or field. Remember Avis Car Rental's theme "we try harder"? it was based on being smaller than their largest competitor and therefore sought to position the company as more service oriented (a leadership position).

Leadership by Action
The first way that organizations should consider is leadership by actions. This can be hard for larger organizations that may have entrenched methods of doing things, because to lead by actions requires that one's actions continually evolve, but that the underlying basis for those actions - the values that define the organization - remain rock solid and consistent. Companies that lead by actions are not afraid to experiment with new ideas and are willing (if not eager) to challenge their existing perceptions on a regular basis. Leaders in sustainability are not looking for ways to hang on to existing practices; they are investing in new programs and models that reduce the use of energy and natural resources. They are experimenting with technologies that not only reduce carbon output, some may be looking at ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere and capture it. And at the forefront are those organizations that are basing their business model on turning one industry's waste into the raw ingredients needed for completely different industries. Examples of this include companies that are extracting the petroleum out of discarded plastic bottles and using it to create the polyester fibers that they turn into sportswear, to producing synthetic gypsum (roughly 20% of U.S. raw gypsum use) from the by-product of manufacturing and energy-generating processes, primarily from desulfurization of coal power plant exhaust gases.

Leadership by Expertise
Another way in which companies can demonstrate leadership is through their expertise. The new focus on a 'sustainable' economy is paving the way for companies that offer products or services that help other companies reduce their environmental impacts. A great example is in the area of information technology which not only can be used to help improve efficiencies in manufacturing, it can be used to look at entire systems and provide vital information. Computer models alerted the world to the 'hole' in the ozone layer, satellites reveal changes in the polar ice caps, etc. In day to day application, measurement devices that monitor traffic flow could be used to automatically adjust traffic lights to facilitate safety and efficiency of transportation. Buildings that install monitors of electric power use help manage the peaks and valleys in consumption, reducing energy costs and helping utilities determine where electricity is needed and when. Devices measure the depth and speed of rivers can be used to feed real-time data that can protect lives and property from natural disasters such as floods.

Moving beyond the environmental pillar, on the social side, experts in issues like global development, fair trade, workers' rights, and labor relations will also continue to be in demand because companies are increasingly going to be asked (required) to measure and report on their footprints in these areas as well.

Leadership by Influence
The last area where leadership can be demonstrated is one that has not fully been explored by many. Leaders know that they need to look beyond their own actions and expertise, and use their values not only on those portions of the supply chain under their direct control, but to look beyond to those things over which they can have an influence. This includes holding suppliers - and even customers - to adhere to values.

Increasingly companies are requiring suppliers to do more than guarantee a level of quality for the products that they supply, some are requiring that suppliers maintain a chain of custody to ensure that the products that they are using confirm to environmental and social values. Large power-purchasers have been exploring the extent of the influence that they can have on their suppliers' behavior by implementing requirements beyond prices. Examples include Wal-Mart's efforts to reduce packaging and marketing materials and to sell sustainable seafood. In order to be a supplier to Wal-Mart, the giant retailer must be convinced - often using third party validation - that the seafood products that they are selling to customers are, in fact, sourced from sustainable species.

Changing consumer behavior is naturally harder. Programs such as charging and refunding deposits on glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans provide direct financial incentives and are successful. But often, when there is not visible 'return' companies can do little more than 'suggest' the way in which their products are used and ultimately disposed of (or recycled). Manufacturers of computers, cell phones and a host of electronic devices offer power (and energy) saving tips for consumers, but over 90 percent of the electricity used today for computers is not in the 'server' room, it is at individual desktop stations that are left on at night and monitors that are left on when laptops are disconnected. In homes, chargers that live their lives in the socket are drawing power even when the portable device is not attached. TV sets that have not been turned on in weeks are drawing current to diligently keep track of the date and time and which channels to 'skip.'

When Home Depot creates a mechanism for people to bring back used compact fluorescent light bulbs (to prevent them from going into landfills), or when auto repair facilities take back worn out car batteries, those are attempts to influence consumer behavior. In these cases there is little financial incentive - and in the later case sometimes companies charge to dispose of battery 'cores' - that probably limit the programs' effectiveness.

For individuals the same three categories apply. It is not enough to walk the talk. True leaders also are willing to share their knowledge, ideas and expertise. And they rarely miss an opportunity to help encourage others to follow their lead. After all the mark of a leader is not how well they lead - it is whether or not they are successful in getting others to follow.

Capitalism's Gettysburg

2009-03-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Gettysburg Address invoked a call to action and a recommitment to founding principles in the revival of America. We could benefit from applying the same principles to rebuild our capitalist system after the fall of global financial markets. By John Friedman

Standing on the battlefield of the definitive battle in the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave what is perhaps the most famous Presidential speech. Many have remarked how he was able, in a few short lines to make three main points. First, he harkened back to the lofty goals on which the nation was founded. Next, with humility and restraint, he recalled the sacrifice of all who had fought – on both sides. And he concluded by invoking that sacrifice as a call to action engage in a ‘new birth’ and commitment to the founding principles.

It is important to note that the Gettysburg Address was given in November, with over four months remove from the carnage that left an estimated 46,000 to 51,000 casualties. Today we are still surrounded be the devastation of the collapse of global financial markets. It is easy – and tempting - to fixate on sadness, destruction and gloom. But perhaps we can take a lesson from Lincoln, during this the 200th anniversary of his birth, and instead look to the future where the capitalist system is revised (as America was revised) by returning to its core principles.

Capitalism is an economic system in which wealth, and the means of producing wealth, are owned and controlled by individuals rather than by groups (usually the state or other government entity). Today the two sides that have battled for the ‘heart’ of capitalism might be defined as Adam Smith’s ‘invisible hand’ of the market through which individual interest unintentionally produces collective good against the more Social Darwinist approach most famously expounded by the character Gordon Gecko in the movie Wall Street; “greed is good.”
And the result has left people questioning the future capitalism as a system – much as America’s future was doubt in 1863.

Let us recall that America before the Civil War was rife with social ills, the most obvious of which was slavery. While the Civil War did not end the practice, and true equality has yet to be achieved, Lincoln’s message of assuming individual responsibility and moving the nation forward based on its aspirations and goals, not on how it had been before set a vision that continues to guide the nation.

With apologies to Lincoln, then, let us commit ourselves now to learn the lessons from history. We must turn the imperative to rebuild into a commitment to improve on the past by this time to build an economic system that not only generates wealth, but is protective of the environment and advances the human condition.

It is the only way to honor the sacrifice and suffering that people are still feeling.

originally posted http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com/content/column/strategy/capitalisms_gettysburg

Responsible Investing: Crash or Correction?

2009-02-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

With the Dow down in the dumps, will socially responsible investments continue to outperform the wider market? Yes - and potentially now more than ever.

It has been said that many investors who put their financial backing behind socially responsible investments (SRI) are willing to forgo potentially profitable investments in companies and industries that they find morally objectionable. But investors have embraced sustainable investing because it is not only good for the planet and society – it has been good investment in its own right.

On average, the performance of SRI has been close to that of regular mutual funds. There are several indexes that track the performance of stocks considered socially responsible investments. According to KLD Indexes, the total returns for the Domini Social 400 Index between 1990 (its inception) and September 2007 was 12%. Over the same period, the S&P 500 returned 11.49%.

Additional research from Cary Krosinsky, co-author with Nick Robins of Sustainable Investing: The Art of Long-Term Performance, points out that sustainable funds outperformed mainstream indices between December 2002 and December 2007, with sustainably invested funds showing 18.7% return on average compared to S&P return of 13.2%, and MSCI World's return of 17% during the same time period. Easy to say when the Dow was topping 14,000, but what about now? There is good evidence that what we have experienced was a true collapse and not a correction. The massive losses in value not only brought down companies with inflated values, the momentum also carried down well-run, fiscally sound ones.

As a result, SRI was not exempt - nor did those funds fare better – as one might have expected (or hoped) – during the decline. The same Domini Social 400 Index cited earlier has returned a -11.22% through June 2008, compared with a -10.49% for the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index during the same period. The Ariel Fund (ARGFX), one of the largest U.S. socially responsible funds with more than $2 billion in assets, dropped 20.2% though May.

There is some encouraging news; however, the median performance of socially responsible funds compiled by Morningstar performed better just 6.76% compared to 9.59% for the S&P. When we’re looking at trillions of dollars this translates to billions of dollars that could have been, but were not, lost.

Strong Medicine for an Ailing Economy
As we sit in the doldrums of this recession it is important to note that the economy will recover. What makes the distinction between a correction and a collapse significant is the later indicates the need to rebuild the economic model rather than an attempt by governments (and industries) to try to patch the holes that deflated a bubble. This awareness makes the task more daunting because they must work to build something truly sustainable.

As investors, the question before us now then goes beyond whether or not sustainable investment will continue to outperform traditional indices. Rather, if these investments and companies will have an even greater advantage going forward?

Robins believes that the answer is unequivocally yes, pointing out that SRI businesses are poised to take a leadership role in a new, revitalized economy:

"As the world seeks to stimulate an economic recovery, sustainable investing in clean technologies, microfinance and social enterprise offer proven routes to generating wealth and resolving pressing problems such as climate change and global poverty."

The new Obama Administration has indicated its priorities include rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and focusing on alternative energy sources. Certainly alternative energy companies would then be poised to benefit not only from Federal emphasis, but also tax and other incentives (and possibly an infusion of capital). Those companies, and the funds that contain those companies, are therefore poised to do even better as part of the recovery.
The bottom line? An investment strategy that benefits people, protects the planet, and generates profits is still a winning strategy, especially in this global economy.

originally posted on Sustainable Life Media.

