This roundtable is free to attend but space is limited.

When: June 22, 8:30-10am

Where: Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center, 502 West Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC

Reserve your spot now!

To facilitate quality discussion we’re limiting the number attendees, so reserve your spot quickly: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3606319599

Green Plus is hosting a series of educational and networking events designed to bring Green Plus businesses together to learn from and get to know each other.  Is there a topic you’d like to discuss?  Would you like to host a Green Plus event?  Contact Kirsten Hausman at khausman@gogreenplus.org or 919.627.1091.

Employee Training and Engagement at High Plains Community Health Center

High Plains Community Health Center, located in Lamar, Colorado, addresses the health needs of the town’s 14,000 residents with just two physicians, but a slew of well-trained and highly-engaged medical assistants (MAs).  

Thanks to funding provided by the Hitachi Foundation, MAs were cross-trained to rotate through multiple positions at the Health Center, taking on various roles such as health coach, patient representative, and community health worker, as well as performing administrative tasks as needed.    

Additionally, the support from Hitachi helped the Health Center simplify its in-care organization system, leading patients through the health care process as quickly and efficiently as possible.  With three MAs assigned to each physician, the Health Center was able to treat nearly four patients per hour, doubling its initial goal of patient care.  

As a result, this initiative not only increased productivity of the High Plains staff, but also produced significant cost savings for the Health Center and made it easier for patients to receive affordable, reliable health care.   The Hitachi Foundation recognizes the importance  of employee training and engagement in the work place, especially in cases like High Plains where a small number of staff handle a high volume of customers.  High Plains serves as a model example  for businesses, demonstrating how providing training opportunities for staff benefits workforce productivity, morale, and development.  

You can read more about High Plains’ training efforts here, or check out the Health Center’s website. 

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus

www.gogreenplus.org

This Lunch and Learn is open to anyone interested in workplace health and is especially tailored to our Challenge participants who have already registered.  Participating businesses earn 1 bonus point by attending today’s session – start earning points now!

You don’t have to be signed up for the Challenge to attend, but the Challenge is free to participants and registration takes 2 minutes!

RSVP by May 22 to Kelsey Kusterer, kkusterer@tjcog.org or 919.558.2709.

Lunch and Learn Location: 4307 Emperor Blvd., Suite 110, Durham, North Carolina 27703

About the Triangle Green Business Challenge

The 2012 Triangle Green Business Challenge helps area businesses improve the efficiency and sustainability of their day-to-day operations and receive cost-saving benefits. Creating a Healthy Work Environment is one aspect of Going Green in the Triangle Green Business Challenge. 

Businesses are asked daily to do more with less, seemingly at odds with choosing to conduct business in a “green,” sustainable manner.  The Challenge promotes a shift in this thinking. This Triangle-wide initiative will educate, encourage and provide resources to achieve energy, water and waste reductions, as well as make smarter choices in purchasing and work-related travel.  Savings can improve bottom lines, with obvious environmental benefits and potential productivity gains.­

Program participation is free.

Registration Closes on August 1st and the award ceremony is on December 7, 2012 at Research Triangle Park Headquarters in RTP.

Who is Eligible? Businesses of any size located in Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange and Wake Counties.

For more information and to register visit: www.TriangleGreenBusiness.com

Green Plus is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the Triangle Green Business Challenge.

Much of this growth was due to the generosity of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, Duke Energy, and the Park Foundation, who provided funding for scholarships to businesses around North Carolina.  

With these new additions, Green Plus now has over 300 businesses and organizations in its network, 65 of which have earned Certification.  The Institute is delighted to have so many dedicated and enthusiastic new members as part of its network of businesses.  A list of the organizations to earn Certification and Mover status can be found below.

