SSC Has Moved!

SSC has moved to a new blog home. Please change your bookmarks to http://sustainabilityconsulting.wordpress.com/. See you there soon!

BOOK REVIEW: GREEN TO GOLD

Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value and Build Competitive Advantage

by Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston

"No executive can afford to ignore the Green Wave sweeping the business world. This book shows how to make sustainability a core element of strategy - and profit from it." ~ Chad Holliday, CEO, DuPont

Environmental issues are no longer just the concern of government, NGOs and eco-minded individuals. Societal knowledge, and awareness of these issues has led to an increase in corporate accountability. This book offers a structured guide on how to become a part of the Green Wave and achieve Eco-Advantage for your business. To do this, authors Esty and Winston provide examples of corporate losses and gains, strategies to achieve Eco-Advantage, and tools needed for eco-tracking, redesign and culture-building. This book builds an organized argument for the importance of proactive environmental planning and decision-making that even the most conservative, profit-minded businessman cannot refute. 

The argument begins with background case study examples from  Sony and BP to compare the downside costs and upside gains that can result from ignoring or managing for environmental risks. The authors then follow with background information on the top 10 environmental issues, important stakeholders, and the top 50 Green Wave corporations doing the best to address these issues. The book then addresses how to get started on obtaining your Eco-Advantage.

The authors offer an organized Eco-Advantage toolkit. This includes how to: cultivate an Eco-Advantage mindset; develop eco-tracking through AUDIO and Life Cycle Assessment tools; redesign and drive innovation; and create a business culture that incorporates Eco-Advantage decision-making as part of everyday actions. Their green-to-gold plays address eight important areas to help reduce downside costs and risks and maximize revenues and intangible gain. This includes managing for things such as eco-efficiency, eco-risk control, eco-sales and marketing, and intangible value. The book has a very positive outlook on the value of joining the Green Wave, but it does not ignore the fact that some environmental initiatives will fall short or fail. To address this the book explains thirteen actions that lead to failure along with solutions and tools to avoid them.

The examples and strategies in Green to Gold are best geared towards medium to large businesses or corporations, however, as the authors point out environmental accountability is also becoming more and more important for smaller businesses as well. This book offers an interesting read with numerous examples, summary tables, and key highlighted points that make the information and strategies very accessible and easy to follow. For this reason, SSC recommends this book to any business owner or manager concerned with their bottom line and how to deal with environmental issues that affect it. 

NEWS: Sports For Nature

What’s more fun than playing sports? Playing sports that raise money to protect our wildlife! This past April we joined seventeen other companies to sponsor an event called Tennis For Nature, a doubles benefit tournament held in Herndon, VA. Fifty-six players were cheered on by over 400 spectators to raise money for two environmental organizations: Defenders of Wildlife and Alaska Wilderness League. Winners were awarded trophies, a one-month membership to the Sport & Health Club, and most importantly, voted to split the funds raised 50/50 between the two organizations. In the end, the event raised a grand total of over $32,000! These funds will help to protect the gray wolf population of the Northern Rockies, support polar bears in Alaska, and improve and protect the habitat of gopher tortoises in Florida. Now, that’s an ACE for the environment!

NEWS: Companies Reporting Sustainability Data Come Out On Top

As many of us have suspected, a recent report by GMA and PricewaterhouseCoopers titled “The Food, Beverage, and Consumer Products Industry - Achieving Superior Financial Performance in a Challenging Economy - 2008” now confirms that those companies which report sustainability data consistently generate higher cash flow, outperform on gross margins and return on sales, and experience rising shareholder return and higher return on assets than non-reporting businesses. Greater return on assets and cash flows can likely be explained by wise investment decisions and operational improvements. Better overall performance may be attributed to the following two explanations. First, sustainable practices often result in leaner operations which in turn yields cost savings on energy and inputs. Second, consumers support environmentally-conscious companies, paying a premium for goods produced through sustainable practice. Still, it may be too soon to determine if green companies are better at a) meeting consumer demand, and/or b) adapting to fluctuating markets, than non-green firms. We can, however, safely conclude that sustainable practice is paying off at the bottom line for those companies committed to green business.

NEWS: A Recipe for Success – Sustainable Restaurants Pocket More Green

The Green Revolution hits the restaurant world as illustrated in a recent article on Entrepreneur.com, which details how restaurants (or any business, for that matter) can reap the benefits of “going green.” The National Restaurant Association estimates that one million U.S. restaurants serving 70 billion meals annually and employing 13 million people generate revenues of over $500 billion each year. Recognizing the industry’s substantial economic impacts, the article explores the pay-offs and steps to take for sustainable restaurant practices.

Logistics is a key first step for greening your restaurant. American food products are estimated to travel 1,500 miles before consumption- an unsustainable distance given today’s fuel economy. One offered solution is to use local food sources, which in turn provides consumers with food that is fresher and tastes better- a competitive advantage for you- while supporting the local economy.