In case you missed - or want to see again - John Petersen

2009-02-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

SB NOW's Special Presentation of January's Guest Speaker, Futurist John Petersen, is now posted for viewing on YouTube in an 11-part series at the below links. After being posted for only a few hours, the video has been viewed by interested parties all over the world. Please feel free to share the links with colleagues and friends interested in transforming our world into a sustainable future.

Many thanks to Tayna Spann Roche and J. Michael Roche of SB NOW Member Company - Think, Speak, Act Media Productions - for making this video possible (http://www.thinkspeakact.com/).

If you are not able to open these link, please visit, http://www.youtube.com/ and enter in "SBNOW.org Presents: A New World: What Emerges After the Collapse?" .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gQ1WuI04dU, Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPw0Q-SWcqE&feature=related, Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPw0Q-SWcqE&feature=related, Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vblkFQ3udBM&feature=related, Part IV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt7Deqg_SqM&feature=related, Part V
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luki5mSHhaA&feature=related, Part VI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_T-XXrzTFM&feature=related, Part VII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqa8L08SbeE&feature=related, Part VIII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXInA6HVQQk&feature=related, Part IX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xzfg8AuH48&feature=related, Part X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R5W0-79kCg&feature=related, Part XI

New Research: Economy, Jobs Trump All Other Policy Priorities In 2009

2009-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Environment, Immigration, Health Care Slip Down the List

As Barack Obama takes office, the public’s focus is overwhelmingly on domestic policy concerns – particularly the economy. Strengthening the nation’s economy and improving the job situation stand at the top of the public’s list of domestic priorities for 2009. Meanwhile, the priority placed on issues such as the environment, crime, illegal immigration and even reducing health care costs has fallen off from a year ago.

While it is not unusual for the public to prioritize domestic over foreign policy, the balance of opinion today is particularly one-sided. Roughly seven-in-ten Americans (71%) say that President Obama should focus on domestic policy, while just 11% prioritize foreign policy. By comparison, last January, 56% cited domestic policy as most important while 31% said Bush should focus on foreign policy.

Environment a Lower Priority
The 15-point decline in the percentage calling environmental protection a top priority this year is steep, but not unprecedented given the broader shift in public priorities. Between January 2001 and January 2002, the proportion rating environmental protection as a top priority fell by a similar amount (from 63% to 44%); a number of domestic priorities declined in importance following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. By January 2003, just 39% called environmental protection a top priority – comparable to today’s 41% – before resurging as a priority from 2006 to 2008, only to fall again this year.

The decline in the percentage calling environmental protection a top priority crosses partisan and demographic lines. For instance, only about four-in-ten women (43%) and men (39%) now say that protecting the environment should be a top priority; last January, 57% of women and 55% of men rated environmental protection as a top priority.

Futurist John Petersen Presents to SB NOW

2009-01-19T08:40:00.000-08:00

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington was proud to present leading futurist and author John Petersen in Washington, DC. For those who missed this remarkable presentation you can read a summary here.

Building a Sustainable Economy - the Wikipedia Model

2009-01-06T06:48:00.001-08:00

Recently I traded some emails on whether the Internet is a device that gives more power to the rational mind, or is its democratic nature destined to "stampede us further into the world of delusion"?

Moving beyond the suggestion that there are those who will deliberately seek to use any communication vehicle for their own nefarious ends, I think it is fair to say that overall the digital revolution is a recipe for unparalleled chaos, creativity and dialogue.

Not only does this help us rise to our fullest potential, it also creates a mechanism for least-common-denominator discourse as well. The same Internet that gives the world access to highly credible information such as Wikipedia (which effectively uses community-policing to ensure or encourage accuracy) provides web sites designed to amuse, prevent the flow of information and, in some cases, control and encourage hate and anger. These range from those offering ridiculous conspiracy theories to those that espouse dangerous and deliberately misleading information.
At the same time, for every intelligent, thoughtful and important web page, there is (at least) one dedicated to the latest celebrity who somehow didn't manage to get fully dressed before going out. While not deliberately designed to pursue a negative agenda, those web sites at best lower the level of the dialogue and at worst reduce the credibility of everything on the Internet - including the credible sources.

As we move forward in the digital age, I hope and think that we will see a 'split' between those who use it for the former and those who use it for the later. I believe that the future is brighter that many people think. Never before in history have so many people had access to information. We are increasingly exposed to new thoughts, ideas and cultures with a freedom that would astound people only a generation ago.

From the freedom of ideas comes the natural tendency toward the desire to do more and the unfettering of restraints (despite the efforts of some to hold back the tide). I see the 'people power' revolutions in East Germany and the Philippines as a model for continued social advancement and self-determination. There will be some 'messiness' that comes from all this. But in the chaos of personal, intellectual and artistic expression - the world moves forward. It is notable that more of us are moving forward - together - than before. We must do our best to ensure that more and more people have the opportunities that the future offers.

How does this apply to sustainability? If one accepts the fundamental premise that any system will produce the outcome(s) that it was designed to produce (no matter what the intention) then we must take heed that the economic systems in place are creating "bubbles" of increasingly alarming size at an increasingly alarming rate - from the tech boom to the escalation of real estate prices and, apparently stock markets around the world.
Economic systems that create "bubbles" rather than real value are not sustainable. When trillions of dollars in value evaporate overnight, it is fair to say that the value didn't exist to begin with. Clearly the system needs to be adjusted if we are to change the outcome. We cannot be satisfied if we continue to patch the holes in the levees and hope that we get out before the next flood.

Sadly it gets wrapped up in political agendas so that when one talks about reinventing markets it gets translated as anti-American, anti-Capitalist or anti-Freedom.
As we move forward, then, we must follow the model of Wikipedia (and other sites, but that is the most well known) to develop the forum, mechanisms, tools and discipline necessary to leverage the power of the Internet for idea-sharing and provide the people-powered economic revolution that focuses on social and environmental as well as economic recovery in 2009 and beyond.

Reprinted from JustMeans.com

BID gets SB NOW green operations seal of approval

2008-12-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

by Vandana Sinha Staff Reporter

The Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District is now certifiably green — and it has the stamp to prove it.

The BID is the first organization to win a green seal from the Sustainable Business Network of Washington, a D.C. nonprofit that has been developing a new certification process for green operations for the past two years.

SB NOW is signing up nine more test subjects for its certification program, which focuses on everyday business practices. It plans to launch the program across the region next spring and, ultimately, take it national.

The group is creating scorecards, point systems and on-site inspections — a la the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards for buildings — to quantify and verify companies’ claims of “going green,” certifying those that make the mark and differentiating them from mere “greenwashers.”

SB NOW celebrates growth ... and looks forward to 2009

2008-12-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

Business representatives at SB NOW's Holiday event at Haworth
(left to right) David Michaelson, LEED Principal, Marion Construction; Marion Stecklow, Executive Vice President, Penguin Care; Chris Dyson, Facilities and Purchasing Management, Calvert Group; John Friedman, Senior Director, Public Relations for Sodexo and SB NOW board chair; Nathalie Abutaha, Business Development Manager, AtSite; Anca Novacovici, founder of Eco-Coach and Douglas LaBier, Director of the Center for Adult Development.

Celebrating our 2008 results:

Making Washington DC a better place to live, work and visit - by generating $2 million in buiness between and with companies and organizations that are socially responsible.
A 600 percent increase in network membership - making SB NOW the largest business network in the Washington, DC-area dedicated to the triple bottom line.
The certification of the Downtown Business Improvement District - kicking off SB NOW's certification program and 'Certifiably Green' guide.

CSR, Environmental Programs Good for the Bottom Line, Report Finds

2008-11-21T08:03:00.001-08:00

GreenBiz.com, 19 November 2008 - With the global financial meltdown sending every company "back to the blackboard," a new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit finds that almost three-quarters of businesses with CSR programs in place are seeing financial benefits as a result of achieving environmental goals.

The report was released at the start of the Economist's "Corporate Citizenship" conference yesterday in San Francisco. Kicking off the conference, Matthew Bishop from the Economist news magazine and Nigel Holloway of the Economist Intelligence Unit's North American division looked at the report from the perspective of the current economic situation.

SB NOW referenced on someone else's blog

2008-11-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

Can this mean that the dialogue is starting? I'd like to think so ... because the sustainability community is growing and flourishing and we need to share best ideas and practices.

Economic Woes Reinforce Triple Bottom Line

2008-11-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

While some may feel that economic arguments in favor of increasing energy efficiency and reducing production and transportation costs are somehow less ‘worthy’ reasons for America’s sustainability efforts, the fact remains that the current economic downturn is reinforcing the triple bottom line model (people, planet, profit) as business leaders acknowledge the inter-dependence of all three elements.

Research from BSR/Cone confirms research by Shelton Group and others that companies are increasingly finding that they can improve their financial performance by taking environmentally responsible actions. And that realization – especially in light of the continued belief by some companies that environmental efforts de facto cost more – may be just the thing that sustains sustainability programs through the current economic downturn.

What is driving CR today?
84 % Reputational benefits are increasingly important
80 % Stakeholder demands are increasing
76 % Increased pressure to show a return on investment
75 % Long-term cost savings or efficiencies are major drivers
59 % Corporate responsibility initiatives are driving more by company values and mission than by bottom-line impacts or other factors
57 % Corporate responsibility is increasingly seen as a driver of innovation
12 % Corporate responsibility initiatives are less of a priority today
source: BSR/Cone

Other drivers for business include the vast majority (94 percent) that anticipate increased government regulation of issues related to corporate responsibility, including climate change (86 percent) and corporate governance and financial transparency (83 percent).

For those who might find this unseemly – somehow less ‘pure’ than if companies were to be embracing CR for more ‘altruistic’ reasons – the Shelton Group research shows that not only are people struggling with the concept of ‘green’, they often have misconceptions about what really has a positive impact on the environment. While half (49 percent) of respondents said a company's environmental record is important in their purchasing decisions, the number drops by half (21 percent) when consumers were asked if this had actually driven them to choose one product over another. And only 7 percent could name the product they purchased.

