Environmental Questions & Answers

We discuss what the sustainability term 'triple bottom line' means, and how it relates to your business.

These days it seems there are more definitions of sustainability than you can shake a stick at. From classic descriptions to new, modern twists, everyone's trying to imprint their opinion on the sustainability movement.

In our opinion, and the opinion of a lot of our clients, all that does is muddy the waters, and scare people away. Far too often people deliver conflicting (and wrong) definitions of sustainability.

Understand what sustainability reporting means, and how it relates to your company.

In today's world it's not good enough to simply make claims about your level of sustainability. It doesn't fly anymore. Now, businesses and organizations are being asked to provide tangible, credible demonstrations of their level of sustainability. While there are different avenues to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices, one of the more common ways is with reporting.

Regulating sustainability is a question many people have when learning about becoming sustainable.

We all have to follow rules and regulations. For instance, on the highway we're supposed to drive at a certain mile per hour. That's the baseline for traveling safely. You can go above and beyond however. You can drive a car with a 5-star safety rating, or you can drive an old clunker that barely makes it home in one piece. The point is, you have to follow the rules, but anything above and beyond is your call.

What is sustainability training and what does it include?

A fundamental problem with the concept of sustainability and its implementation in an organization is a failure to grasp what sustainability means, and how it impacts you and your operation. Everyone has a concept of what it means to them and the world in general, but how do you need it to resonate with you and your company?

How much do sustainability certifications cost? What's the average price of a sustainable certification?

Consumers are going green. Everyone wants to see some sort of verifiable label proving that your product is better for the environment, for their health, or just better than a competitors. It's documented that customers aren't necessarily driven by cost anymore. Take a stroll through the grocery store. Or a Home Depot. Or practically any store these days. You'll notice something similar no matter where you go.

These 12 benefits of becoming sustainable can help any business or organization.

When it comes to sustainability, a lot of folks and organizations are often left scratching their head. What does it actually mean? Will it definitively help my organization? What are the benefits? In other words, as a business, how does becoming sustainable affect our bottom line?

Ten years ago sustainability was a hot concept. We had folks calling and emailing us asking what we knew about it, how they could start looking into it, etc. Then something happened. It was like the perfect storm. The economy took a nosedive. Everyone started watching their spending. People were laid off, facilities were mothballed, and only the most needed things were given any financial backing. Long story short, the pipe dream of becoming sustainable for many, many organizations was shelved. But why?

Learn why sustainability certifications mean different things to different companies and products.

It seems you can't go anywhere today without hearing about sustainability, and that's great! But, what do they all mean? Who determines if a product is sustainable? What do the labels mean? Are the measurements equal for everyone?

Thankfully, we're living in a world where a lot of responsible businesses are becoming more sustainable, with more joining the ranks every day. And, it's something that we, as consumers, are demanding. We want sustainably grown coffee, sustainably harvested seafood, laptop computers made in a sustainable manner, and other products from companies that share the same values and morals that we as individuals do.