Springleaf Adventures

Leading the Way

noreply@blogger.com (Colleen) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:12:00 +0000

When we decided to go to Germany for a family vacation this past spring, we were completely consumed by all things German: on-time transportation, Bavarian castles and churches, Berlin's modern flare, hotel reviews, travel guides, etc. We toured the expected sites and did everything from riding the summer luges to visiting Legoland. As with most of our trips, and most of my daily excursions, I was curious to see what sustainability would look like in Germany. I had been incredibly disappointed by Walt Disney's efforts last spring....

For many years, I have thought of Germany as the international standard for sustainability -- more solar than almost any other country of its size, great public transit, laws governing the type of vehicle that can be driven into cities, farm fresh foods without added colors and preservatives, good food and good beer (produced locally, of course).

My main observations from our trip:
- Recycling

Daily recycling was more difficult than I thought it would be. While it is common in homes there were few containers in public areas. This was a big surprise for me. Maybe it is sorted down stream in the process?

- Transportation

Spot-on as expected. There are even laws that if you hit a bicyclist with your car, even if they are uninjured, you can spend five years in jail. Helmets were few and far between! And the pedestrian and public transportation systems were amazing. And, I will admit, so was driving on the Autobahn (in our clean diesel VW)!

- Food sourcing

There were farm stands on nearly every block. By the way, the white asparagus does live up to its reputation. Seasonal eating is common and preferred -- there are no strawberries to be found in the winter.

- Renewables

Wind and solar farms were everywhere! Driving through Bavaria we saw more solar farms and wind turbines than castles and churches. Germany's commitment to renewable energy was clear around almost every turn, literally.

Here are some impressive stats from a country leading the way in sustainability.

- Germany leads the European nations in recycling, with around 70 percent of the waste the country generates successfully recovered and reused each year. To put that figure in perspective, consider this: In 2007, the U.S. was able to recover only about 33 percent of the waste generated that year.

- Germany expects renewables to contribute 35% electricity by 2020.

- Public transportation accounted for 8.0% of all trips in Germany compared to 1.6% of U.S. trips in 2002.

Have you been inspired by initiatives in other parts of the globe or here locally? I am always fascinated to see what is around the next corner!

City of Raleigh 6th Annual Environmental Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:06:00 +0000

This past Monday, we were fortunate enough to attend the City of Raleigh 6^th Annual Environmental Awards. These awards recognize sustainability champions and the “outstanding work in environmental stewardship and individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to the environment in our community.”

We would like to give special recognition to North Carolina State University for their Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award! Every year this is a great event, filled with like-minded professionals who are passionate about the environment and the community. For the second year, the awards program was held at the Nature Research Center Wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. They served local food and drinks from sponsors like The Irregardless Café, Neomonde, Natty Greene’s Brewing Company, Green Planet Catering, Chef Robin, Biltmore Estate Winery, and 18 Seaboard. Yum!

We heard from Greg Fishel, who I’m sure you all know is the Chief Meteorologist at WRAL. He spoke very eloquently about climate change and challenged the room to not allow politics to drive the discussion surrounding climate change. This is such a hot topic and is often diluted because of the political intertwinement, so hearing his point of view and receiving this challenge was refreshing. The recently appointed Director of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Dr. Emlyn Koster, also spoke.

Drum roll please! And the winners are:

Sonoco Recycling Youth Partnership Elementary: Recycling & Upcycling

Sonoco Recycling Youth Molly Paul: Raleigh Aquatic Turtle Adoption

Legacy William Joslin and Mary Coker Joslin

M/I Homes Environmental Awareness Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Urban Stewardship Raleigh City Farm

Natural Resource Conservation The Artists’ Backyard

Natural Resource Conservation Sullivan Shops

Market Transformation Sustainable Pest Systems

Pioneering Efforts North Carolina State University Dining Services

Green Design: Residential Chasen Residence

Green Design: Non-residential James B. Hunt Jr. Library

Institutional Innovation City of Raleigh Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Center

Regional North Carolina Oyster Shell Recycling

Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award (RESA) North Carolina State University

Thank you very much to the sponsors for supporting the event and for supporting local environmental stewardship! We love events like this that support local environmental businesses partly because, well, we are one!

If you have never attended the City of Raleigh's Environmental Awards program, mark your calendar next year for Earth Day. It is well worth your time--there is great food, wonderful networking, and is an all-around well-run and fun event.

Triangle Earth Day Celebrations!

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:53:00 +0000

Officially, Earth Day is recognized as April 22, but in many green-minded cities, including those of the Triangle, it is celebrated as Earth week or sometimes even Earth Month.

Earth Day has roots leading back to 1970, where it began as an environmental teach-in. The hope was to educate the public on the state of the environment and current issues and to persuade US politicians that environmental legislation was necessary. Forty-three years later, the day is now celebrated in 192 countries!

In the Triangle area, there are several events happening this weekend that you can participate in to celebrate the original spirit of Earth Day, learn a little bit along the way, and enjoy great food and music.

NC State University has several events going on this week. The one we are most excited about is a Farm Feast tonight (4/18) where there will be serving local NC food at an outdoor picnic with a live bluegrass concert. It is shaping up to be a beautiful day and this event seems like a great way to ease into the weekend of Earth Day festivities.

The City of Durham is hosting an Earth Day Festival this weekend with “green” activities and demos, education on green practices and products at the Sustainability Expo and Earth Art Market. There will be music and food and free admission, all of which seems to be a standard at local Earth Day events and we are not complaining.

Marbles Kids Museum is hosting their own Earth Day Celebration this Saturday as part of the NC Science Festival. There are lots of fun and educational activities designed for kids specifically, but look like they will be interesting to adults, or at least me, as well. They are offering mural painting, garden planting, and several other hands-on activities pertaining to the environment and to science in general. Marbles is one of the more fun-oriented museums and we are excited to check out their Earth Day events.

With so many great events celebrating Earth Day, how will you choose?

It's Our 5th Birth-i-versary!

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:40:00 +0000

I woke up on Monday this week with a realization--we've been in business for 5 YEARS! I took a moment to reflect on the path we've taken and our vision for demonstrating you can be financially successful AND do good for the community and environment. In the past five years, we've held true to our beliefs and the foundation of the company, even in the depths of the recession. We didn't compromise on our promise to work with sustainably-oriented businesses and organizations.

To help celebrate, we decided to start on a new, daunting task. We want to advance on our vision for being a leading resource for the region on sustainability topics. We don't have a fancy advertising budget, but we are creative and persistent--that has to count for something! No, you won't see fun commercials or a splashy advertising campaign. It really is about providing results and getting the word out to companies and organizations in need.

We decided one way to help tackle that vision is to start #SustainStrat, a monthly sustainability Twitter chat. The virtual event is held on the 2nd Thursday of the month (that's TODAY!), at 2:00 pm (EDT for our left coast friends!). if you are interested in joining, more info is at www.sustainstrat.eventbrite.com.

Today's topic is about "Sharing Your Successes," a fitting topic for Earth Month. You can also just join in on Twitter by searching for the hashtag #SustainStrat and answering questions as they are posed by our team. The purpose is to give a platform in the region, state, and even nation to talk about sustainability topics, peer-to-peer. There is no better way to reach our peeps than on Twitter. All are welcome!

We have a lot to be thankful for--we have amazing clients, we get to work on interesting and exciting projects, we have had the chance to grow and explore new areas, and can feel good that the work we are doing is having an impact on the community and in business. I couldn't be more proud to be here celebrating 5 years!

Happy 5th Birth-i-versary to us. Be sure to send birthday wishes to your favorite Springleaf-er!

Join Us for the Next #SustainStrat: Sharing your Successes

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:01:00 +0000

It’s almost time for the next #SustainStrat Twitter Chat! Join us on Thursday, April 11 at 2:00pm (EDT) to highlight and share your sustainability success stories.

In honor of Earth Day, we will be highlighting your sustainability successes. We want you to share your progress, how you've found success, and in what ways these victories have manifested themselves. Using the hashtag #SustainStrat, we will ask the questions to prompt the conversation, and you, our fine audience, can chime in with your comments, thoughts, and experiences. Come prepared to tell your sustainability success story in 140 characters or less!