So if, as Milton Friedman famously said, the business of business is business, and consumers are not yet using their purchasing power to help reward environmentally responsible companies, then companies that wish to do well must look for other ways to live their values – and reducing costs by saving the environment remains a preferable option.

Brilliant thoughts

2008-11-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

The following piece is part of a larger article in the Washington Post on Sunday letting several key thinkers describe what they feel President Obama's first priority should be when he takes office.

The world's richest nation dare not forget the world's poorest people. Obama's top priority should be adopting a strategy of what I call sustainable development -- a strategy that combines economic development with environmental sustainability, for the United States and for the world. Such an approach merges science and policy, thinks in terms of decades rather than years, and recognizes that solutions must be cooperative and global rather than unilateral and national.

Currently, we lurch from crisis to crisis, from food to energy to natural disaster to finance, without recognizing that these cascading shocks are interconnected. Darfur, Somalia and Afghanistan are at least as much about water scarcity, climate and population as they are about politics; even the global financial crisis was triggered, in part, by the contemporaneous energy crisis. As president, Obama will need to lead the U.S. government to address these problems holistically. As thankless as government reorganization can be, he should create a new Department of International Sustainable Development to work together with the rest of the world on the Millennium Development Goals and the interconnected long-term challenges of poverty, disease, energy, climate, water and population -- all of which are key to sustainable growth, prosperity and security.

-- Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute and special adviser to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

To Walk the Talk You Need to Know Where You're Going

2008-11-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Chip and Dan Heath wrote of the ‘curse of knowledge' in their book Made to Stick. The fundamental idea is that once you know something well enough, it becomes very difficult to imagine what it was like not to know. I often say that if you know and understand every acronym in your company you probably risk this syndrome.

It's no difference for those of us in the sustainability space. Many of us, myself included, have been doing this long enough that we find it hard to imagine that millions of people do not take for granted some of the principles that we believe - such as whether or not global warming is caused by human activity.

Believe it or not, people are still not sure. And there are some good reasons for this, aside from the politics that have clouded the issue, there are a number of key challenges communicating scientific research to the public.

Read the whole post on JustMeans-->

SBNOW names Board Chair (Washington Business Journal)

2008-11-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington has named John Friedman, senior director of public relations for Sodexo Inc., the new chair of the board of directors.

Friedman succeeds Lee Boyle, vice president of Cardinal Bank. His one-year term had ended.
Friedman has experience managing the public relations activities for the Gaithersburg-based Sodexo Foundation. The Annandale resident has more than 10 years of experience under his belt in the area of corporate responsibility.

“John combines a thorough knowledge and commitment to corporate responsibility with a business background,” said Pamela Skarda, executive director, in a statement. “John’s experienced leadership as Board Chair will be instrumental as SB NOW begins the roll out of our international green business certification program.”

The D.C.-based network, made up of 300 businesses, works with companies to help them integrate environmental and social responsibility principles into their operations and strategy.

See the original article

Lesson From Wall Street

2008-10-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

The famous phrase 'Greed is good' from the movie Wall Street has been quoted time and time again as a sign of what's wrong with America. But let's look at the entire speech and see if, in fact, the character famously played by Michael Douglas was onto something. In fact, in some ways the speech was downright prescient.

One of the fundamental rules of management it to align incentives with desired behaviors and base rewards on measurable and accountable results. One of the main criticisms of Wall Street today is that senior managers were making huge salaries and bonuses that were divorced from company performance. In fact, there is a popular uprising against using funds from the 'rescue package' to pay for these golden parachutes for people who did nothing more than run companies into the ground.

Gecko: "Now, in the days of the free market, when our country was a top industrial power, there was accountability to the stockholder. The Carnegies, the Mellons, the men that built this great industrial empire, made sure of it because it was their money at stake. Today, management has no stake in the company! All together, these men sitting up here [Teldar management] own less than 3 percent of the company. And where does Mr. Cromwell put his million-dollar salary? Not in Teldar stock; he owns less than 1 percent.

You own the company. That's right -- you, the stockholder. And you are all being royally screwed over by these bureaucrats, with their steak lunches, their hunting and fishing trips, their corporate jets and golden parachutes."

Another criticism being leveled today is that of wasteful spending with needless layers of bureaucracy that add complexity and no real value - building houses of cards using fancy accounting loopholes and principles that mask the real picture.
Gecko: I have spent the last two months analyzing what all these guys do, and I still can't figure it out.
And the actual quote about greed makes it clear that what he's really talking about in enlightened self-interest (and not limited to fiscal gain).
The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good.
Greed is right.
Greed works.
Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.
Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind.
And greed -- you mark my words -- will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.

He's linking that desire with evolution - combining capitalism with social Darwinism and the idea that survival of the fittest applies to companies, economies and countries and not just individuals.
While I object to the principle that often grows from this combination - that those who are on the lower end economically are somehow inferior or undeserving - there are a few basic truths that this speech does address:

Stakeholders (shareholders) are not just there when it is time to reap the benefits of financial gain; they also assume the risk and have to face the losses when and if things go wrong. Therefore they need to be ENGAGED and ACTIVE.
As any parent knows, you need to reward behaviors you wish to see repeated, and address those that you do not. Corporate incentives must be aligned with desired outcomes. And there must be consequence for failing to meet those outcomes. They don't have to be draconian, but they certainly should be proportional and FAIR.
Inefficiency, obfuscation and esoteric rules cloud the picture. TRANSPARENCY allows for informed decision making (including whether or not to invest). People must insist that they know what they are buying.
The idea that shareholders can cut and run when things go badly doesn't work when company values drop as precipitously as they have recently. Or when they are prevented from selling stock due to the restrictions within their employee stock purchasing plans. Therefore they also must be and make efforts to keep themselves INFORMED
Long term thinking is necessary for long-term sustainable growth and value creation.

Business Benefits to CSR

2008-10-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am still amazed at the number of people who cling to the notion that sustainability is optional. Despite the strong evidence that companies are maintaining their long-term focus during the current economic crisis, critics still question whether or not sustainability is a 'fad' that will be abandoned at the first sign of tight budgets.

I understand that for anyone to accept the premise that social responsibility is a business strategy we must be able to define and quantify the business benefits that can be derived from adopting this model. This is so that success can be measured, just as with any other business strategy.

That's Doctor Green to you

2008-10-15T11:33:00.001-07:00

The Rochester Institute of Technology has received New York state approval for its doctoral degree in sustainability, the program first of its kind in the world.

The Ph.D. program focuses on sustainable production and seeks to advance research and education in alternative energy development, sustainable design, green product development, industrial ecology and pollution prevention. It is being offered through RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability, an academic, research and technology transfer center devoted to enhancing the development of sustainable systems in all aspects of society.

A Matter of Trust

2008-10-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about trust lately because I recently faced a situation where someone I trusted was revealed to be unworthy - and when something that I had done (unintentionally) had caused someone else to question whether they could trust me. I realize how fragile a commodity trust is … and how easily it can be lost.

Obviously we all realize that engaging in deliberate deceptions or lies are quick and easy ways that both individuals and companies lose the trust of colleagues, stakeholders and the public. But there are other, more subtle ways that people and companies can and do lose the trust of their stakeholders, often without realizing that what they’re doing puts it at risk. And in light of the current loss of faith in global financial markets, this seems an appropriate time to shed some light on the subject.

Inconsistency - In the fields of science and medicine things that are known and accepted as fact are often revised as additional information is discovered. We live in an age when science is advancing in ‘real time’ and so information sometimes contradicts or supplants established ‘truths.’ It may seem laughable that people would feel betrayed when understanding and knowledge evolve. At the very least, people are confused when this happens (quick – are eggs part of a low cholesterol diet?) and often cling to previously held knowledge.

Challenging the status quo - Sometimes, such as when knowledge is seen as a threat to the world order, the consequences have been swift and severe. Galileo was excommunicated when he continued to believe – and state – that the Earth was not the physical center of the Universe and was confined to house arrest for the rest of his life. It was only in 1992, some 350 years after his death, that the Pope reversed this. This can have a ‘ricochet’ effect, causing the status quo to lose credibility. In this case, the Catholic Church’s credibility ended up being hurt more (in the long run) as the evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system became incontrovertible.

Failure to communicate – this one is a bit tricky. Communication hates a vacuum. When people are hungry for information withholding it can be seen as disingenuous or deceitful. This most often comes in the form of the question ‘why didn’t you tell me?’ which causes people to wonder why the person with the information may feel that they cannot be trusted.

Betraying a confidence – when you tell someone something private and they repeat it to others, you lose trust in them. The same thing happens when confidential information is stolen or lost by a company, despite the lack that the company may be a victim in the circumstance as well.

Assumption of Intent – Fundamental to all of these reason why people lose trust is that despite the fact that when things change, it is reasonable for opinions to change and shift along with the added information. Yet people often suspect that the other person or company must have privy to the information in advance. Because intentionality is assumed, credibility is sacrificed. This is the case with President Bush’s assertion that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Short of those in the inner circle of the White House, it is impossible to say with certainty that President Bush deliberately lied to the nation in order to justify going to war under false pretenses. It is possible that he – and his advisors – honestly believed that WMDs would be found and that the threat was real.

And this is exactly what we face with today’s financial markets. People are assuming that the leaders of the companies that wrote unrealistic loans and found themselves carrying unsustainable mountains of debt did so deliberately and with intention. The fact is, they may have simply been – as many people were – reluctant to believe that the party would ever end. There is some evidence that people were overzealous, overly optimistic and, in some cases, unscrupulous.