New Green Plus Certified Certified Organizations

• Springleaf Strategies (Raleigh, NC) – A committed member of the Green Plus program since the program’s beginning, Springleaf Strategies provides consulting service that will allow businesses to properly market their sustainability efforts.  Springleaf Strategies recently moved into a LEED Gold Certified building in downtown Raleigh.
• Triangle Ecycling (Durham, NC) – Run by sole proprietor Larry Herst, Triangle Ecycling works with local businesses to collect and recycle electronics and batteries.
• Terra Nova Global Properties (Carrboro, NC) – Terra Nova is a real estate company that specializes in properties that are built with sustainability in mind.  In the two years Terra Nova has been part of the Green Plus program, it has worked hard to implement new practices, which has contributed to the organization earning Certification
• Pam Herndon State Farm Insurance (Chapel Hill, NC) – Pam Herndon’s State Farm insurance office is the first State Farm office to become Green Plus Certified.  The office also recently moved into a new facility that allowed for it to install energy efficient appliances, lighting, and utilize the outside space more sustainably

New Green Plus Movers

• Harrington Bank (Chapel Hill, NC) – Harrington Bank is the first bank in North Carolina to join the Green Plus program.  The bank’s Green Team has been instrumental in organizing and managing new sustainability practices that have been put in place in all of Harrington’s branches.
• Keller Williams Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) – Keller Williams of Chapel Hill is the first Keller Williams branch to become part of the Green Plus program.  Keller Williams has been very enthusiastic about its participation in Green Plus, and has set ambitious goals for itself as it moves through the program. 
• Company Shops Market (Burlington, NC) – A food co-op based in Burlington, Company Shops joined the Green Plus program through a partnership with a business leadership class at Elon University.  The class is assisting Company Shops in improving its triple bottom line sustainability.
• Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (Winston-Salem, NC) – Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is a philanthropic organization that has assisted Green Plus in the past in its program development.  The foundation focuses on supporting communities improve its social and economic development.
• Vann and Sheridan Attorneys at Law (Raleigh, NC) – Active in the Raleigh community, Vann & Sheridan Attorneys at Law hopes that in addition to business improvement, encouraging sustainability through its business practices and around the office can motivate its employees to bring green practices home. 
• Coastal Plain Conservation Nursery (Edenton, NC) – Coastal Plain Conservation Nursery grows native plants for use in landscaping and retention areas.  Each of its greenhouse facilities are specially designed to maintain optimal conditions for the types of plants they house, ensuring that when plants are used in landscaping, they are already healthy and can quickly adapt to weather conditions. 
• Carolina National Insurance Agency (Chapel Hill, NC) – As one of the recipients of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce scholarships, Carolina National Insurance Agency is a small organization that is dedicated to making its daily practices sustainable, particularly making its office environment as paperless as possible. 
• Dispute Settlement Center (Carrboro, NC) – A nonprofit specializing in mediation and conflict resolution, the Dispute Settlement Center of Orange County works to make a positive social impact throughout its community, and hopes that the Green Plus program can help it reach a broader audience.
• Roving Coach (Clayton, NC) – Roving Coach is a personalized business coaching service that works with organizations to improve employee engagement and “world peace in the workplace.”  Roving Coach has been very enthusiastic and motivated about its involvement in the Green Plus program. 
• Generations Community Credit Union (Durham, NC) – Generations Community Credit Union has branches located all throughout North Carolina, but focuses on improving the economic development and financial stability particularly in under-served communities.  
• Albemarle Home Energy Audits (Hertford, NC) – Albemarle Home Energy Audits is a recipient of a Green Plus Scholarship made possible by the Park Foundation.  The business promotes and encourages energy efficiency in all of its projects, and owner Ron Koppel gives presentations on potential home energy savings to local groups and organizations.
• Top of the Hill Distillery (Chapel Hill, NC) – Part of the famous Top of the Hill Brewery in downtown Chapel Hill, the distillery will continue the brewery’s commitment to using local and natural ingredients to distill high quality sprits.
• Red Dot Construction (Pittsboro, NC) – Owned by sole proprietor Britt Keele, Red Dot Construction works with architects in the planning process of construction to ensure the most efficient use of building materials, resulting in less construction waste and saving money on materials.
• Whole Foods Market – Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) – The first Whole Foods Market in the country to join the Green Plus program, the Chapel Hill store is already committed to providing healthy, organic, and local products to the community, and hopes to be the first Whole Foods to earn Green Plus Certification.
• Fifth Season Design (Carrboro, NC) – Fifth Season Design is an interior plantscaping service that designs building interiors with potted plants and flowers.  The company is committed to the reduction of greenhouse gases, energy use, and post-consumer waste, and supports growers and suppliers who hold the same values and practices.  
• Wilmington Chamber of Commerce (Wilmington, NC) – The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce is the latest Chamber to become a Green Plus Partner, and has shown great interest in setting an example to all businesses in Wilmington by becoming a leader of sustainability in North Carolina.
• North Carolina High School Athletic Association (Chapel Hill, NC) – the NCHSAA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging success in student athletes in high schools across North Carolina, through scholarship, leadership, and sportsmanship.