This month our featured participants will be our friends at B Corporation (@BCorporation) and sustainability wonder woman, Yola Carlough (@YolaCarlough). This is a conversation where everyone can contribute. Yola and the BCorp Team will share some of their favorite stories behind the successes in sustainability, and we can't wait to hear what they have to say. We also can't wait to hear what you have to say and what your "wins" look like! So we invite you to join us next Thursday, April 11 at 2:00pm (EDT).

We will host a monthly sustainability chat using the hashtag #SustainStrat. All are welcome to participate in our open forum. Each month we will bring in featured participants and have a focused discussion on topics spanning the environmental, social, and financial aspects of sustainability. Let us know if there is a specific topic you would like covered for next month or who you think would be interesting featured participants!

The format will be questions sent out to the group via the #SustainStrat Twitter feed, with the expectation that participants will share their experiences and engage in conversation...in 140 characters or less, that is.

For more information on how to join in, the format, or how to participate, check out the registration information. We've included instructions...for Twitter experts and the newbies. Join us on April 11th! Go to sustainstrat.eventbrite.com See you there!

Update: The Sustainability Consortium, Four Years Later

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:03:00 +0000

Yesterday I attended the very first update of The Sustainability Consortium over at Cotton, Inc. to learn more about the progress they have made in unveiling the environmental footprint of all the things we buy. Didn't know that was underway? Well, let me give you a little background.

Around 2005, Walmart decided it was going to create a database of all the environmental metrics on the products it carries and give them a 'score' so consumers could make decisions using real, transparent, and consistent information. That would require every business in every supply chain of every SKU Walmart carries to report on its energy, waste, chemical, and water usage in the process of creating consumer goods. Guess what they found? It was a great idea in concept but incredibly difficult in reality.

Instead, Walmart decided to figure a way it could drive product sustainability when there was no third party reporting, no consistency in metrics, no transparency, and therefore, no credibility. It needed to recruit other businesses to this venture, and it couldn’t be a Walmart initiative. This needed the work of a separate group, and thus in 2009, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) was born.

To address these issues, TSC focused on several areas:

Developed working groups to focus on major consumer product categories, such as electronics; food, beverage & agriculture; home and personal care; packaging; toys; etc.
Conducted science-based measurement and reporting to provide credibility, transparency, and consistency in metrics
Made Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) the center of their scoring for different product groups. LCA is different for every product and gives a greater insight into opportunities to reduce the environmental impact (some products have a low impact until the end of their useful life, others have a great end-of-life impact but have a heavy impact on the manufacturing end).
Created tools that are easy to understand, are relevant, and have a positive impact on manufacturing decisions

Over the past 4 years, TSC has created Category Sustainability Profiles (CSP) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI). These tools are helpful to retailers so they can make purchasing decisions, and access to information and data for suppliers so they understand how they are being graded. These tools also result in meaningful information so manufacturers can make changes to the supply chain that result in significant reduction of the environmental impact of each product.

Once I get the powerpoint presentation, I will try to post it (I’m assuming Blogger will let me post the document).

Thank you to Dr. Jon Johnson, the co-chair of The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and Professor at the University of Arkansas's Walton School of Business for presenting, Jay Golden of Duke’s Center for Sustainability and Commerce for bringing Dr. Johnson to the area, and Cotton Inc for hosting the event. For more information on how to become a member, or on their progress, visit www.sustainabilityconsortium.org.

Recap: Our First #SustainStrat Twitter Chat

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:51:00 +0000

This past Thursday, we hosted our very first #SustainStrat Twitter Chat. This will be a monthly chat where we discuss environmental, social, and financial aspects of sustainability as well as corporate responsibility. The chat is open to the public and is run in a Q&A format for all to engage and participate. For those of you interested and calendar in hand, #SustainStrat will be held on the second Thursday of each month (that means the next one is April 11th at 2:00 pm Eastern).

Here's how it works: each month, we will pose questions to the group using the hashtag #SustainStrat. Participants respond in 140 characters or less to each question using '#SustainStrat', and can even ask questions of their own to other participants. It makes for a very dynamic 'conversation' and a fun way to engage with other sustainability-minded professionals.

In our venture into the world of Twitter chats, we had great participation from organizations locally as well as those with a national reach. This first chat focused on sustainability strategy implemented/observed by our participants within their companies, how sustainability is reported, and what sorts of barriers they are encountering. For our next chat, our participants indicated that they would like to discuss global sustainability issues as well as North Carolina-based initiatives, sustainability challenges, and successful strategies.

Our next #SustainStrat will be during Earth Month (April 11th! Mark your calendar!). We are thinking about adding some featured Tweeters for our next chat to help increase the reach of our conversation and get more people engaged--both locally and nationally.

We love hearing your feedback and are very excited for our next #SustainStrat Twitter Chat on April 11 at 2:00 pm Eastern! We welcome your thoughts on that as well as on potential topics--drop us a note if you are interested or have some ideas. You can find us on Twitter @SpringleafStrat, on Facebook, or on our website. Below is the recap:

Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q1: HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION DEFINE SUSTAINABILITY? DO YOU FOCUS ON 1 SPECIFIC AREA (ENVIRON, COMMUNITY, EMPLOYEES, ETC)? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Lesley Lammers @LesleyLammers

A1: I define #sustainability as creating a world where future generations can thrive, not just survive #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

Duke Energy defines #sustainability as doing business in a way that's good for People, Planet AND Profits. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Paula Stroup @stroupp

#SustainStrat COR defines with 3 spheres of Economic, Social and Environmental

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Lauren Joyce @LJoyce827

A1: building a stronger long-term company and focusing on the wellbeing of our employees #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Yes! Solar Solutions @YesSolarNC

We believe in the #TripleBottomLine and we are a @GreenPlusCertified Business. O and we also do #Solar :) #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
emherndon @emhernd

#sustainstrat A1: All of the above, but w/specific focus on aligning business processes and buy in from the C-Suite.

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
David Dean @davidlndean

A1- #SustainStrat @chccs looks mainly at environment, students (which is social, curriculum and well-being)

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Becky Shankle @ecomod

Ultimately we want to mimic the No Waste in Nature concept.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q2: HOW MANY OF YOU ARE #SUSTAINABILITYPROFESSIONALS VS PASSIONATE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY / ON A ‘GREEN TEAM’? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Kristen Thornburg @KrisThornburg

A2: I'd say it takes passion to become a #sustainabilityprofessional! I'm both. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
michael chenard @michaelchenard

A2 how about both? Sustainability professional AND passionate about making a difference. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Lesley Lammers @LesleyLammers

A2: most #sustainability professionals I know r in that line of work bc they r passionate about making positive change #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q3: HOW DID YOUR ORGANIZATION GET STARTED ON#SUSTAINABILITY? TOP DOWN? BOTTOM UP? CUSTOMER-DRIVEN? PART OF THE CULTURE? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
NC GreenPower @NCGP

A3: ALL of the above! NC GreenPower was started in 2003 by a group of 200+ stakeholders from across NC. #SustainStrat @SpringleafStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

A3: formal approach started top down, but grassroots enthusiasm was key to getting off the ground. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
David Dean @davidlndean

A3 - all of the above: students, parents in @chccs are more educated on the topic than most avg 'customers' & admin want it 2#SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Joseph Hirl @AgilisEnergy

A3: customer driven. they want to save $s. And... this fits into their sustainability strategy #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Lauren Joyce @LJoyce827

A3: Staff lead initiative (bottom up) also something we see young professionals looking for in companies #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Becky Shankle @ecomod

Mostly customer driven for us. From a production standpoint, we feel if we make something we're responsible for it forever.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q5: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES IN YOUR #SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM? 140 CHARS OR LESS! #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Becky Shankle @ecomod

Goal: close the manuf loop & reintegrate, repurpose or feed another industry raw material. Like Interface FLOR 4 everything.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
NCSU Sustainability @NCStateSustain

A5 - Partnership. We can do more together than alone.#SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Joseph Hirl @AgilisEnergy

A5: By helping customers save, they have told us they will invest the savings in other enviro techs & systems. win all around#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

A5: combining grassroots with a grasstops leader program. Targeting specific work groups for custom training and engagement. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
michael chenard @michaelchenard

