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 July 2013
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 New Sustainability Standards Coming
 This fall, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is rolling out the G4, a new set of sustainability reporting guidelines . This is the first major revision of the guidelines since 2006, and it aims to deliver more meaningful reports by focusing on documenting what really matters to the organization. "The new framework moves away from broad, general disclosure," says Anna Dengler, Great Forest's director of sustainability. "For example, it removes the A, B and C grade levels, which direct the public to how much information the company is disclosing. To many, this had the appearance of rewarding higher letter scoring companies even though having an A does not necessarily mean that that company is more sustainable than one with a C level. It just means their report covers more ground."
"Under the new framework, general disclosures go under 'core' and in-depth reports are tracked under 'comprehensive,' giving companies the flexibility to go as wide and deep as they want without being labeled," says Anna. "These and other changes add a layer of clarity to the new framework. We encourage everyone to use the GRI. There really is nothing else out there that matches what the GRI does in reporting."
If you have been using the G3 and G3.1 guidelines, you can continue to do so for up to two reporting cycles. Reports submitted after December 31, 2015 should be prepared following the G4 Guidelines. To learn more, see the GRI website.
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How China's Green Fence Is Affecting Your Waste and Recycling Costs
 Some of you might already be seeing increases in your waste and recycling costs due to China's Green Fence policy, implemented in February to prevent the import of trash--including contaminated scrap metal, paper and plastic--into the country. Since the U.S. exports about 50% of all materials collected for recycling, sending two-thirds of that to China, the Green Fence has greatly affected the market for recyclables.
"We expect to see waste and recycling costs go up here in the U.S. because of the Green Fence. But that does not mean that buildings and businesses cannot do anything about it. Those who are prepared for the new market can work to manage those costs," says Kenneth Richards, director of Great Forest Management Services.
Since the Green Fence went up, there have been closer inspections of containers of scrap arriving at Chinese ports, resulting in an increasing amount of contaminated recyclables being turned away.
In response, waste and recycling haulers and processors in the U.S. are now starting to increase their rates, citing the need to do more secondary sorting to ensure recyclables are "clean" enough for export to China. Some of the bigger haulers are even investing in high tech facilities that do optical sorting. On the other hand, some haulers are simply treating contaminated recyclables as trash, bringing them to the landfill instead.
Although the Green Fence is expected to come down in November, its effects are expected to linger. So what can your building or business do to manage costs and ensure that recyclables are not going to the landfill?
1) Keep your recycling stream clean
Remind your staff and tenants to source separate recyclables in accordance with your recycling program. This means making sure that they are making the effort to take liquids and any wet, messy food wastes to designated trash bins rather than discarding them in a recycling bin. If your recycling stream is too contaminated, recyclable materials such as paper may not be recoverable at a sorting facility. Your recycling could end up in the landfill, and the cost of having it sorted after pickup will be passed along to you in the form of increased waste and recycling rates.
2) Manage potential rate increases
Being prepared and aware of the market, along with maintaining a clean recycling stream, will put you in a better position to negotiate when you are hit with a rate increase. By working with your hauler, you have a better chance at keeping any rise in rates to a minimum.
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Keep Cool At Work This Summer
 Stay cool this summer and save on energy costs without making your air conditioner work overtime.
- Reduce heat sources - Switching from incandescent to fluorescent lighting does more than help your bottom line by saving energy. It also reduces excess heat produced by inefficient incandescents, keeping your office cooler. Look for other electronics and appliances that can be switched off, or into energy saver mode, to reduce heat sources in other ways.
- Shade the sun - Close the office blinds during the day, especially on the south and east sides of the building, which tend to get more direct sunlight.
- Turn down the air conditioner - Stay cool and comfortable rather than cold by turning down the air conditioner if possible. Americans use much more energy for air-conditioning than we did 20 years ago, and more than the rest of the world's nations combined.
- Stay hydrated - Drinking at least 64oz of fresh water each day is one of the best ways to keep your body cool. If your office doesn't have a water cooler, consider getting one with some of the money you'll save by reducing energy use on air conditioning.
- Dress for the weather - Whether your office culture is professional or business casual, you can turn to cooler, lighter fabrics in the summer months. Choose loosely-woven natural fabrics (cotton, silk, linen), rather than polyester, rayon, or other artificial fibers. Also, choose light colors that will absorb less of the sun's heat.
Sources: Forbes.com "How To Dress For Summer Months", WikiHow "Cool Yourself Without Air Conditioning", Time ideas.
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Q&A: How Can My Company Set up A Volunteer Program?
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Americans volunteered over 8 billion hours in 2010. Encouraging employees to volunteer in the community is a win-win for any business. Here are a few tips:
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Choose to volunteer for a cause that resonates with your employees or tenants. This might mean a cause related to your area of business or something involved with the local community. While Great Forest has fielded volunteers for programs related to food and poverty, many of our efforts also focus on sustainability and the environment, from cleaning up local rivers to raising money to fight pollution. - Select one or several organization to work with, and contact them to learn what kind of help they need. Do they have an upcoming event or project that needs some additional hands? Do they already have a volunteer coordinator who is familiar with the ins and outs of coordinating large groups?
- Develop the resources needed for the volunteer program. This could include financial, logistical and administrative support for coordinating and raising awareness about the program to make sure it succeeds.
- Consider offering an additional incentive. For instance, the nonprofit Double the Donation supports businesses that wish to match employees' volunteer efforts through grant incentives.
- Share the satisfaction of volunteer work. Ensure someone is documenting the volunteer efforts on the ground with photos, and recognize volunteers through company newsletters, press releases, or other avenues.
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Great Forest Inc.
212.779.4757
2014 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10035
A pioneer in the industry with over 20 years of experience, Great Forest is one of the leading sustainability consultancies in the country. We improve environmental performance and reduce costs for clients nationwide ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to property management companies, hotels, retailers, financial and educational institutions, and municipalities.
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