Der Grund weshalb Wal-Mart seine Grünenden Initiativen prioritisieren kann, besteht darin, dass sie unverblümt ihre Analysen machen, die erforderlich sind, um die ,,niedrighängende Früchte” zu identifizieren. Diese offene Analyse oder Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung organisiert die riesengroße Zahl von Grünenden Chancen, um die Rentabilität zu verbessern, indem Geschäftsfälle geschaffen werden, um Investitionen zu legitimieren.

Die Durchführung einer Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung versorgt das Unternehmen mit einem soliden Verständnis ihres Grünen Status, und wie man, Grüne Absichten verfolgend, größere Rentabilität erreicht. Das Erzielen des Erfolgs beruht auf der Prioritisierung von Grünen Verbesserungen mit den schnellsten Ivestitionsrenditen, die auf der Höhe der Anstrengungen, Kosten, Zeit, und Gefahren basiert ist. Während anfängliche Erfolge verzeichnet werden, baut sich durch das Unternehmen hindurch der Schwung auf, und vorher undenkbare Ziele werden erreichbar.

Eine gründliche Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung sollte eine umfassende Rezension Ihres Unternehmens sein, flexibeler Natur, um für neue Gelegenheiten verantwortlich zu sein, während die Geschäftslagen sich verändern.

Eine Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung durchzuführen stellt wirklich nicht nur einen Geschäftsfall und Investment-Strategie zur Verfügung; es stellt auch einen Maßstab zur Verfügung, um sich zu vergleichen, während progressive Verbesserungen zur Nachhaltigkeit gemacht werden. Dies kann verwendet werden, um wirkliche Ergebnisse Ihrer Erfolgen an interne und externe Miteigentümer einschließlich Ihrer Kunden mitzuteilen. Positiver von Angestellten mitgeteilter Fortschritt verbessert durch die ehöhte Produktivitätdie die Bilanz eines Unternehmens. Auf Tatsachen basierte Außenkommunikationen schaffen eine glaubwürdige Botschaft; dadurch wird das Greenwashing vermieden. Sobald ein Unternehmen sich in Greenwashing verstrickt, wird es sehr schwer sein, Vertrauenswürdigkeit wiederzugewinnen.

Eine Nachhaltigkeit Bewertungs Kombination aus Grüne Initiativen und einer Grundlinie für die quantitativ bestimmbare Darstellung des Fortschritts ist mächtig. Es versorgt ein Unternehmen mit einem Wettbewerbsvorteil in der heranwachsenden Grünen Wirtschaft und inszeniert sie für weiteres Wachstum und für wachsende Rentabilität.

Reviewing the history of the environmental movement and how we got to where we are today, it started as a reaction to the unparalleled wave of mining, forestry clearance, and land drainage of the Industrial Revolution 1730-1850. According to Andy Reynolds’ “A Brief History of Environmentalism” a few scattered individuals began to speak out. But it took over 150 years for environmentalism to mature to the public movement we know today. The focus of environmental concerns has changed over the decades, but one debate has barely altered what is the reason for protecting the planet? For some it’s for the benefit of humans, for others it’s because nature, like a work of art, has its own value.

Many of us have lived long enough to remember the TV commercial where an aboriginal elder is by the road side, shedding a tear as an unseen person tosses litter out the window of a speeding vehicle onto the ground near the elder’s feet. There was a line drawn between those with and without respect for nature. Pollution, pesticides, species extinction these are things most of us heard from early scattered individuals” speaking out. They became known as environmentalists.

The 1960’s are when the environmental movement finally got traction by organizing and providing scientific support for their theories around environmental destruction and what it means to humans, not only nature. There was a focus on the food chain, recognition that what goes into every step of the process ends up in us. 50 years later at a conference in Vancouver, B.C., the supply chain, looking up the river from the end product, is still a focus.