A5 For a pub traded company, tying savings to a strong NPV and IRR. CFO becomes ur best friend. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
David Dean @davidlndean

A5, recycling and community gardens as teaching tools @chccs #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q6: HOW DO YOU ENGAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES (OR COMMUNITY)? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

A6: Sustainably Corps grassroots network. $33m in savings since 2009 from projects. Success breeds success. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
David Dean @davidlndean

A6: @LiveItUpRaleigh will be engaging community on #buylocalinitiative at #LiveandLocal on 4/20/13 for #EarthDay #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Southern Energy Mgmt @Southern_Energy

A6: Engaging community by supporting local sustainability projects, like NC States Think Outside the Brick competition winner! #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q7: DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES? IF SO, HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION REPORT ITS PROGRAM? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Evelyn Contre @evelyncontre

A7: We do our own reporting using the @BCorp assessment-Not the same as a GRI report but we hope it shows similar transparency #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Lesley Lammers @LesleyLammers

A7 growing trend to integrate #csr & #sustainability reports w/in annual reports #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

A7: yes. Track progress on 10 corporate S goals, like carbon reduction. Share via annual report, benchmark surveys, Web, etc.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
emherndon @emhernd

A7: Annual CSR/Sustainability Report, but we also help clients report to congress or through global reporting mechanisms.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Joseph Hirl @AgilisEnergy

A7: More reporting details.Experience is co's believe if they have won energy/enviro awards-they are doing great. Not the case#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q8: HOW DO YOU GET #SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES INTEGRATED ACROSS YOUR ORGANIZATION? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Catherine Nicholson @CatNickery

A8: Sure, employee incentives are great, but it's about leadership--whether you are boss or not--showing passion for principle#SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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ORIGINAL LINK

REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

A8: lots of airline miles. Getting out to the frontlines, not driving integration from behind a desk. Executive sponsorship.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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Lesley Lammers @LesleyLammers

A8 need buy-in from employees at all levels to ensure#sustainability success. helps to have internal champions#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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emherndon @emhernd

A8:Must be policy&process driven. An org.mindset, part of every decision.not a one-off proj., not LEED, not award driven.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

Q9: WHAT TOPICS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FOR FUTURE CHATS? HOW CAN WE KEEP YOU INTERESTED AND ENGAGED? #SustainStrat

4 DAYS AGO

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REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
michael chenard @michaelchenard

A9: how about global sustainability issues, not solely US focused?#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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REPLY RETWEET FAVORITE
Scott Sutton @ssuttonNC

A9: pick one or two topics and dive deeper. great first one though.#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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Lesley Lammers @LesleyLammers

A9 wud love to hear #sustainability challenge/success stories from companies who've been walking the talk (or trying to)#sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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Kristen Thornburg @KrisThornburg

A9: In keeping with my last comment, how about strategies for building sustainability into non-profits. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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emherndon @emhernd

A9: On the other end of the spectrum, Id love to learn more about#sustainability initiatives happening here in NC. #sustainstrat

4 DAYS AGO

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Springleaf @SpringleafStrat

We will host this event on the 2nd Thurs each month. The next#SustainStrat will be April 11th. Mark your Calendars! #CSR #Sustainability

4 DAYS AGO

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#SustainStrat, A Fresh Take on the Sustainability Conversation

noreply@blogger.com (Colleen) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Have you ever been to an event with individuals that challenge you to do better, work harder and set crazy, but possible goals? Have you left those events wishing you could continue the conversation? If your answer is yes, we hope you will join us in our effort to create this environment virtually.

Springleaf Strategies is excited to be hosting our first ever Sustainability chat on Twitter this week! Join us this Thursday, March 14th from 1-2 p.m. to discuss sustainability strategy and corporate responsibility. This will be a monthly chat using the Twitter hashtag #SustainStrat. Our topics will span environmental, social and financial aspects of sustainability. Engage in our open forum not only because we hope you will learn something, but because we hope to learn something from all of you sustainability experts and aficionados out there. Our goal is to continue the conversation and become inspired and renewed in a shared sustainability purpose in industry.

The idea for #SustainStrat came as a follow-up to what we saw as a need after researching chats in January for out blog post, Twitter Meets CSR. We are hoping you will participate and share best practices, discuss metrics and reporting, as well as examine what works and what doesn't in the ever-evolving sustainability field.

We will bring the questions. All we ask for in return are your thoughts and experiences, in 140 characters or less, of course. If you have an interest in driving change, telling your story and sharing with colleagues, sign up today! We can't wait to continue the conversation! Tell your friends to come too!

Trends on the Recycling Frontier: from PET Carpets to Styrofoam bans

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:14:00 +0000

My name is Megan and I am so excited about my very first blog entry for Springleaf! As a North Carolinian-briefly turned New Yorker-turned North Carolinian again, I have seen very different approaches and attitudes to recycling, some of which I would like to share. In New York, it was not uncommon to see some of my fellow city-dwellers rifling through waste-bins in search of aluminum cans or plastic bottles. This is because there are cash incentives (though small) to recycling in New York State. All over New York City there are recycling banks that gladly accept the recycling and dispense such rewards. This approach to recycling is a win-win for both the City of New York and its citizens, because it creates an eagerness to recycle.

During his 11-year reign as Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg has instituted a ban of trans-fats, smoking in parks and restaurants, large sugary beverages, and most recently he has proposed a ban on styrofoam containers. In his most recent State of the City Address, he called for the ban of styrofoam (polystyrene) from landfills, as well as of selling styrofoam containers and cups. People were initially upset about these changes, but for the most part have grown to appreciate the impact they have had on the overall health of the City. These policies all part of Bloomberg’s plan to double New York City’s recycling rate to 30 percent by 2017.

Taking a cue from cities on the such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle, which have already banned plastic foam and/or other forms of non-disposable waste from landfills, Bloomberg assured critics that the ban will be in the best interest of New Yorkers. “It costs us money,” the mayor said. “Your tax bill is higher than it needs to be because we’ve got to go and take polystyrene out of the waste. So, you know, it’s in your interest, too.” The mayor’s office estimates that the city annually processes 20,000 tons of polystyrene at a cost of $20 per ton. This ban on plastic foam would not only save the city money, but also landfill space; a win-win scenario such as this really is the best possible outcome one can hope for in policy implementation.

North Carolina has a similar issue with plastic containers. On October 1, 2009 NC banned all plastic containers from landfills, particularly those made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Specifically, this ban applies to “rigid plastic containers that have a neck smaller than the body of the container, and that accept a screw top, snap cap, or other closure,” which basically translates to soda and water bottles. Currently, about 60,000 tons of plastic ends up in the state's landfills each year and only about 18% is recycled. North Carolinians throw away more than $41 million in plastic each year, which is not only a huge missed financial opportunity but also results in a great need for landfill space. (NC recycling statistics)

However, instead of banning PET containers all together as NYC plans to do with Styrofoam, North Carolina has taken a different approach. When the PET ban was first proposed in 2005, North Carolina announced plans for the nation’s largest PET recycling facility, with an annual capacity to process 5 billion PET bottles. When the recycling plant was completed in 2010, the reported annual savings were projected to preserve more than 1 million cubic yards per year of landfill space. The recycled material from this plant is primarily used in carpeting and other polyester fiber products, which are made by the owners of the recycling plant.

Though NC does not scan incoming waste for PET bottles as NYC does for Styrofoam containers, they do watch landfills for large plastic bottle violations. While this method makes enforcement on a household level nearly impossible, it does place a lot of personal accountability on North Carolinians to recycle. Other materials that are banned from the NC landfills are aluminum cans, fluorescent light bulbs, lead-acid batteries, tires, and even oyster shells. See a full list of NC recycling laws here.

Though different approaches to recycling are being taken in cities nation-wide, it is encouraging to see a national recognition and action on recycling and sustainability efforts. North Carolina may not be as far along on the frontier of recycling as NYC or cities in California, but we are well on our way to becoming more green. So, the next time you toss your empty soda bottle into the trash, really think about the impact you are having on the local environment and how easy it can be to recycle.