And what about pay offs? Eric Haley, Vice President of America’s first franchised national green restaurant chain Pizza Fusions states, “What we are seeing is that customers are voting with their dollars in support of businesses that are offering green solutions.” We vote our support!

For a detailed guide of how to get your restaurant on the path to sustainability, check out our new book: A Recipe for Going Green: Sustainability 101 for Restaurant. Its three sections work together to form a comprehensive resource for restaurant owners and managers, from initially asking the right questions to harnessing the entire restaurant community’s skills and enthusiasm—from simple steps for energy efficiency and water conservation to collaboration with communities to support local economies.

NEWS: SSC publishes new book - A Recipe for Going Green: Sustainability 101 for Restaurants

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is excited to announce a new addition to its online bookstore: A Recipe for Going Green: Sustainability 101 for Restaurant. This book is designed to help guide your restaurant on a path to sustainability. Its three sections work together to form a comprehensive resource for restaurant owners and managers, from initially asking the right questions to harnessing the entire restaurant community’s skills and enthusiasm—from simple steps for energy efficiency and water conservation to collaboration with communities to support local economies.

At SSC’s online bookstore, small businesses and individuals can purchase and download helpful tools with tips on sustainability and green living. Customers can choose from an extensive list of publications, such as SSC’s Sustainability 101 series, as well as a host of other useful publications with tips and advice for "going green." The material can be purchased and immediately downloaded to the desktop.

Visit the Marketplace by going to www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and clicking on "Visit Our Store."

Check out other publications such as:

• Ten Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs
• Guide to Buying Eco-friendly Paper
• Sustainable Food Production
• Green IT
• Making Cents Out of Sustainability
• Green Meetings and Events
• Sustainability 101 for Healthcare Facilities

Orders of more than 10 publications may qualify for a discount. Contact SSC at info@sustainabilityconsulting.com for more information.

VIEWS: Sustainability Consulting: One Size Does NOT Fit All

To remain competitive in an increasingly global marketplace, companies of all shapes and sizes and from different industries and sectors are introducing sustainability programs to gain a competitive advantage. Companies are expected to react to these changing dynamics and to address the changing consumer preferences for environmentally and socially sustainable products and services. The ideas of corporate social responsibility and sustainability are no longer fringe issues or passing trends, but are topping the list of strategic issues of executive management at Fortune 500 companies. Most multinational firms have incorporated some sort of sustainability initiative within operations, such as ethical sourcing, measuring and reducing carbon usage and recycling initiatives.

However, small- and medium-size companies are in a unique situation when it comes to sustainability. These firms don’t necessarily have the time, money or other resources to lead a full-blown, comprehensive sustainability program. Because of these differences, it is important to realize that sustainability consulting cannot be a “one size fits all” approach. What works for a Fortune 100 company most likely will not be a good fit for a small business. This is why it’s so important to hire consultants that really understand the process of developing and implementing sustainability programs, the resources available and constraints to expect, as well as the stakeholder “buy-in” necessary to execute a successful sustainability strategy for a small- or medium-size company. With these pieces in place, professional sustainability consultants can successfully navigate companies through the sustainability arena.

Sustainability consultants must remain flexible and adaptable, and should be competent in assessing the feasibility of programs and identify long-term opportunities and constraints. Consultants should recognize that a company typically cannot make one isolated change without addressing the impact of that change on other issues in the business. This “results-oriented” thinking ignores the complexity of execution and implementation of programs and does not provide opportunities for the necessary reflection and evaluation of the sustainability initiatives.

One of the key factors contributing to success of a sustainability plan is the level of collaboration and engagement among employees and other stakeholders during the planning process. This balance of top-down and bottom-up planning increases the likelihood of the plan gaining support and advocacy from stakeholders during the implementation phase. Finally, consultants should work with companies to plan long-term sustainability programs that are tied into business objectives, which will deliver a more integrated approach to sustainability. This is critical, as most “knee-jerk” programs that are not well-thought out, planned or executed have not proven to be very successful or sustainable.
If you are a small business that is interested in hiring a sustainability consultant, contact us for a free consultation. We can help you think through the best way to approach "going green" with special attention to your small business realities. Call (202-470-3248) or email us (info@sustainabilityconsulting.com) today!

PEOPLE: SSC Summer Interns

We'd like to take a minute to welcome our new spring interns. They are an intrepid bunch with a wide-ranging skill set, and we're looking forward to tapping into their knowledge!

Brittany Durbin is a freshly minted graduate of Bucknell University where she studied management and studio art, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Her immediate career plans include beginning her first full-time job with Lord & Taylor in New York City this September, entering their esteemed executive trainee program in order to earn job status as a buyer and financial planner. Ms. Durbin is passionate about helping companies become more (if not entirely) sustainable and plans to make this a part of her career in the future. She currently resides in her hometown of Ellwood City, PA, and enjoys all things "Pittsburgh," tennis, music new and old, and art.

