Finally, Some Practical Advice!
Recycling should be easier. How do we better recover the value still inherent in so many used goods, like those rubber kitchen mats often used in restaurants? Posed with this question recently, here are 3 steps applicable to a range of items:

Step 1: Check one or more of the following online resources:

• www.earth911.com Perhaps the most comprehensive database of recycling facilities across the country.
• www.chicagorecycles.org Contains useful resources on City of Chicago policies and a range of related topics.
• www.chicagorecycling.org The Chicago Recycling Coalition has long advocated for a more robust system, as well as provided some online information.

No luck?

Step 2: Check with a related professional association or group. I referred my friend to the Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition.

Still no luck?

Step 3: Ask the manufacturer of the product. Even if they don’t have a good solution, hearing from an increasing number of consumers is one of the most powerful ways to encourage them to better address the issue.

P.S. Tuesday’s Green Drinks (5/15) features three compelling panelists striving to create a “zero waste” Chicago. See you there!

What I’m Loving: Innovating Chicago’s Community Gardens
Chicago is home to more than 500 community gardens of various sorts, and to a diversity of organizations nurturing them. With a surge in interest, and potential decrease in available resources, however, aligning needs with support has never been more important. Enter the Growing Forward project. Foresight is employing its community engagement, systems design and innovation acumen to help these vital city assets continue to thrive.

Sustainability Leader of the Week: Jane Madden, ERM
Jane is a global corporate sustainability and CSR expert with over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing sustainability strategies for globally leading companies.

A member of Foresight’s NEXT Steering Committee, Jane chats with us about her career path in the public and private sectors, leadership, and making strides in sustainability.

FDI: How has your career evolved into the field of sustainability and what were your motivations for working in this space?  Has it proven to be rewarding?

JM: My interest in corporate sustainability stems from my experience in sustainable development.  As a World Bank official, I advised governments in emerging markets on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues and policies.  I saw the critical role the private sector plays in economic development. But, I also saw when corporations didn’t manage and measure their social, environmental and economic impact there were negative consequences for both the corporation and for society.  Working at Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and helping corporations develop sustainable business practices makes my work especially rewarding.  One of the reasons I joined ERM is our sole focus is on sustainable business and because we “walk the talk.”  We measure and manage our own environmental and social sustainability such as GHG emissions of our travel; the health and safety of our employees around the world; and the pro-bono work the ERM Foundation does through our low-carbon investment fund.  Look for our first external sustainability report later this year.

FDI: In what ways have your leadership traits enabled you to advance your career within this industry? 

JM: I’ve been told more than once that I’m fearless.  And, although I’ve jumped at the chance to work in conflict areas like Afghanistan, I don’t necessary think I’m fearless, I just try to work through or around fear or other obstacles to reach my goals. So, I guess persistence would have to be one trait.  I also learned from my mother, who was a social worker, that listening is a critical and often undervalued leadership skill.  Finally, I would add a sense of humor and not to taking myself too seriously.

FDI: What professional and personal qualities do you feel are important for those working in a sustainability-related career path?

JM: I don’t necessarily think that there is only one skill set that characterizes a sustainability professional.  You can have a background in policy, economics and languages as I do – or an engineering, science or design background.  We need a variety of skills and experience to solve today’s sustainability challenges.  That being said, whatever your professional background, it’s important to think globally and use a systems-based framework.

FDI: What sustainability-related achievements are you especially excited about at your organization and/or your personal life?

JM: I have to say that I’m very lucky to have a job where every day I’m proud of the impact I have on business and society.  As for past accomplishments, I would put my work in work in Afghanistan at the top of the list because I used my stakeholder engagement and community development skills to empower Afghan women and help them achieve economic sustainability.  It was a life-changing and career-changing experience.

In my personal life, I am certainly proud of the fact that I’m car-free. I sold my car three years ago and use mass transit or I-Go car sharing to lower my personal carbon footprint.

FDI: In what ways is sustainability seen as a global issue and has this changed over time?

JM:  Most corporations today are essentially global whether it’s the markets they serve their operations or sourcing.  So from a corporate vantage point, sustainability is very global in nature even if the HQ is Chicago.   What has changed is emerging economies, like Brazil and South Africa.  They are leapfrogging the US and even Europe in some cases.  This is particularly true in sustainability reporting where these two countries are leading the charge for integrated reporting.

FDI: What trends are you noticing around the sustainability consulting industry in terms of sustainability priorities? 

JM: The industry is trending towards strategic sustainability that links sustainability with the core business.  It’s no longer an add-on.  In order for sustainability to have real impact, it must be holistic and fully integrated and that is what we’re seeing more and more.  Many organizations are understanding this now and are either coming to consultancies for help with implementation or are at least more receptive to hearing these integrated strategies.