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus

www.gogreenplus.org

While Congress delays action on the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act which would limit exports and control trade in electronics commodities, boosting the domestic recycling industry, states, including North Carolina, are passing laws banning dumping in landfills. This has had the presumably unintended consequence of encouraging some of the largest producers to ship e-waste out of state or overseas.

Responsible “ecycling” starts at home, and at the office. It is good for the environment not only in so far as it prevents shipping, hauling and toxic dumping but it also reduces the mining and manufacturing of the elements that go into new electronics. Additionally, it creates jobs, including right here in Durham. Our newly Green Plus Certified business, Triangle Ecycling, is designed to convert e-waste into jobs at a simple volume to job ratio. Security of information and data is guaranteed and 100% of all e-waste is ethically recycled. By giving us a call or dropping by our downtown Durham location you can address a global problem with a very local solution.

“You place the eggs in your basket next to the Fair Trade coffee and Rainforest Alliance Certified grapes you’ve also selected, feeling good that you are participating in the humane treatment of animals, enhanced farmer livelihoods and the gradual saving of the Earth.

But what do these labels really mean? What kind of oversight is in place to make sure the information they convey is ethical and accurate?

Shana Starobin is working to answer these questions.

Starobin, a PhD student at the Nicholas School of the Environment and recipient of Duke’s prestigious university-wide Kenan Graduate Instructorship in Ethics, is investigating eco-labeling as part of her dissertation on third-party certification. This spring, she’s teaching an undergraduate-level seminar about public and private regulation of food and agriculture in global supply chains. In 2010, she and Erika Weinthal, associate professor of environmental policy, published a paper in the peer-reviewed journal Business and Politics that examined how third-party certifiers gain credibility.” 

Please click here for the full piece by Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus

www.gogreenplus.org

The Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC), Green Plus, Launch Environmental Help Desk for Business

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) and the Institute for Sustainable Development’s Green Plus™ program announced an online help deskto assist U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises with environmental business issues. The Environmental Help Desk for Business, launched to coincide with Earth Day 2012, will provide clear, accessible advice on green supply chain requirements, green business certifications, and environmental innovations that can reduce both cost and environmental impact.

“Entrepreneurs, business development experts, and small business owners are more interested than ever in learning about ‘green’ business opportunities, processes, tools and techniques,” said Stephen Jordan, founder and executive director of the U.S. Chamber BCLC. “This is why BCLC is proud to team up with the Institute for Sustainable Development to create the Environmental Help Desk to research and answer these questions.”

The Institute for Sustainable Development’s Green Plus™ staff will manage the Environmental Help Desk for Business, with support from business, environmental, and policy graduate students from Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and other universities in the Green Plus™ network. Additionally, a variety of experts will offer insights about cutting-edge innovations and green supply chain trends.

“The Environmental Help Desk partnership with BCLC is a great way to extend our mission of making sustainable business best practices available to America’s small business community,” said Chris Carmody, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and the Green Plus™ program. “Being green and sustainable is no longer only a cost-reduction tactic for small business – it’s also the price of admission to competing for business from the world’s largest companies.” 

Since 2007, the U.S. Chamber BCLC has managed the Office Depot Foundation-sponsored National Disaster Help Desk for Business. This service has fielded more than 18,000 inquiries from across the nation and has directly served nearly 8,000 small businesses and chambers of commerce by connecting callers with simple and fast information. The success of this original help desk paved the way for the Environmental Help Desk for Business.  

The Environmental Help Desk can be reached through the website’s email system, by phone: (919) 408-7556, on Twitter, and through Facebook. Visit the Help Desk online for more information.