David Labistour, CEO of Mountain Equipment Coop, acknowledges their success in achieving a 94% diversion rate for their retail stores, but points out their real sustainability challenge is back in Asia where the textiles are made and products manufactured. Current materials are made from oil or from cotton which requires huge amounts of water. Every step along the production path creates 20-30% waste, the water and oil supply is threatened, and there simply is no easy solution. But a solution needs to be found.

David Suzuki, world renowned environmentalist, asked “Why are we turning our backs on our greatest ability, the ability to predict the future?” He is referring to the paid efforts to undermine the science behind global warming, and the proclamations by those who simply choose not to accept our best interpretations of reality. In 1962 Rachel Carson published the book “Silent Spring” which detailed how pesticides and insecticides were contaminating the environment. Dead insects meant no food for birds. No birds, no bird song = silent spring. She detailed how the chemical DDT accumulates in the fatty tissues of animals, including humans. There was media criticism and attempts by chemical companies to ban the book. But science backed her up, government ordered investigations and ultimately it was the DDT that got banned.

Business has begun to listen to the important message from the environmental movement partly because they are now using the same language. The line between “us and them”, those with respect and those without it, is removed when backed by science and dialogue. Everyone understands “no pollinators (bees) = no crops”, or “no taters = no tater tots”; and “no resources (renewable and non-renewable) = no business”, or “no fish = no fishsticks.”

Politicians are starting to realize the importance of engaging businesses to address environmental issues such as climate change. Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, laments “We wish we could go back, but we can’t. So, what do we do? We see the future and we embrace it.”

Anne Tennier, Vice President of Environmental Affairs, Maple Leaf Canada, is proud of the development of their bio-diesel project. They have looked at the tailpipe of their business and they take the waste from their rendering plant and convert it into 38 million litres/year of oil to fuel 127 of their trucks for a savings of 782,000 kilograms of GHG. That this is even measured and managed is part of a whole new way of thinking for business, and they had to have worked together with environmentalists to achieve this.

Learning to speak with each other and developing a common language is a critical step for businesses, environmentalists, and governments to make big change. This must be the dawning of the Sustainability Age.

Saint John, N.B., February 02, 2010 — Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions, CBC/Radio-Canada, interviewed Greenomics President, Erich Schwartz, to discuss the creation of the consultancy Greenomics and how Greenomics the Game was created. This insightful 10 minute interview reveals the life changing catalyst that made Erich change careers from being a globe travelling IT executive to the founder of a Sustainability Consultancy. It divulges the thinking processes that merged Erich’s science background with his business acumen. It also uncovers some of the challenges businesses face when pursuing Sustainability as demonstrated in the manufacturing of Greenomics the Game.

Convinced that leading by demonstration is more credible than just talking, great efforts were made to make the game 100% sustainable. While unusual, the goal was to enable people to toss the game into a composter at the end of its lifecycle to be converted into soil. We hope you enjoy this interview on Steven Webb’s morning show Information Morning. (Please note, we’ve compressed this file to make the download faster, so you will have to download then launch. Sorry for this inconvenience.) Alternatively, you can stream it from CBC Radio.

While listening, please add your comments and questions to our blog.

1. Cap and Trade in North America

A federal-level cap-and-trade system will be implemented in the U.S. and Canada. It will be watered down, not nearly aggressive enough, and not enough credits will be auctioned off, but it will be a start.

Bob Willard, Speaker and Author

2. Commitment to Action

Companies will start moving from “sustainability commitment” to “sustainability action” with a focus on how to integrate sustainability considerations into their governance, products, services, operations, and day-to-day decision making. This means that finance becomes sustainable finance, insurance becomes sustainable insurance, retail becomes sustainable retail and transportation becomes sustainable transportation.

Coro Strandberg, Principle, Strandberg Consulting

3. Finding Sustainable “Sweet Spots”

This will be the year when we begin to understand and focus on sustainability “sweet spots” … those opportunities where fiscal, environmental and social/culture components of sustainability intersect.