Dig In! to Urban Ag and Community Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (Colleen) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:19:00 +0000

If you have read this blog over the last couple of years, you likely know that I am a strong local food advocate. We support the 10% campaign, buy much of our food from local farmers and take time to explain to our children where their chicken, beef, Canadian bacon and other foods come from. We visit the folks who grow our food and consider ourselves truly lucky to have such a strong network of farmers we call friends.

What you may not know is that I have an incredible passion for sport and movement. I have a Master's degree in Sport Management and actively participate in sports or coach as often as I can (and as much as our crazy schedule allows). I also enjoy participating in local events and getting to know members of our community that share my enthusiasm. On March 9, in downtown Raleigh, a local organization is hosting a workshop entitled, "Dig In! Weaving Edible Landscapes- Community Gardens and Urban Ag- into the Fabric of Our Community." While I don't have much of a green thumb, I fully support the people that do and have seen firsthand the value in farm to fork programs. (Details about the event and a registration link are below).

Last year I was introduced to Advocates for Health in Action (AHA). I have been delighted to witness their passion and desire to foster and support community efforts to make healthy eating and physical activity the way of life in Wake County. I had no idea such an organization existed!

AHA educates, collaborates and advocates in an effort to improve access to healthy food and physical activity not only through quality program support, but also through policy, systems and the environment. Just a handful of their initiatives include advocating for local food (such as community gardens), supporting greenways, biking and walking to school, reaching out to food deserts and creating a hub for like-minded organizations to work together.

Working with schools, businesses, municipalities, local health organizations and others in our community that want to create a healthy environment, AHA has the knowledge and opportunity to make their vision a reality.

On March 9, from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., At Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh, AHA is inviting Wake County to Dig In! and be part of the local food movement. This event will give community members an opportunity to create a vision for what Wake County could look like with a comprehensive local food program. Dig In! will feature a dynamic general session about foodscapes and grow-your-own communities, plus three workshop tracks with breakout sessions.

AHA's work in the community focuses on bringing organizations together, creating a vision and advocating for healthy choices. If you have a passion for healthy eating and physical activity and want to get involved, head over to the Dig In! event or visit AHA's website to learn more.

State of the State: Where Will NC Go on Environmental Issues?

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:37:00 +0000

This week Pat McCrory, the first Republican governor in NC in 20 years, gave his 'State of the State' speech on Monday night. This was the first time most North Carolinians have had the chance to learn about his agenda. On this blog we usually stay away from politics, but I thought it was timely and appropriate to talk about the lofty agenda Gov McCrory is setting forth for our state. The primary reason being that his priorities could have a significant impact on the environmental movement in our state.

One thing I appreciated about Gov. McCrory's speech was the call for doing work FOR the people of North Carolina and not focusing on decisions based on power, legacy, or ideology. I am not one for partisan politics - in fact, it makes me sick to my stomach to think about legislators making decisions based on political gain. I personally appreciated this sentiment from our new governor. We need less partisanship in Raleigh.

I'm very interested in keeping an eye on how Gov McCrory's administration handles environmental issues. In his speech, he mentioned energy, but it was in reference to offshore drilling. He also alluded to fracking, although he didn't mention it by name. If you combine that with the recent Senate Bill 10, where several commissions will be disbanded and re-formed with less oversight and fewer requirements for environmental expertise, this can be unsettling. This includes the commission that was proposing some of the most resident-friendly and environmentally-restrictive recommendations for fracking, as well as the Utilities Commission, which is in the middle of an avoided cost issue for energy rates. What does that mean exactly? It doesn't mean there will be devastating changes to environmentally-focused commissions, just the possibility.

Next, the new leader for the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) is a business man, not a scientist or environmentalist. Not necessarily a bad thing, because he will understand how DENR is getting in the way of business through unnecessary regulations and permitting, but we don't know his passion for the environment and whether the administration will roll back regulations on clean air, clean water, and the environment.

Recently, DOT Secretary Tony Tata removed the head of Transit, Paul Morris, from his role. Paul is likely one of the most knowledgeable resources on transit in the region. No word yet on who will fill that position or why Paul was removed. Given the quagmire transit has been over the last 10 years, it isn't clear what will happen. Gov McCrory oversaw and promoted light rail and mass transit improvements in Charlotte. This was certainly a legacy project for him, especially since it has been very successful despite early doubters. Will he do the same for the State? One can only hope.

Last week, Gov McCrory criticized public universities and colleges for offering classes that weren't oriented toward finding a job. He specifically criticized a gender studies course saying there was no value in the work world. This set off a firestorm of responses, many citing that courses at universities are geared to foster higher thinking and personal growth. I don't think he intended to create a controversy, but this certainly caused an uproar. We should discuss curriculum and require college students have a certain amount of rigor required of them to earn their degree, but I also think we should be challenging our students to think philosophically and understand the world around them--not just how to take derivatives in three dimensional space or understand string theory.

Gov McCrory also spoke of efficiency of services, education, and rebuilding our infrastructure. All of these are critically important to our state. I just hope we don't have a set back in our environmental programs. With so many unknowns, it is too early to tell how the first Republican governor in 20 years will leave his mark on the Old North State. Fingers crossed that we will gain some certainty and will be in a better place (especially fiscally) this time in 2017...and we haven't unraveled many of the environmental successes from the last 20 years. Stay tuned...

Consumer Choices: Small Decisions Make a Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:13:00 +0000

After years of falling behind in the technology world, it was finally time to enter the 21st century and replace our TV. My husband and I aren't driven to test out the latest gadgets, and we certainly won't be found in some ridiculous line waiting for Apple's latest toy or Best Buy's latest door buster offer. When we make big purchases, they are usually things we plan on keeping for a while. Case in point: I drove my first car for nearly 10 years, and my last car had 220,000 miles on it before it finally died (of course it couldn't have died BEFORE I sank $700 in for a new water pump, but that's a post for another day). Typically, my husband and I like to buy nicer things that will last. It's not just a frugal, budget-driven strategy, it's also about reducing our waste.

That brings us to a couple of weeks ago - I had been interested in upgrading our archaic living room TV but couldn't bring myself to replace the one we had because there was nothing wrong with it. This was a TV that we actually acquired from a neighbor-friend who was moving to Colorado back in 2005. At the time, we were so excited to update our 32" TV to a 50" monstrosity (the smaller TV was donated to the local Vietnam Vet's store because it was in good working order). What is even funnier than being excited about an old school CRT TV is that we recently upgraded our cable to a DVR but still had this awful TV. HD TV from the DVR viewed on a 10 yr old TV? Ridiculous. The Cable Guy got a good laugh and so did we.

Well, as luck would have it, I went to turn it on one morning and nothing happened. I tried several times before I did my happy dance - this meant I could finally upgrade. So, the research started and we quickly settled on a nice EnergyStar LED TV from LG (Thanks, Dad, for the access to Consumer Reports online. It made that process much easier!). We had been so 'frugal', we realized we had never purchased a TV in our 19 years of being together. Good grief! It was time!

So, next came the search for a TV stand. With our fancy new TV, we wanted a nice piece of furniture to show it off and provide some storage. We decided one thing that was important to us was for the piece to be real wood. We didn't want the MDF or particle board that would off-gas toxic fumes for the next 10 years (since we know we will be keeping it for a while). As it turns out, you can't get real wood for our budget. We searched high and low, contacted some furniture manufacturers of pieces we liked, and did as much online shopping as we could. No dice. Lots of nice pieces out there, but it was all FAKE or outrageously expensive!

We're starting to get antsy - the Super Bowl was coming and our new TV was still sitting on an old chest from the closet. We needed to find something fast. On an afternoon excursion around downtown, we decided on a whim to stop by the 2nd hand consignment shop in downtown. There, in the corner, with a light shining down that appeared to make it glow, my husband spotted what became our TV stand. It's a vintage piece from the early 70s, complete with the kind of doors that slide left and right and 'disappear' into the side of the stand. It even has a place for a record player (if only we had one!). My husband, aka 'the mover', literally wheeled his find out of the store and over to our apartment two blocks away.

Once in place, I realized my husband's vision for this piece. It has character, real wood (or at least mostly real wood), and is a nice feature in our apartment. I love that we are giving it a second life.

