There are a number of topics and resources that should be taken into consideration when exploring sustainable business practices. To learn more about these programs and tools related to sustainability please select a listed topic.
Programs to Support Sustainability
- EPA's Green Suppliers Network - Joint program sponsored by U.S. EPA and Department of Commerce to offer low cost technical reviews that identify strategies for improving process lines and using materials more efficiently. The lean and clean approach targets and eliminates the root causes of waste (reducing environmental impacts and costs).
- EPEAT - A program of the Green Electronics Council to help purchasers evaluate and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on 51 environmental attributes. To qualify for EPEAT registration at the bronze level, a product must confirm to all 23 required criteria. Compliance with all required and 50% of the optional earns a product the silver level and gold is achieved when all required and 75% of the optional criteria are met.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - FSC sets forth principles, criteria and standards that represent the world's strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes. FSC certifications are applicable to wood products, paper and printing. FSC is an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products. This offers customers around the world the ability to choose products from socially and environmentally responsible forestry.
- GreenGuard - The mission of GreenGuard Environmental Institute (GEI) is to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air through three programs: GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality, product certification program for low emitting interior building materials, furnishings and finish systems; GreenGuard for Children and Schools, similar to Indoor Air Quality specifically for use in educational, office and other sensitive environments; and GreenGuard for Building Construction, building certification program for newly constructed multi-family and commercial properties that follow best practices guidelines for preventing mold during the design, construction and ongoing operations.
- GreenSeal - Single level of certification. Provides science-based environmental certification standards for products. Uses lifecycle approach, evaluating a product or service beginning with material extraction through manufacturing, use and recycling/disposal. Products become certified after rigorous testing and evaluation, including onsite plant visits. Certified products range from household and industrial cleaners, office products and communications, food preparation and packaging, transportation, paints/coatings and windows and doors. Certified products and the reasons for their certification can be found on the GreenSeal website.
Businesses
- Best Workplaces for Commuters - Best Workplaces for Commuters is a public-private partnership which recognizes and encourages environmentally friendly commuting. Site provides information on recognition to employers who are interested.
- Conservation International Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB) - CELB has as an initiative Conservation Tools for Business.
Energy Efficiency
- DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) - DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
- EnergyStar - A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. EnergyStar is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products and buildings to reduce GHG emissions. The label is now on over 50 product categories, including major appliances, office equipment, lighting and home electronics. The EPA also extended the label to cover new homes and commercial/industrial buildings.
- Energy Footprints - A program of the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Footprints maps the flow of energy supply, demand and losses in the manufacturing industry.
European Standards
For global business the European Standards must be taken into consideration.
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) - All applicable products introduced in the EU market after July 1, 2024 must pass RoHS compliance which restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacturing of various electronics and electrical equipment including: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE).
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) - All applicable products entering the EU market after August 13, 2024 must confirm to this directive, whose purpose is to prevent waste of electronics and electrical equipment (WEEE) and the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of such wastes to reduce the amount disposed of. The directive also seeks to improve the environmental performance of all operators involved in the lifecycle of electrical and electronic equipment (e.g. producers, distributors and consumers and in particular those operators directly involved in the treatment of waste of electrical and electronic equipment).
Facilities
LEED Certification
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System - Multiple levels of certification (certified, silver, gold and platinum) developed by the US Green Building Council. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Greenhouse Gases
- Recycled Content Tool (ReCon) - U.S. EPA program that assists in estimating the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and energy impacts of purchasing or manufacturing materials, with varying degrees of post- consumer recycled content.
- Waste Reduction Model (WARM) - U.S. EPA program that calculates the greenhouse gas emissions and energy use for baseline and alternative waste management systems. Benefits of Reducing GHG Brochure (pdf)
- The U.S. EPA Power Profiler Report - shows you the air emissions attributable to the electricity you use in your home or business during one year, along with a description of what these numbers mean in everyday terms.
Transportation
The SmartWay to Save Fuel, Money, and the Environment In 2004, EPA launched SmartWaySM — an innovative brand that represents environmentally cleaner, more fuel efficient transportation options. In its simplest form, the SmartWay brand identifies products and services that reduce transportation-related emissions. However, the impact of the brand is much greater as the SmartWay brand signifies a partnership among government, business and consumers to protect our environment, reduce fuel consumption, and improve our air quality for future generations.