Dave Butler, Director of Sustainability, Canadian Mountain Holidays

4. Oil Prices to Drive Local Demand

Crude oil prices will nudge the $100/barrel mark and, given the barely-recovered economy, food prices will soar almost immediately. Investments will be made to ‘re-localize’ food production and distribution and we’ll hit the magic economic (and sustainable) equation that results in more bellies being filled with tasty local treats, while bottom lines are sated.

André LaRivière, Executive Director, Green Table

5. Scientific Credibility Questioned

As governments continue to develop regulations related to Green House Gasses, there will be increased efforts to discredit the science associated with climate change. This will become progressively better organized and focused, and will target individual researchers to discredit them personally and professionally. Ill goten information will be released out of context to the press.

Erich Schwartz, President, Greenomics

6. Greater Dependence on Non-conventional Oil

The demand for oil will continue and to meet this we will need to tap further into non-conventional oil sources such as tar sands. This will lead to significantly higher costs for oil, and more environmental degradation because of the techniques used to extract it.

Erich Schwartz, President, Greenomics

7. Government Conflict of Interest Becomes Evident

Canada will be pressured by the International Community to align with International standards in addressing Climate Change. However, a significant amount of government revenue is derived from oil production. Accordingly, Canada will continue to be a laggard in addressing climate change as the government grapples with its deficit.

Erich Schwartz, President, Greenomics

8. Consumers Driving Change

There will be a significant increase in consumer demand for sustainable products and services. This will drive companies to change their business practices and increase government regulations. These changes will further support the efforts of moving toward greater sustainability.

Judy Adams , Managing Director, Ethos

9. Go Sustainable or Go Broke

More companies will file for bankruptcy or be bought out through mergers and acquisitions primarily because they did not see the need to become sustainable. Most vulnerable will be those companies that consider sustainability a passing fad, or do not have the tools, leadership, or emotional intelligence in the organization to change.

Judy Adams    , Managing Director, Ethos

10. Sustainability Sounds Good, but … More Regulations Coming

While most people are aware of the need to develop sustainable practices, many are not keen to pay or to change their behaviors. Given the seriousness of the situation, governments will develop more regulations to effect change as voluntary compliance proves insufficient. This also means governments will have to risk being unpopular to “do the right thing”.

Richard Wozny, Principle, Site Economics

 We formed a virtual team to design and build the game. This included our own sustainability consultants, graphic artists, printers, and researchers. We had fun, learned a lot, and achieved most of our goals. To make the game we had to live by our own principles of sustainability. We had to walk the talk.

Our principles

• Use renewable resources
• Use non-toxic and biodegradable materials
• Enhance the Environment
• Promote positive human conditions

Where we succeeded

• We designed the box and game board so they would not require glue
• We used post consumer recycled FSC certified paper
• We used less material than manufacturers suggested to us through innovative design
• We eliminated the use of shrink wrap
• We used water and Soya based coatings and inks
• We produced the game locally
• We hired people from the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Pathway’s Program, which strives to get people with mental health issues back into the workforce, to assemble components of the game

Where we need alternatives

• The dice are plastic and are not locally sourced
• Upgrade rings are silicon, bought from a local distributor but manufactured outside of the country
• Industry markers, though made from recycled woodfill material, were sourced from non local, U.S.A. based game parts suppliers
• We are using a plastic bag to hold the loose pieces together in the game. So far, alternatives to this have been cost prohibitive in view of the price point that consumers would most likely be willing to pay.

While recognizing the realities of the global economy and the structure of the gaming industry, we are not daunted. As we encourage others to continually seek out new sources of supply and better alternatives to current choices, we too will address these final issues.

We believe you can help. Please go to www.greenomicsthegame.ca and share your ideas for alternatives – preference given to solutions closest to our home in Vancouver, Canada.
 