We can feel good about our high-priced shopping trip because we made sustainable choices that will last us for a long time. Next time you are out to make a purchase, take the time to make the sustainable choice. Not only will you enjoy the journey, but you might just end up with something that is a talking point for your guests (And don't forget to take your old TV to the e-recycling facility!).

Financial Return on Sustainability Efforts is the Real Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:58:00 +0000

How does sustainability help our bottom line? This is the reality of the type of questions most companies ask themselves when attempting to integrate responsible business practices into their operations, policies and corporate culture.

In our line of business of helping companies advance along their CSR path, we are always on the lookout for stats that prove companies can indeed get a financial return from their sustainability efforts. That’s why we were thrilled to see the results from the new study released this week by MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Company titled “The Innovation Bottom Line,” which reports that companies’ profits increased from 23 to 37 percent in the past year in direct connection to their sustainability initiatives.

Out of the 2,600 global executives and managers surveyed, almost 50 percent of companies modified their business models because of sustainability opportunities, which is a 20 percent surge from the year prior.

However, these “Sustainability-Driven Innovators” are mostly from emerging countries. North America-based businesses lagged behind and altered their business models due to sustainability at a much lower rate than did companies in emerging countries. Along these same lines, North American companies had the least number of business-model innovators. Let’s get with the sustainability program, North America!

Innovation as the Catalyst

So what is influencing this change? Innovative business models are driving sustainability, says the study. This kind of innovation is tackling areas at the core of every business such as how to make organizational structure, cost models, value chain, services provided more efficient and effective.

Companies are also seeing the inherent value that their dedication to sustainability has on recruiting and retaining quality talent, as sustainability is becoming an attractive aspect for many job-seekers in today’s market.

Businesses that are heavily based around resource use are turning to sustainability-driven business models to save money on supply chain and thus decrease energy use, reduce packaging and allay the risks of commodity pricing.

But don’t be fooled, not every c-suite or manager has jumped on the bandwagon quite yet. There are still lots of executives and managers who aren’t quite sold yet on the idea that sustainability has anything to offer their business. In fact, nearly half those surveyed said that they find it hard to quantify sustainability’s intangible effects, and 37 percent reported sustainability as clashing with other business priorities. Hopefully, more studies like this will help those non-believers come around!

Perhaps this rise in financial returns due to sustainability is part of the reason we are witnessing a growing trend of companies integrating their CSR report into their financial or annual reports. As sustainability continues to show its profit prowess, expect to see it becoming embedded more and more into other aspects of business as usual.

Food Waste, A Major Sustainability Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:15:00 +0000

I recently came across a new Natural Resources Defense Council report titled Wasted, which says Americans waste 40 percent of our food on its journey from the farm all the way to the landfill. I’ve heard in recent years numbers like 30 percent, but reading this stat just got my blood boiling. The study also claims food production from farm to table consumes ten percent of this country’s total energy budget, takes up 50 percent of our land and a whopping 80 percent of U.S. consumed freshwater.

The report’s author, Dana Gunders, explains, “This not only means that Americans are throwing out the equivalent of $165 billion each year, but also that the uneaten food ends up rotting in landfills as the single largest component of U.S. municipal solid waste where it accounts for a large portion of U.S. methane emissions.”

At Springleaf, we like to talk solutions, which is why digging deeper into the study, you find some hopeful data on this issue. Take for instance the fact that simply saving 15 of that 40 percent of uneaten food could provide enough to nourish over 25 million Americans annually! Now that is a serious sustainability opportunity.

As it stands now, one out of every six Americans is food “insecure.” What does that wonky term mean, you might wonder? Basically, it signifies that a person isn’t able to have a steady source of food on their plate. Gunders recommends upping the ante on our food system’s efficiency, stating this is a “triple bottom-line solution that requires collaborative efforts by businesses, governments and consumers.”

The research suggests that the government create a study of waste in our nation’s food system and establish goals to decrease the amount of food wasted. Similarly, businesses should see the monetary benefits of reducing food waste within their own operations.

But how does this tough issue play out in our individual day to day lives? Well, the study advocates that consumers take a close, hard look at their shopping and eating habits. This means knowing when food will go bad, purchasing produce that may not be beautiful but is still edible, cooking only what you need, and for gosh sakes, listen to your grandmother and eat those leftovers!

I used to hate it when my nana would make me eat those same leftovers for several days in a row. I really didn’t appreciate this and what I call her “conservationist” qualities until I was much older. I realized, she grew up during the Great Depression, when you DIDN’T WASTE ANYTHING. “Mold on that cheese? No problem,” she would say. “Cut it off,” and other such practical advice.

Her tried and true solution to knowing when food or milk had gone bad? “Do the smell test!” I still use this and much of her practical advice on how to use what you have. Really, learning how to not waste food comes down to common sense. Which is why reading Michael Pollan’s Food Rules is so insightful (note: he interviewed not only nutritionists, folklorists, doctors and dieticians, but many mothers and grandmothers of course). So, as my nana says, “use your noggin!” Put that food to good use – eat it! And if you can’t eat it, compost it!

Awards Season: It's That Time of Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:38:00 +0000

Everyday, I talk with companies about communication strategy and how they are positioning themselves in the market. And every quarter I mention to clients that they should look at XYZ award because the deadline is coming up. We have a calendar of the deadlines of various awards, and we try to schedule out time to collect information so we can submit a really strong award. Well, this year is no different...It's awards season!

January/February/March: The Chamber's awards are coming due. The City has their Environmental Awards. The paper has their monthly awards programs. The local real estate group is calling for submissions. Industry groups want to hear from their members. The list seems endless (and by the way, why the heck do they all have to be due at once?!?). With so many opportunities to be recognized, why isn't this standard procedure for all businesses?

Well, for one thing, people have a difficult time talking about themselves. And some companies don't have the time to do it (I call horse pucky on that excuse). But honestly, some companies think they haven't done anything notable enough to apply.

So my question to you is, what are you doing that makes your company different? How did you stand out against your competitors last year? How did your strategic plan move you forward on your goals (What did you say? You didn't have a strategic plan last year? Well, you should call us!)? How can you position your company to show off your best attributes and get ahead?

While some people think applying for awards is difficult, it's worth it. What better way to get publicity than with a pat on the back for a job well done? The trick is to keep track of what awards are coming up, and keep awards in the back of your mind as you go through the year. It makes it a lot easier to apply for an award if you track notable accomplishments along the way.

We are advocates of using an annual awards plan (measurable goals included) as a tool in our marketing box to help raise awareness in the community. It's a lot of work to tell the story of your company using concise but engaging language, but it's a great exercise.

Don't have an awards plan? We're happy to talk with you about our best practices and which awards are worth it (and which ones from which you should run, not walk).

Happy awards season, y'all! Don't forget to keep track of all the great things you are doing, and may the best company win!!

Twitter Meets CSR

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:35:00 +0000

The CSR community is making their presence known at the social media ball, and Twitter seems to be the leading lady. As we ourselves are on a learning curve with trying to increase our social media profile, we thought we would share with you in our ongoing research. Social does implicitly mean sharing, after all. This is by no means comprehensive, so we could certainly use your help and feedback on what Twitter chats you are engaged in, who you are following and any other tips you may have in the CSR Twitter universe!

These are some top of mind hashtags to consider using on a regular weekly basis. If you are set up on something like HootSuite, these are posts you could easily schedule ahead of time, rotating through a list of the people you follow (or who you want to follow you) that you can mention alongside these hashtags:

#ecomonday – to give a shout out to your business consumers, partners and other key stakeholders.
#charitytuesday – gives you a chance to share with your followers who are your favorite non-profits and charities.
#wastelesswed – to be used for recycling and waste related news and other interesting announcements like new waste management initiatives
#followfriday or #ff – allows you to give some Twitter love to people you think others should follow. Typically people will thank you and return the favor by promoting your Twitter handle right back.

The Green Economy Post put out this comprehensive green Twitter hashtag list that is helpful in knowing what lingo to attach to your messages to get more traffic. Othe social side of the equation, Socialbrite created a social good hashtag list, including standards with good trending records like #nonprofit, #socialenterprise or #socialbusiness. As Kim Brale of SocialBrite points out to readers, “Sending a tweet into the Twitterverse without a proper tag is like stocking a library with no regard to author or subject matter. Your messages may go unread and opportunities to connect with others may be missed.”