I would also have to say supply chains.  It’s not a new issue, but there is increased pressure, as we see from both the Apple situation and the increased attention on conflict minerals, for corporations to take greater responsibility for sourcing.  We are also seeing growing concern about social issues in sustainability such as safety, human rights and living wages.

FDI: What trends do you see taking place within sustainability reporting in particular and what impact will these have?

JM: There are primarily three trends going on now that are all quite promising.  The first is greater transparency and stronger ESG metrics in response from investor pressure.  We are also seeing more frequent reporting. Only three years ago, the typical cycle for sustainability reporting was every two years.  Now it’s every year and some leaders – Timberland is an one example – are reporting ESG data on quarterly basis.  Integrated reporting – one report that publishes and links financial and ESG data – is third.  Check out some leaders, Southwest, AEP and United Technologies to name a few – by going to their websites.

FDI: What if anything needs to be done to ensure that the sustainability movement is long-lasting, and not a passing trend?

JM: Sustainability is here to stay.  Its the cost and expectation of doing business today, even during a recession.

FDI: Do you have any advice for employees within large companies who would like to make their organization a better environmental steward?

JM: It depends where you sit in a company, but some general advice I would give is:

• Engage the CEO
• Or find a sponsor within your company to go to bat for you
• Make the business case for sustainability
• Be sure to fully articulate the risks and the opportunities

Where I’ll Be: 5/15 Green Drinks
Info | Register
Chicago’s top 3 environmental issues have been solved! By 2013 all residential buildings that receive pick up by the City will have recycling! Come here how waste is being redefined from Chicago’s recycling coordinator, along with two other compelling speakers.

Leveraging Fulcrum Points
Business matters. If we are going to realize a more vibrant and resilient future, we can’t ignore perhaps the most influential sector of society. In order to shift our economy from one that accounts for solely economic factors, to one that takes into consideration environmental and social impacts as well, we need new structures. The State of Illinois has just taken an important step in realizing this evolution. More than eighteen months ago, Foresight initiated a conversation with a small group of forward-looking business leaders that has led to the passage of important “Benefit Corporation” legislation yesterday. While started by Foresight, this development was the result of a powerful collaboration of organizations, business people, and bipartisan elected representatives.* It leverages an important fulcrum point, providing the opportunity for Illinois companies to imbed their social and environmental values into their legal DNA and then have those certified on an ongoing basis. The eighth state to create such an incorporation structure, Illinois is, more than ever, open for (sustainable) business!

What Is a Benefit Corporation?

Peter Nicholson, Transformationist
FORESIGHT DESIGN INITIATIVE

*A BIG THANKS TO: Jen Walling, Illinois Environmental Council; Environmental Law & Policy Center; the staff of B Lab; Steve Sherman, GreenChoice Bank; Steve Thorn, Thorn Environmental Law; Nancy Goldstein, Compass X Strategy, Greg Christian, Beyond Green Partners; and William Clark, Drinker Biddle.

Toward Amazing Feats of Daring
Inspiration can originate in unusual places. Last weekend, I attended a Cirque du Soleil show, the high concept reinvention of the traditional 3-ring circus. The experience was highly entertaining and unexpectedly motivating. The combination of physical prowess, technological sophistication, and aesthetic impact are elements from which those of us striving to foster greater sustainability could learn. For instance, being able to do a great trick once is one thing, but to do it multiple times with incredibly consistent results is accomplishment built on years of disciplined practiced. In contrast, sustainable innovation is in its infancy. Whether it will grow into a more mature field with a body of professionals skilled in the intricate maneuvers that such transformation requires, depends on many factors. These include fostering more robust demand for such change, and codifying and refining a methodology. Behind the show last Saturday was more than just an ensemble striving for an easy, one-time affect. There was a team that had evolved their skills and knowledge over many years, achieving a level of consistent execution and innovative performance that transcends the previous standards. That we could develop the discipline to create a transformation practice equally proficient (if not also entertaining!) would be an achievement whose impact could admirably reach far beyond anything that happens under the big top, to say nothing of helping me to realize my latent ambition to join the circus!