Therefore reform and regulatory oversight are necessary. And, because it is a fundamental truth that rewards must align with desired behaviors and outcomes – the exorbitant salaries and golden parachutes must be eliminated from those who drove company after company into financial ruin. What about the old standby – incentives based on performance, as measured by actual results? Otherwise, the whole system is a lie.

Economic Woes Put Green Commitment to Test

2008-09-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Half of Americans may still be hot for green products, but consumers' willingness to pay more for green alternatives has decreased since last year, according to a new survey. Going Green, an annual report examining how much consumers actually care about green issues, indicates that Echo Boomers (ages 16-29) and GenXers (ages 30-43) are more concerned about the environment compared to a year ago. But while interest in green issues continues to grow, consumers' willingness to pay more for green alternatives has decreased, according to the report.
"There is a looming challenge for marketers of green products and services," says Dr. David Bersoff, the author of the report. "Consumers will be pushing for stricter governmental and institutional green policies, and they'll be choosing brands to a greater extent based on green considerations. But at the same time, they are becoming less willing to help marketers pay for the greening of their business and products."

It seems the marketing industry has also picked up on consumers' hesitation in spending more green for green products. Duke University just released a study of top CMOs which shows marketers will be shifting away from their cause-related messages over the next year reflecting 77% of respondents' "pessimistic view" of the economy.

“Déjà goo” – the uncomfortable feeling that we’re stuck in the same sticky situation again

2008-09-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

In too many uncomfortable ways, the current ‘mortgage meltdown’ we're experiencing in the United States is eerily familiar to the dot-com bubble a few years ago. In both cases voices of moderation (i.e. Alan Greenspan’s famous ‘irrational exuberance’ comment) were overwhelmed by those Scarlet O’Haras who encouraged us to worry about it tomorrow, even as the signs of the impending disaster became clearer and clearer.

In both cases, unrealistic (and unsustainable) growth became the expected norm. In the case of the technology sector, stocks soared despite non-existent earnings. Unethical business executives took advantage of regulatory and clever accounting loopholes to exploit the momentum and the result was that it crippled (and in many cases destroyed) powerful companies in a spectacular fashion (i.e. Enron, WorldComm, etc.). Overnight thousands lost their employment and savings. Shareholder value evaporated and pensions that were tried to company stock ceased to exist.

In the case of our current housing ‘crisis’ - home values rose at an unreasonable rate, often buoyed by low introductory mortgage ‘teaser’ rates that homeowners grabbed up in record numbers.

It's hard to resist the temptation. In both cases, as millionaires were minted overnight and people ‘flipped’ homes earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks or months, consumers didn’t want to miss the opportunity. And, in the case of homeownership, people were afraid of being locked out of their desired neighborhoods.

problem is now a crisis of confidence (again). As Noel Purcell, Group General Manager of Stakeholder Communications for Wespac Banking Corporation told the 7th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in May 2006 is that “when self-interest and personal advantage are elevated to the status of core values as a result public trust in corporations goes out the window.”

Critics of sustainability often cite Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman’s famous maxim that “the social responsibility of business is to make money.” Friedman’s full quote, taken from “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits” The New York Times Magazine, September 13, 1970 actually offers some parameters that are worth noting: "There is one and only one social responsibility of business – to use it resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud.”

Critics have latched onto the notion that Friedman was only referring to the “rules” in a legal sense when he wrote this. Over the last three decades, however, history offers example after example of companies that obeyed the legal parameters but neglected the rules of the marketplace and have ceased to be viable. As the market expectations change, companies must be prepared to respond. And expectations of what it means to be a “good” corporate citizen have changed so that companies must do more than simply meet existing customers’ immediate gratification with a product or service without regard to the long term implications.

In fact, Friedman’s encouragement for companies “to engage in activities designed to increase its profits” can be viewed as a case for sustainability. A paper company that denudes all of the forests in proximity to its processing facility, for example, will not be profitable over the long term, especially if it must incur additional expenses associated with transporting heavy raw materials a long distance to its plant. However, by engaging in environmental stewardship activities such as replanting and working to ensure a continuous viable supply of raw materials, the company is actually maximizing its long-term profits. A similar argument can be made for investment house Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the fourth-largest U.S. investment bank, as it succumbed to the subprime mortgage crisis that it helped create.

Quite simply, companies must avoid the temptation to fall into the arrogance that success sometimes breeds and never forget that they must come to the market, and not the reverse.
Otherwise, in the absence of corporate responsibility, the only answer is government bailouts followed by government action that all too often punishes the innocent (like the taxpayers who are now paying for the bailouts of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) and saddles those businesses that survived – often by virtue of their financial acumen and responsibility - with increased regulations.

You've Got the CEO's Ear, What are You Going to Say?

2008-09-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

We explore one area that is not as simple as it intially seems:

It is happening more and more. CEOs and strategic leaders in companies are becoming more and more committed to sustainability as a business strategy. After years of ‘banging our heads against the wall’ suddenly our advice and counsel is in demand – high demand. And that brings a whole host of other questions to the fore.

You've Got the CEO's Ear, What are You Going to Say?

SB NOW on JustMeans

2008-08-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

SB NOW vice chair (and resident blogger) John Friedman has been invited to serve as a guest blogger on JustMeans.com. His first posting, right on the heels of the Beijing Olympic Games discusses one important lesson that corporations as well as individuals can learn from the way one athlete chose to play the game.

A neat feature of JustMeans, unlike SB NOW's blog, is that people often comment or piggyback on things that have been said.

Sustainable Life Media offers SB NOW's 'New PR' toolkit

2008-08-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

SB NOW's toolkit 'The New PR' was featured in Sustainable Life Media's August 14th Sustainable Brands Weekly newsletter. The New PR explains how companies can redefine how they communicate to their stakeholders, embracing transparency and building greater brand equity. It features thoughts from opinion leaders in the area of sustainable business as well as data and examples, and handy checklists to get started.

SB NOW in PR News

2008-08-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

SB NOW's John Friedman was cited in PR NEWS (Aug. 12, 2008) offering these tips:

Aligning Your Brand with Green Causes: How to Get Started
There are ways you can align your company brand with green causes—just follow these nine tips:
• Identify the areas that matter to your stakeholders.
• Identify the areas for which your company is positioned to have a direct impact.
• Identify the areas for which your company can have an indirect impact.
• Inventory your existing efforts and capacities, including employee skills.
• Set and rank your priorities.
• Begin marketing your commitments.
• Implement programs.
• Measure and report results.
• Don’t be the only one saying good things.

Free Recycling Through the Mail

2008-07-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

U.S. Postal Service Starts Service in 1,500 Post Offices
The U.S. Postal Service has initiated a pilot program that allows customers to recycle small electronics and inkjet cartridges by mailing them free of charge.

The "Mail Back" program helps consumers make more environmentally friendly choices, making it easier for customers to discard used or obsolete small electronics in an environmentally responsible way. Customers use free envelopes found in 1,500 Post Offices to mail back inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players - without having to pay for postage.

Postage is paid for by Clover Technologies Group, a nationally recognized company that recycles, remanufactures and remarkets inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and small electronics. If the electronic item or cartridges cannot be refurbished and resold, its component parts are reused to refurbish other items, or the parts are broken down further and the materials are recycled. Clover Technologies Group has a "zero waste to landfill" policy: it does everything it can to avoid contributing any materials to the nation's landfills.

Greenbiz: Interest in Green Certification Growing

2008-07-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

The certification market is growing quickly as companies try to get competitive advantage with consumers by being the "first in their industry" to earn the Green C Certification or some other designation.

The article suggests that not for profits (like SB NOW) are ideal for certification because they are not driven by the bottom line and have indenpendent credentials. Further, when considering a certifier, the article suggests:

The program should have high standards and rigorous criteria that demand a close examination of the applicant's environmental compliance and sustainability practices. The standard should be set by a credible organization that has received input from a variety of stakeholders, such as environmental and business groups, and government agencies.
A credible certification should have an independent verification process to ensure applicants are worthy of the certification and actually doing what they claim.
Finally, the certification should have marketplace value and credibility

Read the article

Find out more about SB NOW green certification

Al Gore in Washington again

2008-07-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

On July 17, Vice President Gore will be issuing an unprecedented challenge to policymakers and entrepreneurs. He'll push the "reset" button on how we think about energy and climate. And how we create American prosperity.

The event will be held at DAR Constitution Hall (1776 D Street, NW) at noon on Thursday, July 17. Tickets are free, but space is limited. Visit this link to get your ticket:http://www.wecansolveit.org/page/s/tickets

D.C. Council Passes 'Clean and Affordable Energy Act'

2008-07-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

The City Council voted unanimously today to pass the "Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008"-innovative and historic legislation that will establish a sustainable energy utility to reduce the city's energy use, train residents for green jobs, and help low-income residents limit their energy bills through improved efficiency.

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW), which is working to make the region be a better place to live, work and visit commends the City Council on this landmark legislation. We believe that the best way to make the changes that we seek is to facilitate those efforts (rather than impose sanctions and punative measures on those who do not change).

The fact that it passed without opposition indicates widespread understanding and support for a more sustainable D.C.

For more information:

Legislation Summary of Sustainable Energy Utility

Sign of the Times? Fewer Willing to Pay for Green

2008-07-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

One of the big questions about the current environmental awareness in America is whether it was a trend here to stay or a fad to be replaced when things changed. The most recent survey by Rackspace Hosting (PDF) indicates that less than half (44 percent) of respondents are willing to pay more for green products and services this year; down significantly from the 59 percent of respondents that were willing to pay more last year.

Also this year, only 28 percent are willing to trade server performance for lower carbon emissions. One piece of encouraging news: 69 percent of respondents are still concerned and either looking for ways to reduce the impact their company has on the environment or actively addressing the issue; this up seven percent from last year.

Find out more

A lesson best left unlearned?