Ida Arabshahi is currently a graduate student in a dual MA degree program at American University and the University for Peace in Costa Rica where she is studying natural resources and sustainable development. She has experience working on a wide range of issues in the environmental field including environmental justice, environmental education, and environmental legislation. Ida is interested in sustainable supply chains and transboundary environmental conflict management.

Joe Vandette is currently pursuing undergraduate degrees in Environmental Studies and Marketing at the University of Utah. His interest in sustainability began while studying resource management at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Joe returned to the States and helped conduct carbon emissions inventories as a volunteer at the University of Montana and as an intern at the University of Utah Office of Sustainability. When not involved with sustainability-related initiatives, Joe can be found outdoors, hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding.

April Hansgate is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology at the University of Maryland. She has a strong background in scientific research, plant conservation, economics, and adaptive management for planning conservation programs.

Claire Miziolek is in her last year as an undergraduate at Cornell University where she has been pursuing a double major in Economics and Psychology. She is interested in combining these skills to assist and promote businesses into more sustainable practices. She was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she lived next to a forest, sparking her early interest in the environment. She is an active member of the Sustainable Enterprise Association at Cornell and recently became a Master Composter.

NEWS: Further Evidence Supporting Positive Impact of Engaged Employees

If you aren’t already convinced of the business case and competitive advantage that can be gained by developing employees who are fully engaged in your organization’s work, the 2008 State of Employee Engagement report, published by BlessingWhite, will turn you into a believer. BlessingWhite, a global consultancy that recognizes the important link between employee engagement and leadership development in creating high-performance and sustainable organizations, released it’s annual report on the state of employee engagement in North America just last month. The report highlights global research and shares strategies for implementing employee engagement initiatives. BlessingWhite also presents a framework that illustrates the five levels of engagement and shares best practices gleaned from interviews with managers around the world.

One of the most noteworthy topics the report addresses is the challenge of varying definitions of “engagement.” While some organizations describe engagement as strictly job satisfaction or emotional commitment to the organization, BlessingWhite’s model for employee engagement blends maximum job satisfaction (employees enjoy what they do and do it well) and maximum job contribution (employees recognize the contribution they are making to the organization’s overall goals). The report also differentiates between engaged and disengaged employees in terms of retention, highlighting that engaged employees stay with a company or job for what they give (they like their work), while disengaged employees stay for what they get (favorable job conditions, growth opportunities or job security). BlessingWhite notes the popular correlation between employee engagement and retention, noting that 85% of engaged employees in North America indicated that they plan to stay with their employer through 2008.

One of the key takeaways of the report is that the most successful organizations implement and multi-faceted approach to employee engagement and consider it an ongoing priority, not just a once-a-year event.

Click here to read highlights and key findings of the report: http://www.blessingwhite.com/EEE__report.asp Employee Engagement Report 2008 – North American Overview – Published April 2008

NEWS: Survey Says…

A recent study by Sirota Survey Intelligence, a firm that specializes in attitude research, recently published a survey reinforcing the widely known correlation between a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and employees’ attitudes about key drivers and motivators related to job satisfaction. Seventy per cent of the 1.5 million employees from 70 organizations responded that they are positive about their employer’s commitment to CSR. The data indicated that employees who feel positive about the company’s CSR initiatives also feel positive about other key indicators of the company’s success, such as:

- Senior management’s integrity
- Senior management’s inspirational sense of direction
- Organization’s competitiveness in the marketplace
- Company’s interest in employees’ well-being
- Employees’ engagement or pride in their organization

Click here to read the article and survey data: http://www.crmlearning.com/blog/?p=31Workers Satisfied With Company’s Social Responsibility Are More Engaged and Positive

This is certainly not breaking news – in recent years, many studies have been conducted to determine what incentives motivate employees and repeatedly show that more employees are pursuing careers with companies that are socially and environmentally responsible. In addition to the cost savings of implementing “green” operations, employers also enjoy fewer recruiting, hiring and training expenses in the long-term, as companies with integrated CSR strategies are more likely to attract and retain top talent.

NEWS: SSC featured in Entrepreneur.com

Extra! Extra! Read all about Strategic Sustainability Consulting in this month’s issue of Entrepreneur.com – SSC was interviewed and asked to provide insight on the important role employees can play in greening business. With a circulation of over 2 million subscribers, Entrepreneur.com is a great way to spread the word about how easy creating more sustainable businesses can be.

This article shares a story about how the founder of a payroll and HR solutions provider not only ensured that recycled materials and energy-efficient lighting were incorporated in its new offices, but also engaged 14 employees in a Green Team to brainstorm other ways the company can be a good corporate citizen. This level of employee engagement supports the recent findings that over 50% of adult employees feel their companies should do more to be environmentally friendly. I noted in the interview that giving employees these opportunities to contribute outside of the scope of their daily responsibilities creates a sense of ownership and loyalty that conventional employee retention programs do not. These environmentally and socially responsible initiatives give smaller companies the edge needed to compete with bigger corporations.