About the Business Civic Leadership Center

The Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber. BCLC addresses social issues that affect business, including corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, nonprofit and social service effectiveness, globalization, community investment, and disaster assistance. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. Visit http://bclc.uschamber.com.

About the Institute for Sustainable Development and Green Plus™

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit partnership of business and universities in North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The Institute is dedicated to democratizing sustainability, helping small businesses and their communities understand and use best practices in business and environmental management, as well as excellent employee and community engagement. Through its Green Plus program, the Institute provides open source sustainability expertise throughout the U.S., and serves business in the Green Plus™ Certification program in fifteen states. For more information on the Institute, please see www.gogreenplus.org.

On April 12, the Institute for Sustainable Development honored the 2012 Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Award Winners at the Research Triangle Park Foundation. The Green Plus Awards were created to recognize small and medium-sized U.S. employers that are sustainability innovators in their fields and that have demonstrated exceptional business, environmental, employee, and community practices.

The 2012 Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Award Winners include Counter Culture Coffee; Fleetwood Fixtures; The Irregardless Café; Cosmic Bobbins; The North Carolina Museum of Life and Science; TS Designs; and Wenger Feeds (click here for more photos of the event).

These enterprises span food, consumer products, education, and agricultural sectors.

“The Green Plus Award winners set an example for companies throughout the nation,” said Chris Carmody, Executive Director of the Institute of Sustainable Development.  “A sustainable business is competitive business, and every business can become much more sustainable,” Carmody concluded.

GlaxoSmithKline was the Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 Green Plus Awards, and has been a supporter of Green Plus since 2006.

“As a company with a long-term commitment to sustainability, GlaxoSmithKline is proud to support the 2012 Green Plus Awards,” said Mary Linda Andrews, GSK Director of Community Partnerships. “The Green Plus Award Winners demonstrate that sustainability can be a catalyst for innovation in any industry.”

In addition to being recognized, the winning companies discussed the future of sustainable business in two roundtables featuring representatives of the Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS), the Hitachi Foundation, the SJF Institute, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center. 

Check out the photos from the awards on Green Plus’s Flickr page.

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Awardee Summaries & Comments

Counter Culture Coffee (Durham, NC)

Counter Culture is a coffee supplier passionately pursuing real environmental, social, and fiscal sustainability. Its CUPS Initiative aims to achieve carbon neutrality (completed in 2011), complete supply chain satisfaction, profitability every quarter, and debt reduction to 5% of sales by 2015. The coffee roaster also engages in long-term relationships with supply-chain partners—including growers, wholesale partners, and consumers—to build a more sustainable coffee trade from seed to cup. Believing that transparency is necessary for sustaining trust, Counter Culture also publishes a Sustainability Scorecard to capture a diverse set of performance indicators that measure and communicate progress.

“Counter Culture Coffee is thrilled to receive this award and recognition by Green Plus for our dedication to sustainability. Our close relationships on both ends of the coffee supply chain—from communities of farmers around the world to our community of coffee lovers here at home—are the foundation of our business and we hope that our experiences will continue to inspire discussion and action among our partners and peers.” – Kim Elena Ionescu, Sustainability Manager, Counter Culture Coffee

Fleetwood Fixtures (Leesport, PA)

A small manufacturer of fixtures and furnishings, this employee-owned company works to educate its customers about the most sustainable options for them as well as pursuing highly efficient environmental operations.

“We are proud to be part of a community that provides such a rich resource of talented craftsmen and unique local materials. We’re thrilled to see our neighbors reusing and repurposing our surplus inventory in creative retail and residential projects. Through our environmental stewardship, we seek to cultivate a higher consciousness, both here at home in the USA and with our resource partners around the world.”  - Doug Oswald, Information Systems and Facilities Manager, Fleetwood Fixtures

The Irregardless Café (Raleigh, NC)

An institution in Raleigh, this small business was green before green was cool, and is noted for continuing to pay its employees to work with local charities when its restaurant was closed due to fire damage.