2008-06-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Two news stories crossed my attention today...the first being that predictions are for gasoline in the U.S. to cost $7 a gallon by 2012. The second article was that scientists are predicting that this summer the North Pole may be ice-free for a portion of this summer. The good news, several articles pointed out was that this would allow access to oil fields that have been inaccessible due to the layers of ice.

So, putting these two stories together one reaches the inescapable conclusion that the good news about global warming is that it might help keep gas affordable so that more people can afford to drive more and ... increase emissions that lead to global warming.

Isn't that special? Rather than worry about the impact our lifestyle is having on the globe, we can rest assured that the damage that we are doing will allow us to maintain our lifestyle. Until, that is, it becomes unsustainable. Which is exactly what scientists have been warning us about for 20 years.

Save the Date: Alliance to Save Energy Stars of Energy Efficiency

2008-06-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE
Sep 25, 2008
Please calendar September 25 to attend the Alliance's Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency when we will honor this year's award winners, FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff, Philips, UTC, Rinnai, Jupiter Oxygen, Embraco and the York Co. (VA) Schools. Preceding this exciting event will be a Ministerial Summit featuring energy leaders from around the world. For more information please visit www.ase.org/events or contact Marcia Pappas Devaney at mdevaney@ase.org

Source: News You Can Use.
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20 Years Later, Scientist Adds Urgency to Warning

2008-06-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

Exactly 20 years after warning America about global warming, a top NASA scientist said the situation has gotten so bad that the world's only hope is drastic action.

James Hansen told Congress on Monday that the world has long passed the "dangerous level" for greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and needs to get back to 1988 levels. He said Earth's atmosphere can only stay this loaded with man-made carbon dioxide for a couple more decades without changes such as mass extinction, ecosystem collapse and dramatic sea level rises.
"We're toast if we don't get on a very different path," Hansen, director of the Goddard Institute of Space Sciences. "This is the last chance."

Hansen brought global warming home to the public in June 1988 during a Washington heat wave, telling a Senate hearing that global warming was already here. To mark the anniversary, he testified before the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming where he was called a prophet, and addressed a luncheon at the National Press Club where he was called a hero by former Sen. Tim Wirth, D-Colo., who headed the 1988 hearing.

The year of Hansen's original testimony was the world's hottest year on record. Since then, 14 years have been hotter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Two decades later, Hansen spent his time on the question of whether it's too late to do anything about it. His answer: There's still time to stop the worst, but not much time.

More information

Pamela Skarda, SB NOW Executive Director

2008-06-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) is pleased to welcome Pamela S. Skarda as our new Executive Director.

Pam brings 20 years of Washington, D.C.-based work experience in non-profit management, development, marketing, public affairs, and government/media relations. For the past five years, she has been President & CEO of a consulting firm specializing in public relations, marketing promotions, and Federal lobbying.

Her interest in the nexus of sustainability and business began as a consultant helping to launch a successful “green” coffee company into wholesale membership clubs. In addition, she has provided strategic marketing and sales direction to numerous eco-friendly companies.

Pam earned a double Bachelors of Arts with High Academic Distinction at the University of Kansas and pursued graduate-level studies in Government Relations at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, she currently makes her home in Bowie, Maryland.

For more information: pskarda@sbnow.org

Metro Area Profile: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

2008-05-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Brookings Institution report “Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America” quantifies for the first time the amount and most significant sources of carbon emitted—from highway transportation and residential energy consumption—by the 100 largest metropolitan areas in 2000 and 2005. Substantial variation exists among these “carbon footprints” of metro areas, due in part to their development patterns, rail transit, freight traffic, carbon content of electricity sources, electricity prices, and weather.

To access the entire report

Per Capita Carbon Footprints, 2000-2005
Metropolitan Washington’s per capita footprint from transportation and residential energy use increased 7.20 percent between 2000 and 2005. The average per capita footprint of the 100 largest metro areas and of the nation increased 1.1 percent and 2.2 percent during this time, respectively.

The transportation portion of Washington’s per capita footprint decreased 1.1 percent between 2000 and 2005, compared to an increase of 2.4 percent in the 100 largest metro areas. The residential portion of Washington’s per capita footprint increased 12.8 percent between 2000 and 2005, compared to a slight decrease of 0.7 percent in the 100 largest metro areas.

Overview:

The average resident in metropolitan Washington emitted 3.115 tons of carbon from highway transportation and residential energy in 2005 (rank 89/100). This compares with 2.24 tons of
carbon emitted by the average 100-metro resident and 2.60 tons of carbon emitted by the average American from transportation and residential energy.

Highway Transportation: The average Washington resident emitted 1.157 tons of carbon from highway transportation (rank 20/100). The average 100-metro resident emitted 1.310 tons and the average American emitted 1.44 tons from highway transportation.

The average Washington resident emitted 0.984 tons from autos (rank 30th) and 0.173
tons from trucks (rank 10th), compared to 1.004 tons from autos and 0.305 tons from
trucks from the average 100-metro resident.

Residential energy use. The average Washington resident emitted 1.958 tons of carbon
from residential energy use (rank 100th). The average 100-metro resident emitted 0.925 tons and the average American emitted 1.16 tons of carbon from residential energy use.

The average Washington resident emitted 1.611 tons from electricity (rank 100th) and
0.347 tons from residential fuels (rank 58th). This compares to 0.611 tons from
electricity and 0.314 tons from fuels from the average 100-metro resident.

SB NOW: A sought after resource

2008-05-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Recently the Washington Business Journal reached out to SB NOW for our reaction to the Washington DC City Council proposal to institute a $25 per space fee for employee parking. As a 501 (c)(3) educational not-for-profit, SB NOW does not engage in lobbying. However, we did offer our philosophy that businesses can be a powerful force for social, economic and environmental change and suggested that it might be more effective to promote and encourage the desired actions; "incentives for green behavior are preferable to, shall we say, punative things." "It would be preferable for the city to structure this in a way to reward people using mass transit."

view the article (subscription required)

SB NOW in the News (Again)

2008-04-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

PRNews' April 28, 2008 edition includes a lead article on "Lean, Green PR Machine: Developing Inside-Out Sustainability Strategies" that features, among others, SB NOW board member John Friedman on (1) the tangible benefits of conducting business in green/sustainable ways, (2) the importance of aligning the program with your core business model and (3) the need to align incentives with desired outcomes to empower employees.

"The last point is absolutely essential, as any external communication of green business practices will come across as greenwashing if said practices aren’t being championed by senior management and imbedded into employees’ everyday responsibilities," the article states.

Make Your Tax Deductible Donation to SB NOW

2008-04-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) didn’t invent the phrase “think globally, act locally” but we truly believe in it and are making it happen. While the Washington area may not be at the top of the list when people think of “sustainability” we are helping area businesses, government, educational institutions and community groups to make it happen. Demand for our Green Business Certification -- recently profiled in the Washington Business Journal -- is growing extremely rapidly, and we need your help!

Eight out of ten Americans say that they want to support environmentally responsible businesses, but many are simply don’t know how to judge ‘green’ claims. SB NOW’s certification will offer consumers an independent evaluation based on criteria that have been developed by businesses for businesses. Our immediate goal is to certify as many deserving local businesses as reliably “green” and and offer you the assurance that they are acting in a manner that protects the environment through our on-site audit process.

As a local non-profit, the Sustainable Business Network of Washington is in a unique position to work hand-in-hand with local businesses to meet our high standards. Our Green Business Certification program is designed to provide consumers with a trusted 3rd party Green business certification seal of approval, allowing them to purchase with confidence knowing that the business they are supporting with their dollars is operating with a truly high standard for environmental sustainability.

Our Goal is to raise $10,000 dollars by June 30 because we want to ensure we have additional resources to meet the demand for our Green Business Certification after the pilot phase is complete. If we can get one thousand people to donate just $10 we can meet this goal.

Please pass this notice on to your colleagues, friends, family or anyone else that you know that would be interested in making the DC area a better place to live and work. Your tax deductible contribution to SB NOW will help make that happen.

President Bush Proposes Greenhouse Gas Cap by 2025

2008-04-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

President Bush has proposed a new target for stopping the growth of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

Some highlights from the speeech, as released by the White House:

"To reach our 2025 goal, we will need to more rapidly slow the growth of power sector greenhouse gas emissions so that they peak within 10 to 15 years, and decline thereafter."
"By doing so, we will reduce emission levels in the power sector well below where they were projected to be when we first announced our climate strategy in 2002. There are a number of ways to achieve these reductions, but all responsible approaches depend on accelerating the development and deployment of new technologies."

Bush continues to caution against legislative solutions that might have a negative impact on the economy, stating: "Bad legislation would impose tremendous costs on our economy and American families without accomplishing the important climate change goals we share."

From E-Waste to Composting: Are you doing enough and how to do more when it comes to recycling

2008-04-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Join SB NOW on April 10th for a Recycling roundtable with local sustainability leaders. Come learn about cutting edge practices for recycling in your office/restaurant/home and walk away with a plan to make your business more sustainable.

Topics:
E-waste and responsible disposal
The cost of recycling
Recruiting your staff – a necessary step for successful recycling programs
Best practices for home offices, small offices, restaurants and more

Cocktails and Networking to follow.

April 10, 2008 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Topaz Hotel 1733 N Street NW Washington, DC

featuring:
Jeff Farbar – President, PC Recycler
David Troust – Recycling Consultant, Hospitality Industry
Barry Chenkin– Aquabarrel, LLC

Register: Jane Madden, 202-309-5532 maddenjp@gmail.com

Members: free.
Non-Members $25

SB NOW would like to thank Kimpton Hotels for providing the space for this event

SB NOW featured in Washington Business Journal

2008-03-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Friday, March 28, 2008

How green is your biz? New nonprofit can tell you

True green: Erik Hoffland, left, and Lee Boyle, of the Sustainable Business Network of Washington, are charged with deciphering which business operations are truly green, and which are just marketing.