And for all the executives and senior managers reading out there, here’s a key takeaway for you – lead the initial green efforts by choosing one employee from each department to serve on the Green Team, and work with them to create the scope of the team and set goals for the upcoming year. Help them get of the ground, then stay in the loop and make sure information consistently flows up to the “C” suite.

Read the entire article here:
Green Team: Make your employees part of the solution by tapping them for environmentally friendly ideas by Chris Penttila, Entrepreneur Magazine April 2008

Also, if you’d like to find out how to make your company more eco-friendly, check out SSC’s new Sustainability Marketplace online – visit www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and click on “Visit Our Store” to find publications like “Making Cents out of Sustainability,” “Green IT,” or “Ten Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs.” Also check out our new webinar, Implementing a Green IT Program, hosted by Jessica Vreeswijk, Founder of GreenITtools.com, on Thursday, May 1.

Register for the webinar here

NEWS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting Launches Online Marketplace

"This is another way SSC is reaching out to small businesses and providing simple, practical tools for creating sustainable operations," says SSC President Jennifer Woofter

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is excited to announce the launch of the Sustainability Consulting Marketplace, an online bookstore where small businesses and individuals can purchase and download helpful tools with tips on sustainability and green living. Customers can choose from an extensive list of publications, such as SSC’s Sustainability 101series, and immediately download them right to their desktop.

Each Sustainability 101 series is comprised of three sections that form a comprehensive resource for businesses as they work toward greening their operations, from initially asking the right questions to harnessing the entire organization's or community's skills and enthusiasm. Customers can purchase and download Sustainability 101 for Healthcare Facilities and Sustainability 101 for Churches, as well as a host of other useful publications with tips and advice for "going green."

"We specialize in helping small and medium size organizations implement sustainability solutions usually reserved for larger companies," says SSC's President, Jennifer Woofter. "The Marketplace is another way we can reach these companies and provide resources and services to help them become more sustainable."

Visit the Marketplace by going to www.sustainabilityconsulting.com and clicking on "Visit Our Store." Check out other publications such as:

Ten Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs Guide to Buying Eco-friendly Paper Sustainable Food Production Green IT Making Cents Out of Sustainability Green Meetings and Events Orders of more than 10 publications may qualify for a discount. Contact SSC at info@sustainabilityconsulting.com for more information.

NEWS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting Ranked Top 10 in 2007 CR Reporting Awards

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is pleased to announce that it received "Top Ten" rankings for two different categories in the 2007 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Reporting Awards. The CR Reporting Awards, presented by CorporateRegister.com, is the very first global, independent, online awards for CR reporting.

SSC ranked ninth in the category of "Best First Time Report," against 31 other entrants. In the category of "Best SME Report," SSC ranked fourth among 13 entrants. CorporateRegister.com defines SME as a micro, small or medium-size enterprise with fewer than 250 employees.

SSC works with organizations around the world to evaluate the environmental and social impact of their operations, then develops a sustainability action plan with practical steps for clients to take to "green" their footprint. An essential component of those recommendations is a communications strategy for sustainability topics. Strategic Sustainability Consulting hopes its sustainability reports will serve as an example to other small businesses, showing them that sustainability reporting isn't just for big companies-but can be beneficial for all organizations.

"We tell our clients that transparency is the single most important factor in being a responsible organization" said SSC's President, Jennifer Woofter. "Sustainability is on everyone's mind these days, and businesses need to be able to communicate how they are dealing with issues ranging from carbon emissions and climate change to human rights in their supply chain. And that's true for us as well. We're honored and delighted to have received this recognition."

The 2007 CR Reporting Awards included nine categories: Best Report, Best First Time Report, Best SME Report, Best Integrated report, Best Carbon Disclosure, Creativity in Communications, Relevance and Materiality, Openness and Honesty and Credibility in Assurance.

CorporateRegister.com has an established online community of over 20,000 readers of the reports who have a proven interest in, and experience of, CR reporting. These users serve as judges and consider five essential element of each report - Content, Communication, Credibility, Commitment and Comparability. More than 20 industries were represented and 300 reports were entered into the Awards.

Download the 2006 report here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2006_sustainability_report.pdf

Information about SSC's current sustainability initiatives can be found here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2007_sustainability_report.pdf

EVENTS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting and GreenITtools.com Host Green IT Webinar

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is excited to announce a new webinar, Implementing a Green IT Program. This interactive online event, taking place on Thursday, May 1, will focus on the practical steps to improve your organization's environmental impact and performance.
"There are huge environmental impacts associated with information technology," says SSC President Jennifer K. Woofter. "Smart companies realize that pursuing a Green IT program can lower carbon emissions, divert e-waste from landfills, and help achieve a dramatic reduction in energy costs. It's a win-win situation for their financial bottom line and the environment. The trick now is making it easy to implement such a program."

