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The problem of establishing a credential is the lack of information on the subject. The EPA has the DfE project that helps sectors improve their products or services. After more than a decade of public angst over the environmental issues, there has been little offered as a governmental solution.
In the fall of 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13514, which was one of the best outlines for the Green and sustainable businesses. This order was only applicable to governmental agencies, but actually serves as a harbinger of what is coming to businesses everywhere.
The executive order laid out a variety of requirements that was brief yet well rounded. It appears to be a skeleton that can be thoughtfully fleshed out. For example, the Green fleet area called for sizing down vehicles to match the job and opting for alternative fuel vehicles.
With this indicator, the educated environmentalist could expand on the topic to find better maintenance to improve fuel economy, GPS systems to track and improve routes, and water recovery systems when washing vehicles.
The executive order also called for a reduction in paper use, and suggests using recycled paper and duplex printing. We know that there are dozens of other paper reduction strategies that can greatly improve on this concept.
To date, it seems that Executive Order 13514 is the best guide for a Green or sustainable business although it lacks in the broad applications. Any Green business certification would do well to pay close attention to what is being said in this order. It is the best guide we presently have from the government regarding Green business.
It is also noteworthy to point out the expectation of all agencies to install a sustainability officer. A few notable businesses have already installed sustainability officers. The breadth of subject matter that must be considered in a Green business and cannot be addressed by a layman. For this reason a Certified Sustainability Officer™ can be placed within the company, or a Certified Green Consultant™ can act as an outsourced sustainability officer.
The primary task assigned to the sustainability officer in this order is the creation of a sustainability plan that is a roadmap for orienting and installing Green practices throughout the company. Much like a CFO or CIO, the CSO may be in management, an employee, or an outsourced specialist who works with the company to map out a path to environmental compliance. This task requires more than a passing or modest knowledge of environmental issues. Often a Sustainability Policy is first developed to communicate the new mission statement to all stakeholders followed by the Sustainability Plan which is the itemized schedule of Green and sustainable improvements. These improvements must be accomplished to move the company into environmental compliance and Green business certification.
| By R. Michael Richmond |
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R. Michael Richmond, is the Director of Development for the Green Business League (http://www.greenbusinessleague.com/) and an avid proponent of Green and sustainable business programs.The Green Business League offers a national certification for Green business that has been broadly received as a leading standard for environmental compliance.
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