Today, businesses can get a seal of environmental approval based on how their buildings are built. Next month, a nonprofit business network plans to test out a new green seal based on what goes on inside those buildings.

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington is creating a certification process for companies that are going green in their daily routines, from using recycled printer paper to switching to low-flow faucets -- essentially the internal operations equivalent to green building certifications such as the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system.

The nonprofit plans to test the program in at least six Washington-area offices and retailers, large and small, starting with the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District's headquarters on April 1.

SB NOW, working with an environmental consulting firm and other nonprofit and government agencies, is positioning its green business certificate as the regional standard for recognizing, measuring and verifying a company's green habits even if it doesn't own its building or control the basement heating-and-cooling units.

A crock of sales?

2008-02-25T07:29:00.000-08:00

When GM's Vice Chairman of Product Development Robert Lutz declared that "global warming is a crock" to a group of reporters, he was expressing his own personal opinion (according to Lutz) and was surprised at the attention - and reaction - his comments garnered. On GM's Fast Lane blog, Lutz went on to say: "My thoughts on what has or hasn’t been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors."

Mr. Lutz is correct in asserting his right to believe or disbelieve in climate change, just as we are all free to wonder whether or not his strongly stated personal beliefs might influence the decisions that he is making in his role in developing new products for General Motors. It is important to note that actions speak louder than words and as BreenBiz has noted, Lutz has overseen an increased focus on the development of low carbon vehicles at GM.

It is possible to think with your 'corporate head' and put aside personal opinions to do what is best in the eyes of "the market" - consumers, communities, employees, etc. Perhaps Mr. Lutz is doing just that.

Fortunately, we do not have to speculate. The answer will be clear in the showrooms of GM dealers over the course of the next few years. And people are free to 'vote with their wallets' and decide for themselves if they see a value in purchasing the hybrid cars or diesels that Lutz considers 'uneconomic.' If past sales (see chart) are an indication, people have already decided that he's wrong. It may not be economic for consumers, but clearly hybrid cars have been an intelligent choice for manufacturers.

Personally, I look forward to seeing all automakers looking for ways to improve fuel economy and pollution without compromising safety.

A word of thanks...and farewell

2008-02-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

Mike Mielke (left) executive director and co-founder of SB NOW has been lured all the way to the West Coast in a new role with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The decision to leave SB NOW was very difficult for him - and us - but we are confident that both Mike and SB NOW are poised for great things in the future. We will all miss Mike's vision, passion, and, above all, his unwavering belief that we can make Washington DC will be a better place to live and work.

On a personal note, I offer a heartfelt thank you for all Mike has done for me personally over the last four years that we have worked together. I will miss you.

John

Sustainable Hospitality Roundtable

2008-02-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Hospitality Roundtable followed by Networking and Drinks

February 21, 2008
6:00-9:00 pm
Hotel Rouge
1315 16th Street, NW.

Panelists include:

Mike Sutter, General Manager, Topaz Hotel – Eco-Champion for DC area Kimpton Hotels
Ed Virtue, General Manager, Hotel Monaco – Eco-Champion for DC area Kimpton Hotels;
Abby Flottemesch, Development Director, DC Central Kitchen/Campus Kitchen Project;
Hervé Houdré, General Manager, The Willard InterContinental Washington.

Kimpton Hotels support a sustainable world by using non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services through its Earthcare program. Every three months, new products and practices are introduced to Kimpton EarthCare which reduce environmental impact, while maintaining the hotels’ high quality of service.
DC Central Kitchen recycles over one ton of surplus food each day that would otherwise go to waste. DCCK then turns the food into 4,500 daily, nutritious meals for the greater Washington, DC region. The Campus Kitchen Project uses a similar model on college campuses to combat hunger and provide culinary skills to underserved populations.
Willard InterContinental initiated a sustainability plan called “Willard InterContinental – the Next 100 years.” The plan encompasses the triple bottom line of economic viability, social responsibility and environmental concern. Three teams develop and carry out the plan’s programs: Community and Suppliers; Customers and Employees; and Consumption, Waste, Energy and Emissions.

Green is Red-Hot

2008-01-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

An estimated 400 people came to the Bethesda Green Zone kick off this week. And it's not surprising - the majority of Americans believe that green initiatives make their community a better place to live. Some of the findings:

Most Americans believe local efforts to be environmentally sensitive by “going green” will pay off for their communities by attracting new businesses and development, creating “green collar jobs” and boosting the local economy.
More than half – 56 percent– believe their local government should “go green” and make environmentally friendly and energy efficient changes throughout their local community, even if they may have to significantly change their lifestyle.
Majorities also believe that if their local communities adopt more environmentally friendly policies, there will be a positive impact on the local economy.
Nearly half (48%) say they would be willing to pay higher taxes if the increase would fund environmentally friendly improvements in their community.

Bethesda green effort courts business support

2008-01-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

Livable plan: Mike Mielke of the Sustainable Business Network and Dave Feldman of the Livability Project are working together on Bethesda’s new green business initiative.

Bethesda is going green, but the move will require fistfuls of green from the business community to succeed.

Montgomery County leaders have awarded contracts to two nonprofits to reorganize the bustling city into the region's only "green zone," an example of 24/7 eco-friendly living and working. The nonprofits, along with a newly formed steering committee of businesses, legislators and environmentalists, are kicking off the Bethesda Green campaign at a public meeting Jan. 23.
Their first pitch will be to perhaps their most important audience: the business community, which will largely determine by its participation and checkbooks the success of the public-private effort.

"We're going to see a few businesses step up to the plate early," said Dave Feldman, president of the Livability Project, which is working with the Sustainable Business Network of Washington to manage the Bethesda Green project. "Like any startup business, it's dependent on the success of your product."

For now, the two contractors are starting off simply. Livability Project and SB NOW are using the Jan. 23 launchpad to recruit members for working groups to come up with a larger vision of ways to green the city. They will announce their intent to roll out new public bike racks, a plan to convert leftover restaurant grease into trolley biodiesel fuel, a new business certification program for environmentally friendly operations and streetside recycling bins next to as many of the city's 200 trash cans as financially possible.

So far, they have banked $24,000 from the county to fund the effort through March. Beyond that, it's up to SB NOW and Livability Project to find money through foundations, grants, county budgets, generous citizens and business sponsorships to sustain a project that could cost up to 10 times that initial figure.

"Our goal is by year three, we, being SB NOW and Livability, will move away from the project, and the green zone will be run by the community," said Executive Director Mike Mielke. "It's a public-private partnership, but the community ultimately owns it."

That's fine with local businesses -- as long as, they say, it remains their choice whether or not to buy into the program.

"We certainly want to be supportive," said Kevin Maloney, chairman of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of Maloney & Metz, a commercial real estate firm. "We want to be good neighbors. But what we would like ... and have every reason to believe it will go this way, is that the carrot approach is used, and not the stick. What we don't want are government regulations that get in the way of progress and stop people from being profitable."

Organizers, including Bethesda Green founders Seth Goldman, CEO of Honest Tea, and county Councilman George Leventhal, D-at large, say they shy away from a "command-and-control" approach.

But they point out that environmentally friendly measures will save businesses money -- a prospect that has already attracted the likes of Calvert Group Ltd., Federal Realty Investment Trust and Chevy Chase Bank to the steering committee. While initiatives are still in early discussion, SB NOW and Livability are kicking around ideas like automated bike-rental programs, environmental documentary nights and mapping technology that tracks the effectiveness of these changes.

Still, the rollout depends on the amount of funding raised. The contractors are applying for a grant from a Coca-Cola and National Recycling Coalition partnership for the recycling bins, and they have requested $85,000 from county leaders for the green business certification program.

"We certainly have high hopes," said Peter Ensign, a member of the Bethesda Green steering committee. "The worst-case scenario is that it takes longer than we're hoping for some of these things to be effected. But I do think they will come to pass. It is just a matter of time."

from the Washington Business Journal - January 11, 2007

"The New PR" is now available.

2008-01-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

It is obvious to many that the principles of sustainability are changing the way companies must communicate if they wish to be effective. The New PR is a 60-page handbook that describes a powerful model (developed by SBNOW board member John Friedman) based on five successful 'keys' for companies to increase their effectiveness by replacing 'spin' with transparency.

This handbook offers real-world examples of both success and 'learning opportunities' as well as checklists that provide companies with tools to evaluate their own programs and develop a more strategic approach.

The book is available in electronic downloadable format from the Sustainable Business Network of Washington in conjunction with the Caux Round Table.

More information about The New PR

The Caux Round Table (www.cauxroundtable.org) is an international network of experienced business leaders, principally from Japan, Europe and the United States, who seek practical business measures to improve the outcomes of globalization where business makes a sustainable profit on investment while stakeholder communities benefit. The CRT works with business and political leaders to design the intellectual strategies, management tools and practices to strengthen private enterprise and public governance to improve our global community.

Bethesda is going Green

2008-01-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

Bethesda Green will serve as a living model that will sustain the current and future development of Bethesda by reducing the community’s environmental footprint, attracting environmentally-conscious consumers, and promoting an environmental ethic. Through the collective efforts of the entire community, we will help realize the goal of making Bethesda a better place to live and work.

Why Go Green?
An environmentally sustainable community is a place that meets the diverse needs of existing and future residents and where the natural world is preserved and enhanced. These communities provide a high quality of life for all. They are a place where people want to live, work and shop, now and in the future.

These communities do not happen by accident – they require careful planning and must be managed and supported so they can continue to develop in a sustainable manner. Maintaining these communities requires the commitment and investment of every major sector including government, academic institutions, not-for-profit community groups and business.

Kick off: January 23, 2008 3:30 - 5:00 PM FREE

Tell us what you think of the Bethesda Green Zone

Congressional Bank Switches To Wind Power

2007-11-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

Congressional Bank is switching its Maryland and Washington, D.C. branches to 100 percent wind power. It’s the first bank in the Washington region to choose green power.