Peter Nicholson, Transformationist
FORESIGHT DESIGN INITIATIVE

A great opportunity to explore what has become one of my favorite areas of Chicago. If you’ve never visited the Calumet area, our friends at the Southeast Environmental Task Force are great guides. Why would we ever want to dump more trash, or put a gun range here? Go, and then you be the judge. Info

Joanna Racho: Equity in Sustainability
Foresight Immersion 2011 Fellow

Currently: Energy Operations Associate at CNT Energy

Career Path: University of Wisconsin – Madison (B.S., Human Development and Family Studies) > AmeriCorps (Volunteer Coordinator/Team Leader) > The Campus Kitchen at Northwestern University, an anti- hunger organization (Program Coordinator) > Foresight Immersion 2011 Fellow >  CNT Energy, Center for Neighborhood Technology (Energy Operations Associate) 

Next Step: Right now, I’m focusing on learning as much as I can in my new position as an Energy Operations Associate and then eventually I’d like to work on additional projects in the various departments at CNT Energy.

Personal Sustainability: I try to incorporate sustainability bit by bit and in simple ways in my personal life. I use reusable bags whenever I can, support local systems when I am able, use public transportation more and my car less, etc. By incorporating these habits and introducing them slowly, I find they become second nature and part of my lifestyle.

Currently Reading: I just finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

Recommends: The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken is a good book to read especially for people that are interested in sustainability, but haven’t really worked in the field and are just starting out.  Reading it helped me to verbalize clearly what sustainability is and why I’m interested in it.  Also, I always like checking out Foresight’s website so I know what is happening in Chicago.

Foresight Memories: One of the best sites we went to was The Plant – my description of it wouldn’t do it justice so check it out.

Next Gen Advice: Take a leap, get out of comfort zone, learn as much as possible and most importantly apply it.

Dream Project/Job: Like most people,  I have had many dream projects and jobs, but right now, I would love to flip homes in low-income neighborhoods, make them energy efficient and turn them into affordable housing.

Job Description
The Sustainability Coordinator will work 20 hours a week through June of 2013. This position will report to the co-chair of the Sustainability Initiatives Task Force. The Sustainability Coordinator will manage the administration of the DePaul Sustainability Network and will provide administrative assistance in key areas to further enhance and implement DePaul’s Institutional Sustainability Plan.
Responsibilities

• Administration and development of the DePaul Sustainability Network; to include the following: convene periodic meetings, establish agenda items, take minutes, send periodic updates, follow up on action items identified by the DSN co-chairs, and recruit new members.
• Assist with the planning of various Sustainability-related talks, forums, lectures or other events.
• Assist with the communication and marketing of sustainability-related activities use established resources; such as: sustainability.depaul.edu or create new ones, including social media.
• Serve as a sustainability liaison with internal and external constituencies, including the Sustainable Management Concentration advisory board.
• Assist in the management of the sustainability budget, in coordination with the Office of the President.
• Perform other duties and specific projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in an area of study related to one or all aspects of sustainability (economic, social, environmental).
• Demonstrated experience of program development, administration and budgetary competence.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and follow through on action items.
• Demonstrated familiarity with DePaul’s Catholic, Vincentian, Urban mission.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders; including: faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with grant writing, report writing, and other forms of communication that require significant proofreading and copyediting.
• Some out of state travel.

How to Apply
Apply through DePaul’s website here.

Job Description
The Stewardship Director is responsible for maintaining and monitoring of preserves and developing and implementing natural area restoration and management plans on lands owned or protected by the Natural Land Institute, including recruiting, training and supervising field staff and volunteers, preparing grant proposals for restoration and management projects, conducting inventories and maintaining data bases of plants and animals on preserves, evaluating the restoration potential or management needs of potential preservation projects, providing technical advice and assistance to other organizations in northern Illinois, and maintaining, repairing and replacing field equipment and tools used in land management.

Responsibilities
Develop and implement ecological restoration and natural area management plans on lands owned by NLI, including prescribed burns, invasive species control, hydrological management; conduct inventories and studies of natural communities and flora and fauna on protected lands; carry out public outreach and education programs; recruit, train and supervise volunteers; manage leases and grants and oversee contractors; maintain and replace field equipment; plan work schedules and report activities and results; secure permits for prescribed burns and restoration projects;provide technical assistance to other organizations, and; carry out other duties as assigned.

Requirements
Must demonstrate an ability to work well with people, be well organized, listen carefully, communicate clearly, and work independently without direct supervision. Must have a solid knowledge and experience with natural resource management, wild land ecology, invasive species control methods, native plants and animals of northern Illinois, and using and maintaining farm equipment and power tools. Training or certification in prescribed burn management and pesticide application and the ability to perform physical labor outdoors in all weather conditions.

BA or BS degree in biology, natural resource restoration or management, environmental science, or similar field of study and at least two years of experience in land conservation work. Must own vehicle, and have a valid driver’s license.

How to Apply
Please send resume and cover letter to info@naturalland.org