I hope to come across more official, consistent CSR/Sustainability-related Twitter chats, but here is what we’ve found so far:

#csrchat – A bi-weekly chat with CSR professionals where a company or organization is a guest and answers questions from participants about their CSR initiatives
#solarchat – A bi-weekly chat for the solar industry and “solar curious” that has guest commentators and a changing topic like “solar and education.” This is an especially dynamic conversation where folks are asked to respond to multiple questions throughout and leave with lots of new ideas to help push their own solar work/initiatives forward.
@CSRWire is a CSR news platform that partners with company’s to host CSR chats, but they don’t happen on a regular basis.
Same deal with #gbbbiz (Green Business Bureau), which also hosts occasional chats.

Who you follow is the other critical component to a successful Twitter handle. Social Earth says these are the 45 “must follow” Twitter accounts for CSR while Brave One gives a top 50 Twitter accounts of sustainability and CSR leaders to keep track of.

Ok, so we’ve got a running start on hashtags to utilize, chats, and good folks to follow. What other advice can you share with us, CSR and sustainability colleagues, to maximize our Twitter profiles in the CSR space? Keep a look out for part two as we do more digging…

Made Real in North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Colleen) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:33:00 +0000

I had heard about the Manufacturing Makes It Real Network last year when Keihin Carolina System Technology was the host of one of the public events sponsored by the Network. The event was a huge success and many were drawn to the conversation and networking around a common thread - manufacturing in North Carolina (it just so happens a good bit of the conversation was also around the sustainability initiatives at the facility!). The Network's 2012 season saw record numbers of attendees and standing room only crowds.

Now, after a busy year, the program has come back into focus for me with this year's kick off event at Nomaco in Zebulon - an event focused on sustainability initiatives at the facility as well as demonstrating that making more sustainable choices can save not just the planet, but also improve the bottom line. The event will be held on January 23rd and is open to the public.

Meeting Gene Fornaro, Manager of the Manufacturing Network, helped bring clarity to the program and its significance to our region. He took the time to explain that the Network was created after a statewide bus tour two years ago that showcased "Made in NC" products. A trailer was filled with products manufactured right here in North Carolina and driven across the state. Words on a blog cannot capture the enthusiasm for the program and the road trip that Gene shared at the meeting. The outpouring of support for promoting the positive side of manufacturing in our state was overwhelming, and the Manufacturing Makes It Real (MMIR) program was born.

The Network connects local manufacturers in order to share stories, construct stronger local supply chains that can be vital to business, and promote a positive image of North Carolina manufacturing. Throughout the year, the Network hosts public events at manufacturing facilities across the state.

How does all this relate to sustainability? Manufacturing has an environmental footprint - and not a small one. Efforts to manage and minimize the footprint are essential to remain competitive. Where we purchase our goods and where they are manufactured has an impact on our natural environment as well as our local community - and again, not a small one.

There are many ways to give back to the community, support one another, and create a network of folks who believe in the importance of sharing best practices and celebrating successes together. The Manufacturing Makes It Real Network does just that.

So, if you are interested in manufacturing and want to learn more about Nomaco and Nomacorc and their journey to minimize their impact, as well learn more about the MMIR Network, register today for the next public event, January 23rd at 1:00 in Zebulon.

Nomaco representatives will speak about the company's commitment to engineering solutions that conserve and reduce impact on natural resources, its recent successes in those areas, and information on its products and best practices. Nomaco's affiliate, Nomacorc, will share lessons learned from its new solar panel installation, which will be celebrated with an unveiling earlier in the day. Sustainable Industrial Solutions (SIS) will discuss how SIS supported both companies in these initiatives. The event will cap with a guided factory tour. As you may recall, Evelyn toured Nomacorc a couple of years ago and was impressed with their facility and innovation to be more efficient. And, also on the bill will be the Manufacturing Spotlight, a regular show and tell session where Network members may present their products and supplier needs to the gathering.

The event is free and open to the public. Hopefully we will see you there. RSVP today!

2013 Sustainability Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:47:00 +0000

Happy 2013 to our colleagues, friends, family and cheerleaders! We want to kick off the year with a conversation about resolutions. We've all made them. And we've probably all, at some point or another, fallen short of them too. I'd venture to say that's because we oftentimes make them so lofty that they are unrealistic or so vague that they don't inspire action, like getting healthier, being more productive, eating better, etc. What does that really look like on a day to day basis and how can resolutions be broken down into bite size so they are actually manageable?

Since we are in the business of sustainability, Springleaf is especially interested in those resolutions that relate to creating a more sustainable life for our personal and collective selves. Lindsey Cromwell Kalkbrenner of The San Francisco Chronicle challenges folks to make the following specific, attainable personal sustainability resolutions for 2013:

Spend your time doing things with people instead of buying energy-sucking, landfill-bound gifts.
Eat less meat.
Cook at home and buy organic.
Understand your trash.
Use energy efficiently.

Ok, so this covers some of the ways we can take charge of sustainability at home, but what of organization or business sustainability resolutions that may make a significant impact on their employees, consumers and the planet?

Practice GreenHealth says that an organization's sustainability goals should meet the following criteria: Be sure they are measurable so that you are aware when you have met them, that someone is accountable for delivering goal outcomes, and that goals are strategic or in line with your already existing strategic plan.

Perhaps personal and organization-wide sustainability goals are not mutually exclusive. Take Walmart's My Sustainability Plan, for example. This employee engagement program is based on the idea that as associates use the MSP tool to make changes that help them to live greener, be healthier and make a difference in the world, they are also helping to build a stronger corporate culture and more sustainable business overall.

Saatchi & Saatchi similarly urges firms to adopt a DOT, which means encouraging people to Do One Thing. This is based on their belief that sustainability "is driven from consumers-up, not companies down...One person's DOT may stand alone, but connect a billion DOTs together and you'll see a movement of change happening."

We would love to hear from our readers what kind of DOT or MSP program can you envision that might change your business from the inside out? We wish you a Happy, and of course a Sustainable, New Year!

End of Year Wrap Up

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:13:00 +0000

My, how this year has quickly come and gone! We are blessed for all of the amazing projects, wonderful relationships and new challenges we have had the pleasure of being involved with throughout 2012.

As the year draws to a close we want to take this time to say thank you. We could not be who we are without you and are grateful for the many gifts and experiences you have given us. We look forward to another fulfilling year in 2013! Since you helped us make this a busy, successful and exciting year, we thought we would share with you some proud 2012 highlights:

We were thrilled to have the chance to attend some incredible events throughout 2012, including the Triangle Green Business Challenge award luncheon and a B Corps event with presentations by John Replogle, CEO of Seventh Generation and Yola Carlough, sustainability guru from her time at Burt’s Bees and Ben & Jerry’s.

Springleaf helped with the marketing and outreach for the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association’s Annual Making Energy Work Conference. For a second time, we worked with the NC CEO Forum as project manager for the event hosts. Jack Welch, former Chairman and CEO of General Electric, was the featured keynote speaker.

Our team was ecstatic to spend time working with Advocates for Health in Action to develop their two-year strategic plan. Collaborating closely with Executive Committee team members and staff, we developed goals, specific initiatives and metrics to track success in the coming years.

Bland Landscaping receiving the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Volunteer Project

We continue to act as a marketing advisor to Bland Landscaping, a landscaping company committed to operating as a sustainable business. This year we served as project manager for the launch of their new website and nominated the company for several awards, including the City of Raleigh’s Environmental Awards – Market Transformation Award, the Greater Raleigh Chamber’s Pinnacle Business Awards – Smith Seal of North Carolina Sustainable Business Award, and the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance – Volunteer Initiative Award.

We were delighted to team up on several projects with Crescent Resources, a development company based in Charlotte, NC. The most fun task was to help come up with a name for a residential development in Charlotte (Alexander Village) as well as conduct demographic market research for a prospective development in Atlanta.

Springleaf began working with an impact investor from Solidarity Capital Group to assist in launching the company brand. We served as advisor and project manager in building the brand, developing positioning and messaging and launching their new website.

Lastly, I am excited to have joined the Springleaf team as Sustainability Communications Specialist this year and am thoroughly enjoying working with our clients as they navigate their paths toward sustainability.