SSC is pleased to present this webinar in partnership with Jessica Vreeswijk, founder of GreenITTools.com. Jessica has spent the last six years providing IT project management, operations management, consulting and technical services in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. GreenITTools.com provides practical, hands-on tools for IT managers in small- to medium-sized businesses to assess and reduce the impact of IT. The Green IT Guide and Toolkit for Sustainable Business offers first-hand advice and best practices based on Jessica's own experience in spearheading a Green IT program.

In this 60-minute presentation you'll learn:

- A five-step process for implementing a Green IT program
- Areas of opportunity and impact for Green IT
- Using the Green IT Toolkit to assess your organization’s IT impact
- Where to find resources to help you get started

This webinar is designed for IT directors, IT professionals and sustainability managers looking to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of the IT department.
Webinar: Implementing a Green IT ProgramDate: Thursday, May 1, 2008Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ESTLocation: At Your Desktop!Cost: $50

To register for this event, click here

About Strategic Sustainability Consulting:
Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire. Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.

About GreenITtools.com
GreenITtools.com was founded to encourage discussion and implementation of 'green' IT practices in small- to medium-sized businesses. GreenITtools.com offers articles, resources, guides and toolkits to build understanding, and demonstrate viability for green IT practices. Visit www.greenITtools.com for more information or professional services.

JOBS: Summer 2008 Marketing/Communications Internship

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is a Washington, DC-based company that provides organizations with the tools and expertise needed to actively manage their social and environmental impacts. We specialize in helping under-resourced organizations implement sustainable solutions usually reserved for large, multinational companies. Please visit our website at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com for more information about our products and services.

We're looking for 2 marketing/communications interns to help on a variety of sustainability topics. If you believe you might be a good fit with our objectives (see below), please send your CV and a cover letter to denise@sustainabilityconsulting.com, indicating the position for which you'd like to be considered. We will accept inquiries through April 18, 2008, with initial interviews on a rolling basis. Please be prepared to provide two writing samples and a list of references. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.


We're looking for an enthusiastic, creative, and sensible Interns to assist with a range of communications projects. This is a position ideally suited to a graduate student (or mid-career changer) with a degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or related fields. Advanced undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply. Depending on skills and interests, intern projects may include:
- Assistance with media outreach and press relations
- Supporting the production and dissemination of SSC press materials, company statements and positions, and core messages
- Identification and development of news opportunities for positioning SSC
- Helping to retain business relationships
- Writing and editing reports and white papers

These internships are for 32 hours/week for June 16, 2008 - August 15, 2008, and will be local, DC-based. A small stipend will be offered, along with a performance-based bonus. In addition, we will offer job placement coaching. This is a great opportunity for individuals with an interest in getting into the sustainability consulting field, but who can't make a full-time commitment.

JOBS: Summer 2008 Research Internships at Strategic Sustainability Consulting

Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is a Washington, DC-based company that provides organizations with the tools and expertise needed to actively manage their social and environmental impacts. We specialize in helping under-resourced organizations implement sustainable solutions usually reserved for large, multinational companies. Please visit our website at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com for more information about our products and services.

We're looking for 4-6 research interns to help on a variety of sustainability topics. If you believe you might be a good fit with our objectives (see below), please send your CV and a cover letter to denise@sustainabilityconsulting.com, indicating the position for which you'd like to be considered. We will accept inquiries through April 18, 2008, with initial interviews on a rolling basis. Please be prepared to provide two writing samples and a list of references. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

The SSC Research Interns will work closely with lead consultants to provide background material for ongoing consulting projects. Past assignments have included working on client "Green Office Audit" projects, carbon footprinting, researching stakeholder engagement in the mining industry, writing white papers on sustainability topics, creating case studies on "green" supply chains, and developing surveys for employee satisfaction. If you have strong research and analysis skills, and can quickly gather and summarize data into its salient points, this is a great opportunity to dabble in a variety of sustainability topics.

These internships are for 32hours/week for June 16, 2008 – August 15, 2008, and will be local, DC-based. A small stipend will be offered, along with a performance-based bonus. In addition, we will offer job placement coaching. This is a great opportunity for individuals with an interest in getting into the sustainability consulting field, but who can't make a full-time commitment.

JOBS: Internships

Strategic Sustainability Consulting will once again offer summer internship positions in 2008. We will be opening up the SSC summer internship program for applicants in March/April. Please check back in late March for further information.