The Congressional Bank purchase, brokered by SBNOW member Clean Currents, will offset approximately 332,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Congressional Bank is a community bank serving customers in the greater Washington area with branches in Rockville, Potomac, Reston, and downtown DC.

Click here to find out how Clean Currents and other SBNOW members can help you save money and the environment at the same time.

Federal Trade Commission Moves to Update 'Green' Marketing Guidelines

2007-11-27T06:35:00.000-08:00

Today 8 out of every ten Americans believe that it is important to buy from ‘green’ companies – (PSB Green Brands 2007) but seven out of ten either ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agree that when companies describe a product as ‘green’ it is really a marketing tactic (Ipsos Ried).

Clearly companies that can prove to the satisfaction of the marketplace that they are truly environmentally friendly, will have a competitive advantage compared to those that cannot. The Washington Post is reporting that the Federal Trade Commission is planning to accelerate a review of its decade-old "green" marketing guidelines.

The FTC, which was scheduled to review its guidelines in 2009, said that on Jan. 8, in the first of a series of public meetings, it would examine carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates that claim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in one place to offset emissions elsewhere.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

2007-11-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

New York has the Hudson. Paris has the Seine. And Washington DC has the Potomac.

The Potomac River has been celebrated as an environmental success story for its comeback since in the 1960s. However, a new study by the Potomac Conservancy, a local not for profit, finds that the might be in danger of backsliding after a decades-long rehabilitation. The group gives the river a near failing grade of D plus in its first "State of the Nation's River" report.

The Potomac Conservancy's report cites and increasing number of "intersex" fish - fish that show elements of both genders - are being found in the river, along with high levels of dirt, sewage and other pollutants that wash down from farms and fast-expanding Washington suburbs.

Traffic / Coal Plants Increase DC Pollution

2007-10-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

News that the Washington DC metropolitan area outpaces some industrialized nations including Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Denmark or Switzerland, each of which has more people when it comes to pollution (Washington Post, 9/30/2007) may come as a shock to those who were unaware that the combination of the nation's second-worst traffic and the number of coal-fired power plants in the area (like this one in Maryland) have had this effect.

At the same time, surveys show that the majority of Americans believe that the 'green' label is nothing more than marketing 'spin' rather than a reflection of actual commitment and practices to safeguard our environment.

What is a responsible business to do? The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) offers a number of ways companies can implement and become recognized for their commitments and practices. Through the use of SB NOW's 'Essential Guide To Greening Your Business' companies can measure and become certified for their efforts. This third-party validation can go a long way to telling your customers, employees, stakeholders, regulators and the community in which you operate that you're more concerned with being green than being seen as green. For more information, email greenguide@sbnow.org

Coming Soon! The Essential Guide to Greening Your Business

2007-09-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

How do you go from commitment to practices? A new tool from the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) 'The Essential Guide To Greening Your Business' is in final stages of preparation.

World View of Social Responsibility

2007-09-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

American companies lead the world in their policies and practices toward equal rights for women, but lag behind their European and Asian counterparts when it comes to environmental programs, according to a new report released by Ethical Investment Research Services. EIRIS, an independent research provider with main offices in London, researched thousands of companies across the globe to compile this report. Looking at company annual reports, sustainability/CSR reports, company websites, survey responses and third party materials.

Europe and Japan have the highest number of companies with environmental protocols in place, with over 90% of companies having some form of an environmental policy.
Over 50% of European and Japanese companies have demonstrated a quantitative improvement in their environmental performance.
Less than 20% of US companies can make the same claim, the study reports.

The report concludes that corporate responsibility will continue to grow globally, with emerging markets rushing to meet the higher standards found in the European Union. Developed markets will also see an increase in corporate responsibility, transparency and reporting on ESG issues.

Green Your Business - September 20

2007-09-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) boasts over 100 members who are helping to make the region a better place to live and work.

Join us to find out how to save money and the planet at the same time at this informal networking event with the following SB NOW member companies.

Companies that can help you green your business:

Clean Currents, LLC – Clean Currents delivers clean energy solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming.
Ecoprint – Go with the green choice: Ecoprint is recognized as a leader in environmentally responsible printing.
Strategic Sustainability Consulting – Interested in understanding and addressing your environmental impacts? SSC can help you green your operations.

Companies that can help you green your supply chain:

Community IT Innovators – Make the right choice when it comes to technology - CITI provides technology consulting and IT services to nonprofits and businesses that want to be more sustainable at a competitive price.
BetterWorld Telecom – reduce your office phone and Internet bills by an average of 28% with the only nationwide customer-focused provider that has a triple bottom line (people, planet and profits) business model.

September 20, 2007, 6:00 PM
Lava Room, Hotel Rouge
1315 16th St NW
Washington, DC 20036

Join us afterwards in Bar Rouge for cocktails and networking!

Tool Enables Companies to Measure Their Water Consumption

2007-08-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Precious resources like the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River remind us of the importance of protecting this natural resource. Now, the World Business Council on Sustainable Development has developed a tool that allows companies to measure their 'water footprint' much in the same way that companies are now looking at their impact on carbon emissions.

Click here for more information.

House Passes Green Energy Bill

2007-08-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Prior to the summer recess, the US House of Representatives took an unprecedented step toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions by passing a bill requiring utility companies to produce 15 percent of their electricity from wind and solar power. The bill will have to be reconciled with a Senate version, which passed last June but is more restrained and emphasizes slightly different priorities.

The bill sailed through the House with a 241-172 vote, despite fervent opposition from big oil and gas companies and the White House, which has threatened to veto the measure.

Twenty-six Republicans crossed party lines to vote for the initiative.

More information

Web Site Ranks CO2 Emissions For Cars

2007-08-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

Remember that CARBON starts with CAR ...

A UK web site allows people to find out how much CO2 their automotive choices produce. You can also find out how to reduce emissions and save money while you drive. Models and Makes may not be same as in the U.S., but what a great idea to help people make informed and educated choices.

Check it out - it's easy to use.

Majority of Top Companies Report on Sustainability Efforts

2007-08-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

Sustainability reporting is becoming more common than not among the world's top brands, according to recent research from Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The organization looked at the world's top 100 brands, as ranked by Interbrand and Business Week.

Some of the findings:

80 percent of the top 15 global brands release reports detailing economic, environmental and social performance, using metrics developed by GRI. Forty-three percent of the top 100 global brands also issue similar reports.
The list's top five brands, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, IBM, General Electric and Nokia, all use GRI's Sustainability Guidelines.
GRI also noticed a correlation between high profitability and sustainability reporting.
71 percent of the top 15 ranked global companies base their sustainability reports on GRI guidelines. More than 60 percent of these top 100 companies do the same.

2007-07-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

A new debate has been spawned after the Live Earth concerts. Added to the continuing debate on whether or not climate changes is a crisis and the question whether or not a series of global concerts will have the desired impact (raise awareness and demonstrate 'green' behavior), a new question has been added: the concerts a success, a failure or something in between? More to the point, did the concerts increase awareness and attention to a climate in crisis or merely serve as a venue to see some musicians/stars?

It all depends on the media from whom you get your information:

Environment News Service: Live Earth Lights Up Seven Continents
ABC News: Live Earth Concerts Not So Green
UK Telegraph: Live Earth is a win for Global Yawning
Seattle Times: Going Green Is Global at Life Earth Concerts

Live Earth Concert 07-07-07

2007-07-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 7, 2007 will be the largest music event of the year: 7 concerts across 7 countries on one day. Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian will present "Mother Earth," a Live Earth-affiliated event. Artists scheduled to appear include Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Blues Nation. The day will also feature Native American rock, funk, punk, reggae, gospel and Andean music in addition to films. Former Vice President and academy award winner (for 'An Inconvient Truth') Al Gore will participate as well.

Event Details: A FREE 7/7/07 concert near the Capitol
When: Saturday, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Outdoors on the National Museum of the American Indian's Welcome Plaza at 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW, facing the U.S. Capitol.

DC area residents can listen to the Live Earth concerts at 94.7 The Globe radio - Washington DC's first 'Green Focussed' radio station - presents the concert starting at noon.

Investment in Sustainable Energy Soaring

2007-06-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Agence France-Presse (AFP) is reporting that global investment in sustainable energy is soaring based on the alignment of business, government and public (consumer) interests.

"Capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from 80 billion dollars in 2005 to a record 100 billion dollars in 2006," the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a statement.

The report, entitled Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investments, 2007, concludes that the foremost source of growth for the sustainable energy sector has been the global introduction of legislation and support mechanisms by governments, and cited the public's concern over climate change and high oil prices as providing additional impetus.

"Consumers and companies are supporting the roll out of a new energy infrastructure and a change in individual and corporate behaviour," stated the report.

I was wrong -

2007-05-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

In the interest of transparency, I must admit that I misinterpreted a quote from Jon Entine that appeared in a recent article critical of socially responsible investing in the Washington Post. Mr. Entine responded to me swiftly and in no uncertain terms made it clear that he felt personally attacked by some of my comments. While I believe that he and I have some fundamental disagreements in philosophy, he (as is any human being) is entitled to respectful dialogue and debate. Therefore, I have removed the offending post and replaced it with this one (since things tend to live on in cyberspace).

If you return to this blog, and I hope you do, please accept my appology for misrepresenting your position but more importantly for the portions that you found personally offensive. No offense was meant.

Thomas L. Friedman (no relation) makes the point that increasingly savvy consumers recognize that they are investing with their dollars with every purchasing decision. Likewise, I believe that increasingly savvy investors realize that when they invest in companies or funds, they are actively supporting those businesses.

