We help companies throughout the product supply chain create environmentally-sustainable businesses. Our consulting services include: creating enterprise-level environmental sustainability visions, goals and strategies; re-engineering internal processes to reflect environmentally-sustainable best practices; and  maximizing the environmental sustainability of product supply chains through the design and implementation of supplier assessment mechanisms.

We work in a variety of industries. We are extremely sensitive to clients' budgets and their capacity for change.

Whether it's an energy, water, chemicals or solid waste issue, our team of professionals is ready to help your business. Please contact us to learn how we can help you.

It's a new year and we're already seeing a lot of corporate activity related to sustainability ... even more than in 2010! That's encouraging, but it raises the question of what we think the year will bring for sustainability in a corporate context. We think there are three trends that will be significant when we look back on the year at December 31.

1. Continued focus on greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Despite a lack of federal regulation in this area (and no one expects that to change in 2011) there are multiple drivers at work here, including new state and regional efforts coming on line and the publication of two new voluntary GHG emissions accounting and reporting standards from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative (www.ghgprotocol.org).

2. Driving sustainability through the value chain. Much more stakeholder engagement, performance measurement and transparency efforts. Real challenges to get sufficient visibility up and down the value chain, which will be addressed by technology, frank discussions leading to enhanced collaboration and even some creative lawyering to protect intellectual property and trade secrets.

3. Sustainability 2.0. C-level folks, in addition to continuing to tasking managers with eco-efficiency work and measuring their progress, will increasingly focus on the value propositions that are associated with an environmentally-sustainable business model. For example, how does a company protect and even grow revenue when there is less consumption? Disruptive and challenging, for sure.

So that's what we think you'll notice in 2011. What do you foresee?

In the Feature Article we talked about 3 trends in corporate sustainability in 2011. Here are some tips about how to participate in each one.

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions ... get to know your carbon footprint by using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Corporate Standard (for emissions from your business activity and energy you purchase) and (for emissions generated elsewhere in your value chain) by learning about soon-to-be-released Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard (visit www.ghgprotocol.org). Think about (a) mapping out all of your company's value chain partners and processes that might contribute to GHG emissions and (b) first and foremost, assessing your capacity to handle this challenging task.
• Driving sustainability through your value chain ... develop and implement a sustainable procurement policy with a mission of purchasing environmentally-friendly products and services from environmentally-responsible suppliers. Work category-by-category to create performance standards for materials and for suppliers themselves. Begin the dialogue with value chain partners about sustainability and engage them in helping you achieve your vision.
• Sustainability 2.0 ... if you're in senior management, assemble a team to brainstorm ideas and strategies about where and how to go beyond eco-efficiency. You might consider contacting NGOs and thought leaders for their assistance. Communicate the fact that you're heading in this direction to managers and supervisors so that they can be thinking about what's next as well.
   

These are just a few of the actions you can take this year that will help your company reap the benefits associated with being a sustainable enterprise ... lower costs and risks associated with environmental impacts, more innovation and business value and a reduced environmental footprint! 

Here are a few of the many interesting sustainability events happening in the coming months:

February 9 - 11, Chicago, IL ... GreenBiz's State of Green Business Forum series starts off in the Windy City. Visit www.greenbiz.com for further information.

February 16 - 17, Washington, DC ... the State of Green Business Forum, DC version, is at the National Press Club. Visit www.greenbiz.com.

February 22 - 24, Orlando, FL .. Sustainability in Packaging 2011, a showcase of case studies, best-in-class solutions and other great content. Visit www.sustainability-in-packaging.com to learn more or  to register.

March 3 - 4, Miami, FL ... MiaGreen Expo and Conference .. Join GreenBiz and Bloom Energy for the 3rd Edition of the Sustainability Conference of the Americas. www.miagreen.com.

March 31 - April 2, Los Angeles, CA ... SET2010 explores sustainable environmental technology, innovations that can enhance eco-efficiency and leverage technology to drive sustainability. www.set2010.com.

April 4 - 6, Laguna Niguel, CA ... Fortune Brainstorm Green 2011 seeks to move beyond eco-efficiency concerns to explore high-level, strategic approaches to a sustainable future for the business world. www.fortuneconferences.com/brainstormgreen/.