In the meantime, we would like to inform you about the following internship opportunity:

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is reaching out to our friends in the academic world to find a few good graduate students for a summer internship program. They are looking for smart, capable students who are interested in helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. They offer a paid 10 – 12 week internship; hands on experience in CSR; site visits to other organizations focused on socially responsible business (e.g. CERES, KLD Research & Analytics); opportunities to participate in webinars, brown bag lunches, and presentations by corporate members; interactions with corporate membership; and a valuable job experience. Past interns have gone on to jobs with KLD, McDonalds’ CSR team, and The Center. They have openings in the following areas:

Communications
Executive Education
Institute for Responsible Investment (IRI)
Member Knowledge Center
Membership
Research

To learn more and apply, visit their webpage and click on 'job bank' under the knowledge center: www.bcccc.net

The application deadline is March 2nd.

EVENT: Webinar – Implementing a Green IT Program

This is an exciting time in the IT industry as we collectively begin to look at the impacts of our business on society, the environment and of course the economy. As the businesses we support begin to look at the environmental impacts of operations, we must be ready to support them and do our part. There is no doubt that IT is a contributor to the problem, so how can we contribute to the solution? It can be hard to know where to start!

SSC is pleased to present Implementing a Green IT Program, an interactive webinar focusing on the practical steps to improving your environmental performance. In this 60-minute presentation you’ll learn about:

-- how to assess your organization’s IT impact,
-- benefits and opportunities around implementing Green IT practices
-- getting started with our five-step process for implementing a Green IT program
-- where to find resources to help you get started

This webinar is designed for IT directors, IT professionals and sustainability managers looking to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of the IT department.

Cost: $50
Time: Check our event calendar for the next date!

Strategic Sustainability Consulting is pleased to present this webinar in partnership with Jessica Vreeswijk, head of Pacific Sunrise Systems Consulting and GreenITTools.com. Jessica has spent over five years providing IT project management, operations management, consulting and technical services in the not-for-profit, government and corporate business sectors. Jessica has initiated the GreenITTools.com project in order to provide practical, hands-on tools for IT managers in small- to medium-sized businesses based on her own experience in trying to start a Green IT program. Jessica is an MBA in Sustainable Business candidate at Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

NEWS: Strategic Sustainability Consulting Releases 2007 Sustainability Report

"It's important to show our clients that we practice what we preach," says SSC President Jennifer Woofter.

WASHINGTON, DC – January 29, 2008 – Strategic Sustainability Consulting (SSC) is pleased to announce the release of its second annual Sustainability Report. In the report, readers will find information on SSC's economic, environmental, and social performance—all based on the Global Reporting Initiative's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

"Being transparent about our social and environmental impacts is key to our credibility as providers of sustainability consulting services," said SSC President Jennifer Woofter. "It's important to show our clients that we practice what we preach."

SSC works with organizations around the world to evaluate the environmental and social impact of their operations, then develops a sustainability action plan with practical steps for clients to take to "green" their footprint. An essential component of those recommendations is a communications strategy for sustainability topics.

"Whether it's a page on their website or a stand-alone sustainability report, we tell our clients that transparency is the single most important factor in being a responsible organization" said Woofter. "Sustainability is on everyone's mind these days, and businesses need to be able to communicate how they are dealing with issues ranging from carbon emissions and climate change to human rights in their supply chain. And that's true for us as well."

In addition to providing an excellent background on the company's recent operations, Strategic Sustainability Consulting also hopes this report will serve as an example to other small businesses, showing them that sustainability reporting isn't just for big companies—but can be beneficial for all organizations.

Download the entire report here: http://www.sustainabilityconsulting.com/pdfs/2007_sustainability_report.pdf.

About Strategic Sustainability Consulting

Strategic Sustainability Consulting provides under-resourced organizations with the tools and expertise needed to understand and manage their social and environmental impacts. Through sustainability assessments, green office auditing, supply chain management, stakeholder consultations, sustainability disclosure and social marketing, SSC helps organizations embrace their larger societal responsibilities and be the good corporate citizens to which they aspire. Find out more at www.sustainabilityconsulting.com.

For more information please contact:

Jennifer Woofter, President
Strategic Sustainability Consulting
(202) 470-3248
(202) 380-7544
www.sustainabilityconsulting.com

NEWS: SSC President Jennifer Woofter Featured in the Maryland Daily Record

It seems everywhere you turn these days, "green" is the new color of business. But how effective are specific eco-initiatives? And are these programs going to make a significant difference, or are they just window dressing?

Last week I was delighted to take a closer look at several local businesses and opine on how far their eco-commitments go. Here's the context:

The Daily Record was curious about which “green” strategies really help the environment, so we spoke to five Maryland businesses that have touted their environmental bona fides. We compiled lists of their environmentally friendly policies and then ran them by a panel of environmental experts, who weighed in on what works.

Joining me on the panel of experts were Joel Makower, chairman and executive editor of greenbiz.com and Greener World Media Inc. and Jane Wolfson, director of the Environmental Science and Studies Program at Towson University since 1998.

We looked at five businesses in the Washington, DC area and evaluated their environmental programs and commitments. We think you'll find the results interesting--whether its realizing that a law firm is making a strong pledge on climate change, or discovering cupcakes baked to perfection using wind power.