Sincerely,

Erich Schwartz

President

The black and white world of decision making can often turn to grey when it comes to sustainable business practises. Those who do not accept the overwhelming research from credible sources world-wide are holding back the necessary and important work to address the seriousness of the situation impacting their own business.

If the “sustainists” in your organization are being kept in the closet, the Greenomics team would be happy to provide you with tangible real world examples to unlock the door and let them out. We can help align the naysayers through our workshops, geared specifically for your industry. We can provide the black and white for those who see green as grey. Once those colour correcting processes have occurred – there are many more to follow. Decision-making moves from securing the lowest cost for goods that meet your business needs, to embracing fuller criteria that take into account planet, people and profit.

 True sustainability comes to you as you move ahead of your industry standards and take a leadership position. While there are clear benefits to this course of action such as retaining exceptional employees, bolstering corporate image, and gaining competitive advantage, this does not come without making difficult decisions. Greenomics Corporation has always maintained the business side of sustainability and understands the bottom line. Our team of experts is here to help you turn grey decision making into green outcomes that keep you in the black:

1.    Invest in a SOFA

Greenomics recommends that you start with a Sustainability Opportunity Field Assessment (SOFA) report that presents the current sustainable state of your ,company identifies the gap to sustainability, and sets short, mid, and long term actions required in achieving sustainability. The recommendations are based on an assessment of such factors as level of effort, costs, time, and risks.

2.    Plan and Implement

Once a project is properly mapped out you’ll need to transition to the implementation phase. This requires careful planning, and attention to change management principles and team dynamics. In many cases you’ll be entering new territory and you will need to train your senior team, line staff, and educate all your stakeholders. Greenomics can work with you to ensure a successful transition, and pitch in where you most need the help.

3.    Review and Evaluate

Greenomics understands the wisdom in “if you can’t measure it, don’t do it”. As you move into the evaluation phase the focus is on interpreting the measurable outcomes, identifying successes and shortcomings, and setting out next steps. The outcomes provide quantitative data to support both internal and external messaging, and create baselines to measure further improvement.

4. Communicate

Greenomics recommends that businesses talk in terms of what they have accomplished, not in terms of what they plan to accomplish. This avoids the pitfalls of green washing, and is a more authentic approach to marketing and communications.

“Do the right thing. Be seen doing the right thing; and  don’t get the two mixed up.”

                                                                  Jim Hoggan, Hoggan and Associates.

To learn more about how to embrace green decision making please contact:

Aron Bjornson | 604.568.5483 | aron.bjornson@greenomics.ca

Erich Schwartz, a former science teacher who now consults on the business of sustainability, has a lesson for real estate developers and others still sitting on the green fence. “It’s time to stop talking.” said Schwartz, who heads Vancouver based Greenomics. “it is time to take action.”

Schwartz, who has dutifully sat through the apparently endless seminars, workshops, study sessions and conferences that frame so much of the green movement, said the evidence is in, and the bottom-line benefits are too positive to ignore.

Those developers and contractors who are not building energy savings, recycling and sustainability into their projects, he said, are simply cheating the eventual owner and tenants. It will become increasingly expensive to own, live or work in a non-green building, he explained.

Schwartz was reacting to reports that, in the face of an economic downturn, some real estate developers seem ready to jettison green construction techniques in favour of lower costs. The study, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2009 by PricewaterhouseCoopers notes that, “Portfolio problems, the construction stall-out and increasing angst could distract from the push to reduce buildings’ carbon footprints and install green technologuies.”

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This article reprinted with permission from Western Investor magazine. Visit www.westerninvestor.com to find an outlet near you.

The time to start climbing Sustainability Mountain is now!