We want to wish our friends, clients, stakeholders and supporters Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!

Holiday Shopping for Good

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Parties, travel, gifts, oh my! This week is the home stretch for holiday madness, especially if you have been putting off buying presents. You might be like me and not one for buying meaningless gifts just for the sake of gift-giving. So the idea of a thoughtful gift that can bring a smile to a loved one and show them I care is great, but if that gift can also do some good out in the world, than even better. You might be as surprised as we were to find how many organizations and businesses out there are giving holiday shoppers the option of gifting for good. So we put together a small sampling to give you some good gifting ideas...

One of the more recognizable campaigns is Product (RED), where consumers can choose from multiple name brands that when purchased, tag on a donation to help eliminate AIDS worldwide.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is making stuffed animals exclusively for the World Wildlife Fund, where with every stuffed animal bought a donation is made. If you’re looking for other children’s toy purchases that give back to a cause, turn to B.Toys, which donates 10 cents for each toy purchased to Free the Children, an organization that strives to free children from poverty and exploitation.

TOMS isn’t just in the charitable business of giving away shoes for every pair purchased, but has added eyewear to their product line and charitable mission as well. The concept is the same -- for each pair of glasses or sunglasses sold, the company will help to give the gift of better vision to someone in need by either providing glasses, eye exams or eye surgery.

A portion of all purchases off of The Nature Conservancy’s Marketplace website or the Sierra Club Store, which includes everything from outdoor apparel to nature-inspired holiday cards, goes toward supporting the organizations’ efforts.

Heifer International has an entire Alternative Gift Guide that allows you to help a family around the world receive training and the gift of an animal that allows them to become self-reliant. What kid wouldn’t be thrilled to have a cow named in their honor? Or perhaps helping out a teacher, student or classroom in someone’s honor is more their style. DonorsChoose.org let’s you make a donation to a particular classroom project in a friend’s honor, which sends your friend a notification and thank you letters from students.

Jedidiah calls themselves a “humanitarian-based apparel brand aspiring to cultivate change, one garment at a time.” Their mission is to use apparel as a change agent, with each product being inspired by the cause with which it’s associated, including disaster relief, health, education, human trafficking, poverty and water. Jedidiah is one of several brands that fit the Made for Good model of giving back.

The Network for Good offers the unique Good Card, a new twist on the traditional holiday gift card. This gives the card recipient the ability to pick a specific charity and cause of their liking to donate the amount on the gift card.

What gifts for good are you giving this year?

Triangle Green Business Challenge Recognizes Local Sustainability Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:16:00 +0000

The Triangle is turning a little greener this December, but not because the Grinch is sneaking around. The 2012 Triangle Green Business Challenge held their award ceremony last week to celebrate local businesses for their sustainable practices. Those who received awards had made distinguished advancements on the Challenge’s scorecard by improving healthy and sustainable work environments. The event was held Friday December 7^th with over 100 folks representing 52 companies at the Research Triangle Foundation’s RTP headquarters.

Triangle-based firms IBM, Cary Creative Reuse Center, Self-Help Credit Union, Ventures Fund, Ninth Street Bakery received the Achievement Award by earning the most overall points. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Cary Creative Reuse Center, Ninth Street Bakery, and Gibbs & Soell won the Momentum Award, which recognizes those companies whose points increased the most from baseline to final. Award recipients were offered free registration or re-certification by Green Plus, a two-year, triple bottom line education, networking and recognition program in Chapel Hill.

The Challenge is organized by The Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG), which supports collaboration among local governments, stakeholders, and partners to “tackle challenges that cross jurisdictional lines” such as land use, energy efficiency, waste reduction and air quality. As these counties represent such a wide diversity of rural, urban and suburban businesses and organizations, TJCOG realized sustainability was one challenge worth promoting.

Brennan Bouma, the Challenge’s Coordinator and TJCOG energy & environment planner said in a press statement, “Congratulations to all of our winners, and also to our participants. These businesses worked hard over the past eight months to update their policies and practices to save money and lower their environmental impacts. They’ve shown the leadership and innovation that makes this region successful.”

The Challenge started on Earth Day 2012 and ended in mid-November, with the goal being to assist Triangle businesses in undertaking sustainability initiatives including waste reduction, energy efficiency improvement, green purchasing decisions as well as offering eco-friendly commuter options. They provide a scorecard to follow along with helpful tips and examples of successful actions within each of the scoring item areas.

Businesses, NGOs, local governments and public agencies with no limit on size were welcome to participate from the TJCOG’s seven counties of Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange and Wake, with a total of 21 taking part overall. Sponsors of the challenge included Office Depot, ICLEI, Green Plus, NC Green Power, Progress Energy, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Foundation, United Soybean Board, Waste Reduction Partners and GoTriangle.

Turns out there are Green Business Challenges springing up all over the country. Check out what folks in other locations are doing to encourage sustainable business!

Women Drive Sustainability Purchasing, But Untapped Marketing Opportunity Lies with Men

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:21:00 +0000

If you are headed out to face the crowds during this holiday shopping season, you are more likely to be buying sustainable products if you are a woman, says Walden Hyde’s recent executive summary and largest ethnogrophy of sustainability in American households, SmartLiving in the Big [green] Middle. After interviewing 125 families, 50 industry experts and 1,000 online participants, this sustainability consulting group’s report concludes that women tend to opt for greener goods.

The study reveals insights that might be important to those trying to market sustainable brands to consumers. Most folks fall into two categories in sustainable purchasing decisions, what the study calls Swayables and Fence Sitters. Women more often than men fall into the swayable field, or rather, consumers who are said to be more open-minded about testing out a sustainable product, while men tend toward being fence sitters, or those who are bit more difficult, albeit possible, to convince.

This isn’t exactly breaking news. Not only have recent studies repeatedly told marketers that women make the large majority of purchasing choices for their households overall, but that women are more likely to purchase brands associated with a cause or with sustainable and responsible business practices in mind.

According to the SmartLiving study, moms are particularly concerned about healthy purchasing decisions for their families. This plays out as moms being more game to spend a little bit more on a product such as natural cleaning, health and beauty products as well as organic food. Women tend to be more influenced by brands who market with eco-messaging than men.

But that’s not to say that men don’t factor in sustainability or can’t be persuaded in the sustainability category, and in fact the study resolves quite the opposite; Male fence sitters present a unique challenge and opportunity for brands -- to market quality sustainable products of high-performance at a reasonable price point. This stems from male fence sitters leaning toward being more affected by price and more doubtful of the merit of green marketing campaigns.

As Lucia Robinson of Walden Hyde puts it, “The last thing they want to be is ‘duped’ by green propaganda. Fence Sitters need products to lead with excellence as a primary brand promise; they tend to prefer sustainable options that are more understated. This mostly male group may pay a small premium for a green product, but will be very demanding in evaluating its performance and judging its differentiation from conventional alternatives.”

Communications expert Bill Fleishman agrees and more specifically sees dads as an untapped opportunity for marketers. Here’s his advice on how to reach them.

Keihin Wins Honda’s 2012 Green Factory Recognition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:52:00 +0000

Keihin Carolina System Technology (KCST) received Honda’s Green Factory recognition on November 15^th in recognition for their Tarboro, NC factory’s sustainability activities in the area of pollution prevention. The Tarboro facility encompasses a 147,000 square foot manufacturing space on 60 acres of land, where they produce leading Engine Control Units. John Foster, Sustainability Coordinator, describes KCST’s path toward being a sustainable enterprise, “It’s been an adventure so far, but a great one. We’ve learned so much.”

One of the first things they’ve learned along the way is how to tackle waste, achieving Zero Waste to Landfill status. Hazardous waste shipping has already been reduced at the Tarboro factory by 67 percent along with the diversion of 2,500 wooden pallets annually from landfills. Printing conservation efforts have prevented the use of 1,000 reams or 500,000 sheets of paper. Cardboard (which made up the majority of waste to landfill) is now recycled on-site, saving the company a whopping $3,500 per month. This actively demonstrates that when a company makes the decision to divert waste, it not only helps the environment, but their pocketbook as well!