Check out the entire article here for inspiration on how companies of all shapes and sizes are making "green" a reality.

PEOPLE: SSC Spring 2008 Interns

We'd like to take a minute to welcome our new spring interns. They are an intrepid bunch with a wide-ranging skill set, and we're looking forward to tapping into their knowledge!

Geneviève Laquerre is originally from Trois-Rivières (Quebec) but her numerous work and travel experiences in Europe, Hawai´i, Mainland USA and Latin America qualify her best as a citizen of the world. Masters graduate in Sustainable Development Management, Geneviève is dedicated to sharing her passion about conservation and holistic development. She has worked with various international public, private and non-profit organizations as well as with indigenous communities. Her career interests include building sustainable communities and businesses, promoting ecotourism and participating in various education and outreach projects in coastal areas, tropical climates, and developing countries. To achieve a balanced lifestyle, Geneviève believes in surfing, yoga and embracing all that nature has to offer.

Kelly Scanlon is a doctoral student at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services where she is studying environmental and occupational health with a focus on the science of sustainability and its relationship to public health. In addition to her academic schedule, Ms. Scanlon is a consultant with the Division of Occupational Health and Safety at the National Institutes of Health. As a resident of Washington, DC, Ms. Scanlon regularly enjoys the city's plentiful museums, parks, and cultural activities.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Jennifer Garner participated in an AmeriCorps program in DC, leading volunteers on service projects across the country. She then moved to San Francisco and worked with KaBOOM!, building playgrounds with community organizations and corporate sponsors. In August 2006, Jennifer returned to DC to pursue her MBA at GWU and plans to work in the corporate social responsibility arena either in marketing and business development or consulting. Between classes, involvement with the GW's Net Impact chapter, and other fun projects, Jennifer enjoys running, discovering new music and road trips.

Lorre Walker is a proposal coordinator with PBS&J in Austin, Texas. She has an MBA in Business Management from St. Edward’s University and a BA in English from Texas Tech University. Lorre is an experienced researcher in corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and global business. She has taken many global business seminars including Czech Republic and Costa Rica, and has been an Alumni Advisor to MBA global business capstone students, including a project for 3M China. In spring 2007, her paper, “The Current State of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Czech Republic” was published in Arete.

Maria Fyodorova has over 10 years of consulting experience managing economic development projects for a variety of donors including the US Government, the World Bank and various foundations. Ms. Fyodorova has provided strategic management and program development support to interdisciplinary teams in Brazil, Mexico, India, South Africa and the Philippines. Ms. Fyodorova also spent several years working on climate change policy issues with a coalition of businesses though the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and served as the Industry Liaison for the Clean Energy Group at Winrock International. She will graduate in May 2008 with her MBA in Sustainability and Strategic Management from GWU in Washington, DC. Her interests include ethical souring, "greening" the supply chain and change management best practices. In addition, Ms. Fyodorova writes a DC-focused green living blog titled Righteous (re)Style. In her spare time, she participates in efforts to green her community, designs jewelry, practices yoga, rock-climbs and plays with her two dogs.

VIEWS: Comparing CSR actions in the US and Europe

Thanks to our fall intern Heather Shand for the following comparison of corporate social responsibility in the US and Europe:

A recent study done by Germanwatch, an independent environmental group, has found that out of the 56 nations doing the most polluting, the United States ranks at the bottom of the list in its actions to protect the climate (just one country above Saudi Arabia).

In contrast, the top 10 nations who are doing the most to counter climate change are mostly European nations. Although the Germanwatch study was focused on countries as a whole and the impact they are having on the environment, the same trend follows with regard to CSR actions in Europe and the United States. Why is this?

Of course, not all European companies are picture perfect with their triple bottom lines, but in general the Europeans are significantly ahead in the race. Regulations are one reason for this. The European Union and its individual nations create and follow more stringent regulations than the United States. For instance, products such as toys, electronics and cosmetics that contain specific plastics, toxins or chemicals are not allowed into the EU. The European Union has found that these toxins or chemicals are either already harmful to people and the environment or MAY be harmful. This is a prime example of the EU taking a more pro-active approach through regulatory actions. They react to potential hazards and long term affects, whereas the U.S. government waits for absolute scientific proof before banning anything dangerous.

This type of forward thinking can be paralleled here in the States as recently proven by the state of California. Beginning in 2009, any product containing phthalates cannot be distributed, sold or manufactured in California. This will force companies to change their sourcing to become more environmentally friendly, resulting in fewer harmful chemicals ending up in both people and landfills.

Moral attitudes may be another driver of action versus inaction. US companies still need a financial incentive for becoming more sustainable, while European companies are more likely to make their financial, social and environmental commitments equal to one another. Even with the stricter regulations CSR reporting is still voluntary in the European Union, but individual countries and companies still show strength in their own progressive actions. France, for example was the first country in the world requiring public companies to produce CSR reports.

