How to Spearhead a Sustainability Program in Your Organization  

Speaker: Hans Wegner, Vice President of Productions Services, National Geographic 

The influence of a major environmentally orientated organization like National Geographic is enormous. The growing awareness that corporate sustainability programs cannot properly function without the total commitment of sustainably based suppliers in the supply chain means that new environmental standards are being set to control the products used by major print buyers. Because of the significant impact on carbon footprint of paper and print, National Geographic has taken a scientific and detailed approach which is currently unique in corporations of this kind.

Hans Wegner was the major driving force behind these studies and their results. Hans will speak about the National Geographic corporate sustainability program and the sustainably based paper and print procurement program that National Geographic has developed. Hans will discuss how the Society, which publishes articles on the impact of Climate change, the global loss of forest, the melting of the world ice cover and the pressure on agriculture as a fuel source is trying to change its own operation to "Walk the Sustainability Talk". He will discuss the following:

·         how the Society is tackling this problem

·         the need for corporate buy-in

·         the importance of and challenge with measuring your company's carbon emissions

·         the need to develop standards that certify emission reductions and offsets

·         how to set corporate goals to achieve success

·         how cost-savings accrue with a commitment to sustainable operations

·         how the Society worked with its print suppliers to develop a magazine carbon footprint and how you can do the same

·         how your company and you can get started