Our SOFAs adhere to Four Underlying Key Principles:

• Use renewable resources – to prevent the progressive build-up of garbage
• Use non-toxic and biodegradable materials – to prevent the build-up of toxins
• Enhance the Environment – to create a more viable business environment
• Promote positive human conditions – to enable people’s capacity to meet their needs

In assessing your business’ current relationship with these four principles, our Sustainability Indicators are used to summarize the extent of non-sustainable practices within your business. Sustainability Indicators (SIs) include identifying areas of opportunities and risks within fossil fuel use, toxic substances used, excess resource use, and many more. Once the SIs are mapped out, they can be used to identify the degree of opportunities and risks for your business.

Risks and opportunities also need to account for your Stakeholders. Depending upon the nature of your business, stakeholders can range from employees and customers to bankers and government regulators. All have different perspectives and concerns that need to be built into your effort through Communications, Change Management and other activities.

Of course, a business cannot be sustainable if its does not account for the costs of moving toward sustainability. Our SOFA identifies financial considerations that are short term, mid-term, and long-term. The short term opportunities help pay for the longer term ones, and offer nearly immediate results which reinforce your efforts.

Once the financial issues are analyzed, specific steps can be taken to move your business towards greater sustainability. These steps should identify both immediate opportunities and obstacles to overcome. They should also assess the effort required to move your business towards sustainability and specify objectives and timelines.

Like any realignment of a business or organization, there are many components that need to be considered. A SOFA lays the foundation for sustainable success.

To learn more about the Greenomics SOFA please contact:

Aron Bjornson | 604.568.5483 | aron.bjornson@greenomics.ca

Greenomics in the News

Greenomics President, Erich Schwartz , is interviewed by Business in Vancouver (BIV), an award-winning weekly newspaper serving Greater Vancouver, Canada, since 1989. It targets business decision-makers and provides local business news and information.

Assessing the Assessors: Sustainability Consultants can help you learn the lay of the land as you try to save the planet – By Corey Van’t Haaff

Make no mistake: the field of sustainability is big business, but who exactly is throwing a hat into the ring? The line between green and greenwashing isn’t always obvious, and education might be the only clear answer. The question is, Who do you turn to in order to get that education?

The problem might be pretty simple to some: we are using too much energy and creating too many greenhouse gases (GHGs). But the means to deal with the problem aren’t always as easy. The low hanging fruit – the easy fixes – will help the environment a bit, but in the long term, you need to develop a strategy to accomplish greater goals.

You can do it for humanitarian reasons, to be socially responsible, and that may be enough for some, but not for everybody. From a business perspective, the debate also has to centre around a reduction in costs. Together, cost-savings, social responsibility and environmental protection are a three-pronged approach that will work.

“The issue is not about saving the planet. It’s about saving yourself and creating a sustainable world where people flourish,” according to Erich Schwartz, president of Greenomics, a consultancy company focused on the business of sustainability.

 Complete Article….

Assessing the Assessors: Sustainability Consultants can help you learn the lay of the land as you try to save the planet – By Corey Van’t Haaff

Make no mistake: the field of sustainability is big business, but who exactly is throwing a hat into the ring? The line between green and greenwashing isn’t always obvious, and education might be the only clear answer. The question is, Who do you turn to in order to get that education?

The problem might be pretty simple to some: we are using too much energy and creating too many greenhouse gases (GHGs). But the means to deal with the problem aren’t always as easy. The low hanging fruit – the easy fixes – will help the environment a bit, but in the long term, you need to develop a strategy to accomplish greater goals.

You can do it for humanitarian reasons, to be socially responsible, and that may be enough for some, but not for everybody. From a business perspective, the debate also has to centre around a reduction in costs. Together, cost-savings, social responsibility and environmental protection are a three-pronged approach that will work.

“The issue is not about saving the planet. It’s about saving yourself and creating a sustainable world where people flourish,” according to Erich Schwartz, president of Greenomics, a consultancy company focused on the business of sustainability.

Download Entire Article

“This article reprinted from Green Space magazine, delivered free with Business in Vancouver newspaper. Visit www.biv.com to subscribe.”