Environmental Questions & Answers

Find out if a sustainability program could help your business - and where to start!

By now we've all heard the term "sustainability". It seems to be everywhere these days. But what does it really mean? Who needs one? What does a sustainability program cost? If you're unsure whether your company should look at a sustainability program, or NEEDS to look at a sustainability program, read out as we lay out some ideas and concerns we hear from our customers.

Find out how much a sustainability program will cost you and your company.

If you're thinking about implementing a sustainability program at your business, you're probably already asking yourself: "how much is this going to cost me?" In fact, the most common questions we get asked about sustainability either involves the up-front price of a program or what anticipated ROI could be - in other words, what is this program, from start to finish, going to cost me & my operation.

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.