All of EPA SmartWay transportation programs result in significant, measurable air quality and/or greenhouse gas improvements while maintaining or improving current levels of other emissions and/or pollutants.
EPA believes the quality of the environment is everyone’s responsibility; therefore, SmartWay is positioned as a personal choice that can make a difference for the environment.
Find out what you can do to save fuel, money, and the environment with SmartWay:
- SmartWay Vehicles
- Fuel Options
- SmartWay Transport Partnership
- SmartWay Tractors and Trailers
- SmartWay Financing Options
For more information regarding SmartWay click here.
Waste & Materials Management
WasteWise is a voluntary EPA program through which organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes, benefiting their bottom line and the environment. WasteWise has a wide variety of members, supporters, and endorsers ranging from local municipalities, agencies, corporations, non-profits, etc.
There are two ways to participate in WasteWise, join as a partner or as an endorser.
To qualify as a partner, the organization needs to agree to reduce or recycle municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes. Any organization that can measure and report wastes can join as a partner.
To join as an endorser, the organization should agree to recruit organizations to become WasteWise partners and provide partners with promotional, educational, or technical information.
Targeted Initiatives- WasteWise has targeted several initiatives to help its members and provide more information and guidance to its participating organizations. Its special initiatives include:
- Paper - Electronics
- Organics - Building
- Packaging (primary and secondary)
It also has several other special initiatives for things like non-hazardous batteries, coal combustion products, oil filters, etc. Reporting- In its efforts to reduce waste, the program provides a reporting system (WasteWise Re-TRAC) that its members can log into and see actual results from its initiatives and participants’ actions.
- Simply put, a participating organization collects data on its current waste- related activities (generation, prevention, recycling and composting, buying/manufacturing recycled-content products).
- Next, the organization enters the data into the WasteWise Re- TRAC system; this can be done daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.
- Then the system creates customized reports, detailed charts, and reporting information. This is all done with the click of a mouse.
It also submits your annual data to the WasteWise site, maintains historical files, and produces your EPA Climate Profile on a yearly basis. The benefits to the tracking program are numerous; highlighted advantages are that its web based, interactive, flexible, measurable, informative, and secure.
For more information on how to participate in the WasteWise program click here.
*The Electric Utility Industry Sustainability Supply Chain Alliance is a WasteWise Partner.
Water Use
WaterSense is a voluntary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- sponsored partnership program that seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices.
- Targeted Initiatives - WaterSense brings together local water utilities and governments, product manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and other stakeholders to:
- Decrease indoor and outdoor non-agricultural water use through the adoption of more efficient products and practices.
- Help consumers make water-efficient choices, including differentiating between products and services in the marketplace and adopting simple daily activities that reduce water use.
- Encourage innovation in manufacturing
- Establish and standardize rigorous certification criteria that ensure product efficiency, performance, and quality.
Reporting – EPA will rely on partners to provide data to enable it to estimate water savings and the associated avoided infrastructure costs.
Specifically, WaterSense asks selected partners to submit the following data on an annual basis:
- Product Data: Manufacturers agree to make data or other marketing indicators available to EPA on an annual basis to assist in determining the market penetration of WaterSense labeled products, including unit shipment data and, where appropriate, aggregate product data.
- Sales Data: Retailers and distributors agree to provide data on sales of water-efficient products or other market indicators to assist in determining the impact of the program in promoting labeled products.
- Utility Data: WaterSense also asks utility and government partners to report data on results of promotional activities and aggregate data on rebates offered (e.g., number of rebates processed).
In addition to the above annual data, EPA may also request historical data on product shipments from manufacturers and/or industry experts to assess a baseline of market penetration of water-using products. EPA will use the historical shipments data and the above information to estimate the annual water savings associated with the program and will calculate the associated environmental and economic benefits associated with this water savings. It will also use these figures to calculate the program’s efficiency. In addition to the above, EPA may also request data on partners’ satisfaction with the program to improve program services.
For more information on how to participate in the EPA WaterSense program click here.
Engaging our suppliers and industry in best practices for a sustainable supply chain. © 2014 EUISSCA. All rights reserved.