However, these attitudes are beginning to change in companies throughout the United States. Obviously the media has started making climate change a priority in their reports, which has helped the public learn that our personal actions and choices affect people and the environment around the world. The growing belief that producing goods and services with fewer negative social and environmental impacts can actually create a positive financial outcome is finally changing the attitude of larger U.S. corporations.

With regard to wide-spreading and possibly powerful regulations, we as citizens tend to have more influence on the state level as shown with California and its restriction on phthalates. Rather than waiting on the federal government to take steps, state level governments can begin their own campaigns to protect the environment and people. Consumer choice can force the hand of companies reluctant to jump on the green bandwagon. With consumers becoming more and more aware of where and how a product is made, many are beginning to make sustainable purchases and investments a priority.

So, while Europe has had much success due to regulations and being pro-active, it appears that one of OUR biggest assets in the United States for strengthening CSR is the individual. Many of us feel the importance of CSR and we have the opportunity to do as much as possible to incorporate it into the companies where we work. Many owners and employers are too busy to think about their eco-footprint, often allowing employees to take the initiative. Many times this begins with small steps, but an employee’s actions can gain rapid momentum resulting in a strong impact on co-worker and stakeholder actions. It is this chain of events currently being set in motion by individuals that will have a powerful influence on reducing our overall corporate environmental impact.


Sources:
The State Of Responsible Business; EIRIS; www.eiris.org

The Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility: United States and European Union Multinational Corporations; Department of Management at DePaul University study published summer 2007; http://www.springerlink.com/content/f83v0051353071r2/

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008830327

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071207/sc_afp/unclimatewarminggermanysurvey

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16616951

PEOPLE: SSC Interns - Where Are They Now?

Every once in a while we like to check in with our former interns. Read on for updates!

Alicia Godlove was an intern with SSC during the summer of 2007, working on a Green Office Audit and Strategic Action Plan. Since completing her internship, Alicia entered the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara to get her Master of Environmental Science and Management. She is specializing in Corporate Environmental Management and is involved with Engineers Without Borders at UCSB.

Anders Roe Edvardsen was an intern with SSC during the summer of 2007, working on different projects including drafting several research papers on topics such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Corporations, the UN Global Compact and Eco-Efficiency Indicators. Since completing his internship, Anders has been focusing on finishing his MBA degree in strategic management at Pace University with excellent results. He has also been traveling the east coast of the United States, doing trips to Europe and recently visitedEthiopia in order to experience different cultures and learn about local sustainable entrepreneurship. Anders is currently preparing for his graduation through job searches in management/strategy/sustainability consulting and the energy sector. He is looking for jobs in both the US and in Europe.

Britt Hinchliff was an intern with SSC during the summer of 2007, working on compiling a database of sustainability tips. Since completing her internship, Britt has been studying business in Barcelona, Spain, while working on her Spanish. She plans to graduate in May 2008 from UC-Berkeley and is currently looking to work in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Christina Benz was an intern with SSC during the summer of 2007, working on sustainability strategy consulting, ecological footprint assessments and business development. Since completing her internship, Christina has written a business plan for the Institute for Sustainable Development in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and conducted a water impact assessment for a publicly-traded mining company. As an independent consultant, Christina is currently researching a leading company in the agricultural industry to write an MBA case study on product stewardship in emerging markets, and is looking for further opportunities in sustainability strategy (i.e. risk mitigation, carbon footprint assessments, stakeholder engagement development and/or assessments, etc.), and/or sustainability-related marketing communications (i.e. transparency and competitive benchmarking, market research, CSR reporting, etc).

Erik Rainey was an intern with SSC during the summer of 2007, working on a Green Office Audit for a key client and the SSC Sustainability Action Plan for small businesses. Since completing his internship, Erik has finished his teaching position in Japan and returned to the United States where he is developing software for a small telecommunications firm. Erik is soon relocating to San Francisco and looking for a position in the sustainability consulting field.

Lori Kitchen was an intern with SSC during the spring of 2007, working on: calculating Eco Footprints and creating recommendations for organizations to reduce their carbon output; assisting with webinar presentations; and researching and writing projects such as reference guides for a CSR workbook. Since completing her internship Lori graduated from American University with a B.A. and accepted a position as a Program Assistant at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). At USAID Lori is working on global health issues especially involving maternal and child health and sustainable programming.

Scott Kleiman was an intern with SSC during the summer of 2007, supporting SSC's engagement with a large research-based nonprofit and contributing to SSC's forthcoming book, Sustainability 101: A Toolkit. Since completing his internship, Scott has joined Ceres, a nonprofit organization that partners with investors, environmental groups, and other stakeholders (SSC among them) to encourage companies and capital markets to strategically incorporate and address environmental and social challenges. In his role as Program Fellow, he manages special projects supporting Ceres' operations, and works with the Communications and Corporate teams on a variety of initiatives.