Socially responsible investing may be an inexact science (yes, it's true, Enron was once their darling) but that by no means invalidates the concept. Thankfully, we have a market economy. So, as increasing numbers of investors seek to put their money in responsible investments, those investments will have to get better and better at ensuring that they provide support for their investors' personal economic, social and environmental 'pillars.'

Because savvy investors watch the results of their investments.

Working Together to Build Better Businesses & Stronger Communities

2007-05-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Date: 6/8/2007
Time: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Location: George Washington University Marvin Center 800 21st Street, NW Continental Ballroom, 3rd floor Washington, DC

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) is hosting its third Spring Corporate Responsibility Symposium on June 8, 2007 at George Washington University from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The event is being co-hosted by the Environmental Sustainability Program of the GW Institute for Corporate Responsibility.

The title of year’s event is “Working Together to Build Better Companies and Stronger Communities,” and the event will focus on exchanging ideas and promoting practical solutions that can generate revenue for organizations and positively benefit local communities.

Download the one page flier here.

The Symposium, the premiere event of its kind in Washington DC region offers a unique opportunity to dialogue, network, exchange ideas and promote practical solutions that promote sustainable companies and communities, focusing on the opportunities (and challenges) in the Washington DC area. The Symposium is designed to help you come away with the tools, resources and strategies to come to grips with the imperative of sustainability and promote practical solutions that help make the National Capital region a better place to live and work.

Why You Should Attend
The Symposium provides practical information that you can use, showcasing successful strategies being implemented by pioneers in the field and highlighting solutions that can generate revenue for business and benefit local communities. Our events attract a dynamic mix of business, government and nonprofit leaders because we offer a chance to learn about strategies being executed by each sector.

Morning (concurrent sessions):
Repairing the Social Contract – Our expert panel of will
discuss the changing nature of the social contract between employer and
employee, the state of US health care coverage, and the efforts – both local and national – to address the issue of our broken health care system.

The Business Case for CR–Our expert panel of will discuss the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility (CR), the link between competitive advantage and CR, as well as how principles of social and environmental responsibility apply for businesses both large and small.

Afternoon sessions include:

Approaches to Sustainable Development – Our expert panel of leaders from the private sector, government and nonprofit communities will discuss how their organizations are integrating sustainability principles into their operations and strategies, as well as their efforts to collaborate across sectors for mutual benefit.

Sustainability Café – The café will help you identify opportunities to develop sustainable strategies for your organization and on fostering cross-sector partnerships to address pressing issues of concern to all.

Featured speakers, panelists and moderators

Judith Hochhauser Schneider, Global Manager, Environmental Markets & Sustainabilty, DuPont

Matt Bauer, President, BetterWorld Telecom

Neil Albert, Washington DC Deputy Mayor for Economic Development

John Friedman, Senior Manager Public Relations, Sodexho, Inc.

Jeff Erikson, Vice President for Client Services, SustainAbility

Harriet Tregoning, Director of the DC Office of Planning

Bennett Freeman, Senior Vice President for Social Research and Policy, Calvert Group

Efforts to Green the Capitol Struggle

2007-05-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

In April, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, launched a plan to "green" the Capitol complex, which includes the U.S. Capitol building, the Supreme Court, Library of Congress and 24 other buildings on Capitol Hill. Pelosi's plan to make the U.S. Capitol complex more environmentally friendly is being hampered by the reluctance of lawmakers from coal-producing states to implement changes at the complex's coal-burning power plant.Coal accounts for almost half (49 percent) of the Capitol Power Plant's output. The balance is natural gas and heating oil make up the rest.

Cat Yellow Goes Green

2007-05-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of things you can call a company that's core business is building heavy equipment used in mining and construction industries, but is 'green' one of them?

Jim Owens, Caterpillar's chairman and CEO believes that the answer is yes. He is quoted in the company's 2006 Sustainability Report saying "sustainable development can create value for our customers, investors and environment."

In addition, the company has had a program since the 1970s to remanufacture parts and equipment. "Reman is really a recycling business," explains Steve Fisher, a Cat vice president who oversees the unit. "Instead of wood, paper and plastic, we're recycling engines and components."

Preparing for the future
The environmental benefits are significant - recycling industrial equipment saves raw materials and energy and reduces waste. What's more, if the U.S. takes steps to require manufacturers to take back their products, as the European Union has done, Caterpillar will be ready.

Meanwhile, Cat is supporting efforts to build mass transit systems to reduce pollution and congestion in 18 big cities in Asia and Latin America. Close to home, Cat makes diesel/hybrid engines for low-pollution General Motors buses in Seattle.

Read more --> Caterpillar Goes Green

Things We Can Do In DC to Protect the Environment

2007-04-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

It is undeniable that progress has been made since the first Earth Day. Our air is cleaner. Our rivers are cleaner. The Chesapeake Bay is cleaner. And yet, there is a great sense that we are losing the battle to protect the environment.

Let's face it, the 'Global Warming' discussion has really 'heated up' - and events like the unusual weather patterns here in Washington seem to give creedence to the warnings of scientists and researchers.

Here are some things we can all do to help protect our environment.

Political: Originally designed to reduce congestion downtown by encouraging carpooling, until recently HOV lanes also rewarded hybrid vehicles in Virginia. In Virginia hybrid vehicles purchased before July 1, 2007 can use HOV lanes. Rather than rescinding the right, Virignia should reinstate and reinforce it. And we should expand it to include all HOV lanes in metro area (Maryland, this means you.)
Save Electricity: Get and use a programmable thermostat for your house. No sense paying for heat and air conditioning when no one is home.
Save Gas: Turn off idle engines. In 1975 in Germany it was common practice to shut off car engines at railroad crossings and red lights when it would be more than 30 seconds until you were able to move. Take advantage of the 'countdown' timers on crosswalks that tell you how long you'll have to wait, save fuel and our air. (At $3.00 a gallon, everyone wins.)
Listen: Why turn on the picture tube when you're getting ready to go? You can get traffic reports from the radio, rather than the TV. WTOP (103.5 FM, 103.9 FM, www.wtopnews.com) runs traffic and weather every 10 minutes - on the eights - and Washington Post Radio (103.5 FM, 1500 AM, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/wtwpradio/index.html. runs it at :15 and :45 after the hour. 'The Globe' http://www.947theglobe.com/ 94.7 FM ("World Class Rock") is championing itself as an environmental station and shares 'green' ideas on the air, and their web site.

A New Slogan for Washington DC?

2007-03-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

The District of Columbia is looking for a new slogan to replace 'Taxation Without Representation.'

At SB NOW we talk about the need to make the 'Capital of Capitalism' more sustainable.

How great would it be to have 'The Capital of Capitalism' as the new theme?

New director of Office Planning: "Make DC More Sustainable"

2007-03-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

The Washington Business Journal is reporting that the District's new director of the Office of Planning has a new vision for Washington DC:

"The District needs to reframe itself as a sustainable, green city," Harriett Tregoning is quoted as saying. "We need to have the kind of growth and development in our city and region that benefits the environment, enhances our economy, makes it stronger and more robust and engages more of our city in the economy and in civic life. We want to be a place where quality of life and community is so attractive that everybody wants to be here."

Read the article

Coppi's Hosts 1st Sustainable Cuisine Dinner for SB NOW

2007-03-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

Coppi's Restaurant hosted the first 'sustainable cuisine' dinner FUNdraiser for the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) on March 27. The four course dinner, complete with wine pairings, included

an appetizer of italian cheeses and fruit
housemade organic past tossed in a wild Pennsylvania muchroom cream sauce with sundried tomatos and oregano
organic New York Strip steak with spicy ginger tomato sauce and
Coppi's famous 'calzone di Nutella.'

Each course was accompanied by a wine selected specificially to match.

The dinner was the first in a series of events designed to let people 'put their mouth where their money is.' Attendees support the work of SB NOW, as well as local, socially responsible restaurants.

Two Views on Global Warming

2007-03-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Threat from Global Warming Overstated
From the Babylon of Gilgamesh to the post-Eden of Noah, every age has viewed climate change cataclysmically, as retribution for human greed and sinfulness, says ABC News' Philip Stott. Extreme weather events are ever present, and there is no evidence of systematic increases. Outside the tropics, variability should decrease in a warmer world. If this is a "crisis," then the world is in permanent "crisis," but will be less prone to "crisis" with warming. Read the piece here.

Threat is Real, and Here
Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that the harmful effects of global warming on daily life are already showing up, and within a couple of decades hundreds of millions of people won't have enough water while tens of millions of others will be flooded out of their homes each year as the Earth reels from rising temperatures and sea levels, according to portions of a draft of an international scientific report to be released in Belgium later this year.

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) encourages diverse opinions and welcomes people from industry, government, academia and the not-for-profit community to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions. Here on our blog and at our events.

London Aims to be Europe's 'Greenest' City

2007-03-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

On February 27 London Mayor Ken Livingstone announced a comprehensive plan to cut the city's greenhouse-gas emissions by 60% within 20 years. This would make London the 'greenest' city in Europe. In the U.S. that distinction is often given to Portland, Oregon.

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) works to promote and advance socially responsible business in the capital of capitalism. Find out more at www.sbnow.org.

A New Look and Name

2007-03-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW), easier to remember, and reflects the excitement about socially responsible business that is growing in the 'capital of Capitalism.'

What's Behind A Name

2006-12-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

The decision to change the organization's name from 'the Washington DC Sustainable Business Network (DCSBN)' to the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SBNOW) was based on our desire market the organization with a catchier name and acronym. At the same time we wanted to maintain the concept of a network, that we're Washington-DC based and focussed and that we believe in the power of sustainable businesses to drive social, environmental and economic improvements in and around our nation's capital.

Changing Over

2006-12-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

The old blog, http://dcsbn.blogspot.com/, is migrating over to http://sustainnow.blogspot.com/. Please bear with us as we complete this process.