The cafeteria is one place at KCST where changes are tangible – with styrofoam dishware having been completely replaced by reusable plates and a newly installed dishwasher, diverting 250 plates daily from landfills. Their food subcontractor, a local restaurant named Suburban Grille, takes all of the factory’s compost and as Foster explains, has been extremely cooperative in adapting to the new sustainability measures. Employees are provided a recycling center within the cafeteria where they can recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles, utensils, etc.

As for energy efficiency measures, all air compressors have been upgraded, producing a 21 percent energy savings. Meanwhile, the facility's lighting has transitioned from metal halide bulbs to T5 bulbs and now the T5 bulbs are being replaced by LED bulbs, making for a 68 percent energy savings. Water usage decreased after automatic, low-flow toilets and faucets were installed in all bathroom facilities. A new white or “cool” roof installation along with run-as-needed, energy efficient heating and ventilation equipment hasn’t hurt their energy savings either.

Foster says that the biggest sustainability challenge has been the mindset change internally. “It is difficult on associates. If you do things the same way for 14 years, you have to explain why it’s so important to change now. You have to retrain everybody from their old way of life.”

A staff Green Team meets once a month, with each team member being assigned to a sub-committee that focuses on specific issues like waste reduction, energy, events and so on. Employees can mark Green Team hours as community service hours. Staff conducted a total of 813 community service hours for multiple projects such as the Green Team and external non-profit projects just within the first six months of this fiscal year.

Foster was pleasantly surprised that from the beginning there has been a high level of support from management. “We had total buy-in from top down, which has been essential to the program.”

Future sustainability goals include becoming a LEED-Certified Building, ISO 50001 Certification, maintenance of Zero Waste to Landfill status, 25 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2018 and 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2050. Clearly KCST is a NC green leader to keep an eye on…

An Attempt at a Responsible Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:34:00 +0000

On the eve of Thanksgiving, we thought it appropriate to give some pointers on how to make your 2012 Thanksgiving holiday a wee bit more sustainable and socially responsible.

Shop Small Saturday

Part of why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday is that it seems like the least commercial of all the major holidays we celebrate here in the U.S. It’s not centered around gift giving or material possessions, but is more focused on being with the people you’re thankful to have in your life. Then I sigh and recall that Thanksgiving also marks a very important time for businesses: the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Many folks, while chowing down on their mashed taters and pumpkin pie, are simply daydreaming of the huge savings they will find the following day at big box stores on Black Friday.

But what if instead you skipped Black Friday? Heresy, sacrilege, you may say! This year Springleaf challenges you to forgo those long lines out in the cold and crazed stampedes, and opt for supporting Shop Small Business Saturday! The whole purpose of this day, launched by American Express, is to get Americans to shop local and help ensure the vibrancy of your local economy. Why not give your community entrepreneurs a real reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving?

Lend a Hand

Plenty of organizations are looking for volunteers at the 11^th hour to help serve, cook, sponsor or deliver meals to the elderly and hungry on Thanksgiving day such as the Raleigh Rescue Mission, Durham Rescue Mission, Helping Hands Mission, Durham Social Services or the Chatham Outreach Alliance.

Heel Toe Express

If you are hosting the big meal this year, challenge your friends or family to walk, ride their bicycles, rollerblade, or take public transportation. Physical activity on Thanksgiving is never a bad thing for your health after stuffing your face all day! You could even get a group together to fight for various causes in a local race such as the Ridgewood Turkey Trot, Streets at South Point Turkey Trot, Greensboro Gobbler 5K or the Charlotte Turkey Trot.

Zero Waste Meal

Steer clear of styrofoam, plastic or paper products and get out grandma’s reusable antique china, glassware, cutlery and embroidered cloth napkins that have been collecting dust on the shelf. Use an eco-friendly dishwashing detergent that is biodegradable from brands like Biokleen, Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyers.

There is the argument that the water used in washing dishes is just as bad as using compostables. If you are in this camp, but don't have a compost bin, never fear. For now, throw your compostable ware and any food scraps from the meal into a paper bag, and stuff it in the freezer until you can find or build yourself a proper compost bin. There are also local businesses popping up that will come collect residential compost at little to no charge such as Revolution Compost in Durham, which picks the compost up by bicycle.

Nature as Decor

The fall in the Triangle can be breathtaking with its array of warm colors. Take advantage of this and use fallen leaves, dried out tree bark or branches to spruce up your table without having to purchase flowers shipped from across the globe for your centerpiece. Not only does this give your décor a more natural look, but it saves you money and reduces your Thanksgiving footprint.

Gobble Green

By now you have probably done your food shopping, but for those last minute shoppers (you know who you are), a good rule of thumb -- which encouragingly most folks are sick of hearing by now -- is buy local food. The Triangle is a rich source of sustainable farms, farmers markets, food coops and CSA culture. If you didn’t order your heritage breed turkey ahead of time, the next best option is to buy an organic bird, which means the turkey was raised without the use of antibiotics, growth enhancers, has outdoor access and is fed only organic feed. Other good labels to look for to make more responsible food choices are Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, Food Alliance Certified, or American Grassfed. Sites like Local Harvest or the Eat Well Guide can help you locate local, sustainable food options.

How do you attempt to be responsible and sustainable on this holiday? Give us your tips here and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Social Media as Change Agent

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:01:00 +0000

For those companies just starting to take on the daunting task of beefing up their social media profile, it is easy to think to oneself, am I really going to see a valuable return on investment? Those in the corporate social media trenches who have seen positive CSR results can tell you that the answer is a most definite “heck yes!”

Or at least that’s the conclusion I drew after attending the “Fans, Followers, and Feeds: The How-To and So-What of Digital Corporate Impact” panel discussion at this year’s Net Impact conference. We heard from those down in the corporate social media weeds including Laurel Moffat, Senior Specialist of Outreach Communication at Southwest Airlines; Javier Flaim, Chief Marketing Officer at Recyclebank; Victor Reiss, Manager of Digital & Social Channels at FedEx; along with moderator Aman Singh Das, Editorial Director of CSRwire.

Singh Das emphatically instructed attendees to bust out their ipads, smart phones and laptops to tweet questions and comments to the panelists in real time. First lesson: walk the talk!

Reiss had the smarts to start off the conversation with an apropos sports metaphor, comparing traditional communications to bowling -- a straight, linear path where you aim and hope you strike down the pins. Whereas social media is more like a pinball machine game -- with messages coming and going at you from all sides. In order to stay up to speed with social media, a company must be agile and constantly evolving.

The panel emphasized the importance of authenticity in social media messaging. Reiss equated building social media with the imagery of building a community. When a company does not speak authentically, “it’s like a neighborhood with boarded up windows.”

In a healthy, thriving community, residents feel as though they have some ownership in the community – that they care for the community while at the same time the community cares for them. The same goes for a brand, explains Moffat. Your consumers, and therefore your social media audience, want to feel as though they have ownership of the brand, and that simultaneously the brand cares about them as an individual.

Moffat gave the example of a tweet Southwest received from a man named Jerome, making a complaint that every time he printed his boarding pass it would print two pages, one with nothing on it. Southwest’s Green Team responded and fixed the glitch, not only saving unnecessary paper from going in the landfill, but also saving the company lots of money. Then Southwest blogged about it, thanking Jerome for his help. They demonstrated to their consumers that not only are they a company that can admit when they make a mistake, but also that they are listening to customers.

Social media can also play a crucial role in employee engagement. Southwest is known for its strong corporate culture and distinct brand personality. In fact, 80 percent of staff say they work there because of this culture (think impromptu serenades by their flight attendants). So it wasn’t too hard for the company to find an army of employee bloggers to write stories about themselves, their community involvements, and what it’s like to work for Southwest. These folks volunteer to blog on top of their regular duties and are given official training and support from the communication team.

This helps explain why their blog, Nuts About Southwest, is one of the most visited Fortune 500 blogs (not to mention they have snagged over one million Twitter followers and 770,000 Facebook friends). Moffat says that Southwest sees social media as a powerful tool because “people are our product.”

Flaim of Recyclebank advised the crowd to approach social media as an opportunity, instead of looking at it as a risk. He warns that if a new company is just in its infancy of developing a brand through social media and they approach it with an attitude of fear, “you are already starting a step backwards.”

What are your social media tips for those in the business community looking to be social change agents?