For BizLinked Event, 3/22/12, SRC Arena, OCC, Syracuse, NY

1. Greening Your Business & Why
You Should Care
HOW GREEN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
HELP YOUR BUSINESS SUCCEED
WHY GREEN BUSINESS?
A CORE GREEN BUSINESS MODEL
VERSUS GREENWASHING.
GREEN CORE COMPANY:
STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION NETWORK

2. THE STORY OF ORGANIC
 Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947) founder and pioneer of the
organic movement espouses Whole systems over reductionism
 “Mother earth never attempts to farm without livestock; she
always raises mixed crops; great pains are taken to preserve
the soil and prevent erosion; the mixed vegetable and animal
wastes are converted into humus; there is no waste; the
processes of growth and the processes of decay balance one
another; ample provision is made to maintain large reserves
of fertility; the greatest care is taken to store the rainfall;
both plants and animals are left to protect themselves from
disease.

3. THE STORY OF ORGANIC continued
 1940: Look to the Land, Walter Northbourne first apply the word
"organic" in application to farming.
 1940-1978: Polarization of Organic vs. Conventional agriculture in the
mid 20th Century
 1979 – 1990: Growth & Recognition of Organic Agriculture
 2002: USDA Certified Organic standards published: Assure quality,
prevent fraud, and promote commerce
 "A production system that is managed in accordance with the Organic
Foods Production Act and regulations to respond to site-specific
conditions by integrating cultural, biological and mechanical practices
that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve
biodiversity.“
 Those unhappy with the definition “would like to see a greater emphasis
placed on issues such as locally produced foods, biological diversity,
renewable energy, environmental stewardship, and social justice”

4. COMMON PERCEPTIONS
aka BUZZWORDS
ENGER “GREEN”
1 : of the color green
2 a : covered by green growth or foliage <green fields> b : consisting of green plants and
usually edible herbage <a green salad>
3 : pleasantly alluring
4 : youthful, vigorous
5 : fresh, new
6 : not ripened or matured <green apples>
7 a : marked by a pale, sickly, or nauseated appearance b : envious —used especially in the
phrase green with envy
8 a : not fully processed or treated: as (1) : not aged <green liquor> (2) : not dressed or tanned
<green hides> (3) : freshly sawed b : not in condition for a particular use
9 a : deficient in training, knowledge, or experience <green recruits> b : deficient in
sophistication and savoir faire : naive c : not fully qualified for or experienced in a particular
function
10 a often capitalized : relating to or being an environmentalist political movement b :
concerned with or supporting environmentalism c : tending to preserve environmental quality
(as by being recyclable, biodegradable, or nonpolluting)

5. THREE-LEGGED STOOL
of sustainability

6. RAY ANDERSON – INTERFACE, Inc.
In 2007, Interface became the first carpet manufacturer to implement a process
for the “clean separation” of carpet fiber from backing, allowing for a maximum
amount of post-consumer material to be recycled into new products with
minimal contamination.

7. THE BIG PICTURE
WASTE REDUCTION
Throwing Away Money
Every single thing that your company disposes of, or leaves your business not as
a saleable product –
Used Packaging, Waste Oil, trimmings, Emissions and Effluents, and more
- was initially purchased,
and is therefore literally like throwing money away!

8. THE BIG PICTURE
EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION &
CUSTOMER LOYALTY
 Increase employee morale and motivation
 Attract the best and brightest employees
 Provide a safer and healthier work environment for employees and customers
 Increase awareness of potential problems and avenues for improvement
COMPETETIVE ADVANTAGE “Green” versus “Brown”
 Reducing or eliminating compliance costs
 lowering costs through efficiencies and streamlining
 lower insurance premiums through healthier and safer workplaces
 Improving access to outside capitol and investors

9. GREENWASHING
“GREENWASHING” is used by marketers to try to
convince people that you are doing something which
is good for the environment by being involved in
small, environmentally-friendly initiatives, especially
as a way of hiding your involvement in activities
which are damaging to the environment
- Macmillan English Dictionary

13. Green Business Standards Certification
Project for Onondaga County

14. MISSION
 “The Green Core Company certification provides a blueprint for businesses working to
achieve green operations through reduced environmental and social impacts, and
recognizes businesses that make a substantial effort to develop a culture of sustainability
within their organization; while challenging the offence of greenwashing” - the unregulated
and improper use of the term and methodology of “green” for marketing advantage.
The Green Core credential provides a supported recognizable brand, and a competitive
advantage at a regional level. This certification tells the story of what it means to be a
sustainable business promoting environmental stewardship, ensuring quality and safety,
and connects to a greater community experience - resulting in more meaningful
consumption. Required policy and performance measurement initiatives, in addition to
traditional program and action steps, will ensure long-reaching internal institutional
change.
Certification is acquired through a third-party verification of implemented standards at the
business’s physical location. The credential is valid for 2- years upon which time a business
must be reverified according to updated standards overseen by committee. Local oversight
of the program and standards will address seven categories: Organizational Commitment
and Operations, Waste Reduction & Recycling, Environmentally Responsible Purchasing,
Pollution Prevention, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Storm Water Management &
Efficient Water Use, and Transportation & Travel.

15. ENTRENCHED

16. SCORECARD CATEGORIES
 Organizational Commitment and Operations
 Waste Reduction & Recycling
 Environmentally Responsible Purchasing
 Pollution Prevention
 Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
 Storm Water Management & Efficient Water Use
 Transportation & Travel

17. www.green-core-company.org

18. WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE?

19. MORE PLEASE?

20. COOPERATIVE BUSINESS
• A way to provide “service at cost” to groups of
individuals or firms
• Members/owners/patrons provide capitol,
patronage and governance
• Objectives: To provide services and a return
on member’s patronage
• Examples: agriculture, credit unions, housing,
food and hardware retail

21. ROCHDALE PRINCIPLES
a set of ideals for the operation of cooperatives. They were first set out by the Rochdale Society of
Equitable Pioneers in Rochdale, England, in 1844
 1st Principle: Voluntary and Open
 2nd Principle: Democratic Member
 3rd Principle: Member Economic
 4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
 5th Principle: Education, Training and Information
 6th Principle: Co-operation among Co-operatives
 7th Principle: Concern for Community

22. 6 PHASES OF NEW
COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT
 Identifying an Opportunity
 Building Consensus on Potential for Cooperative
 Developing Trust among Potential Members
 Securing Member Commitment
 Involving other Stakeholders
 Starting up the Cooperative

23. 2012 UPSTATE COOPERATIVES SUMMIT

25. BUSINESS PLANNING & START-UP
Fr ee & Conf i dent i al As k f or a 641
Couns el i ng I nt ake For m
 New York State Certified Business Advisor
 ceteraf@sunyocc.edu
 Onondaga Small Business Development Center
800 North Salina St, 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13208
(Outreach location at the Northside Urban Partnership)
 Focus Areas:
 Green Business Operations
 Cooperative Business Development
 315-299-8228 x 12

26.  “A History of Organic Farming-- Transitions from Sir Albert Howard's War in
the Soil to the USDA National Organic Program”. By Joseph Heckman, PhD.
2006. Weston A. Price Foundation.
http://www.westonaprice.org/farming/history-organic-farming.html
 “Authentic Food – Authentic Farming”. By Eliot Coleman.
http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/main/authentic/authentic.html
 “Organic Certification”. Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification
 “Green”. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online.
Http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green
 “Greenwash” - Macmillan English Dictionary
http://www.macmillandictionaries.com/wordoftheweek/archive/050110-greenwash
 “How to Make Your Business Greener”. Inc.com.
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20061101/green50_tips.html