“We, at the Irregardless Cafe & Catering, have been blessed—during our 37 years of operation—to create and live solid core values: dignity for all – our employees and patrons, and professional behavior that respects all life on our planet.  Being awarded the Green Plus Sustainable Small Business of the Year Award, not only honors Irregardless Cafe & Catering, it affirms the importance to businesses that sustainable practices support us all – caring for our community, our families, and ourselves.” – Anya Gordon, Marketing Manager, Irregardless Café & Catering

Cosmic Bobbins (Cleveland, OH)

Equal parts fashion statement and social cause, Cosmic Bobbins engages Mexican artisans through fair trade practices in making fashion accessories with recycled paper.

“Thank you for this tremendous honor. It is a privilege to be recognized by leaders of the sustainable community for the social good Cosmic Bobbins is bringing to the world.” Sharie Renee, Founder, Cosmic Bobbins.

TS Designs (Burlington, NC)

A producer of t-shirts seeking to build a complete organic cotton supply chain within its home state, TS Designs also serves as a community demonstration center for wind, solar, and biodiesel energy, and for on-site gardening in which employees are both paid and receive workplace grown produce.

“As we look at sustainability being a journey, not a destination, we realize it takes a community, not just a few individuals that make this journey possible.” – Eric Henry, President, TS Designs

Wenger Feeds (Rheems, PA)

This 65 year old, community based, ISO certified business has noteworthy employee training, community engagement, and innovative, environmentally friendly agriculture business.

“Stewardship has been part of our vision since 1999 and part of our business practices for much longer. Being sustainable means the efficient use of all of our resources, building connections with our employees and the community and ensuring that we’ll be here to serve our customers in the future.” – James L. Adams, President and CEO, Wenger Feeds

North Carolina Museum of Life and Science (Durham, NC)

The NC Museum of Life and Science is a model of employee engagement in sustainability. The Museum’s passionate employee green team has made not only operations but educational exhibits highly sustainable.

“Our sustainability efforts reflect who we are as an organization and we hope will model environmentally responsible practices for our members, visitors and our wider community. Receiving this award celebrates and validates the work and commitment of our Green Team members in identifying sustainable initiatives, and designing and implementing solutions to the benefit of our organization and community.” – Janet Hoshour, Director of Membership, Museum of Life & Science

Green Plus Award Sponsors

Additional sponsors included the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the Hitachi Foundation; the Chapel Hill – Carrboro Chamber of Commerce; the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce; Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment; Wells Fargo; Progress Energy; the Research Triangle Park Foundation; the UNC Center for Global Initiatives; and the PTA Thrift Shops.

About The Institute for Sustainable Development & Green Plus

The Institute for Sustainable Development is a non-profit partnership between universities and chambers of commerce dedicated to democratizing sustainability. Through Green Plus, the Institute works to help smaller employers and their communities understand and integrate triple bottom line practices, and trains a new generation of sustainability leaders. Businesses in 15 states are Certified Green Plus or are working toward certification.

More information on Green Plus can be found at www.gogreenplus.org and on Twitter @GreenPlus.

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus

www.gogreenplus.org

SIC Code: 44-45

Major Players in the Retail Trade Industry

• Walmart
• VF Corporation
• Kohl’s
• McDonald’s
• Starbucks
• VF Corporation
• Procter & Gamble

Major Issues Affecting the Industry

The retail industry is responsible for the largest energy bills and is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases within the commercial sector of the United States.

Supplier sustainability surveys/questionnaires are being utilized by major companies like Walmart in order to get a better understanding of their supply chain.  This additional disclosure drives the need for transparent operations.

Some retailers are aspiring towards producing zero waste, an initiative that would require a radical change in operations and a deep overhaul of their entire supply chain.  Materials that enter a retail store must either be sold, reused, or recycled.  This goal is inhibited by its complexity and lack of nationwide infrastructure.

The role of manufacturers; manufacturers are usually the most significant source of impact in a product’s lifecycle.  Retailers depend on manufacturers to measure and decrease their environmental impacts (energy, water waste, etc.), address and resolve human rights issues, and engage their own subcontractors to operate more sustainably.

Retailers have been pushing their suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging and recover distribution parking.  Reducing the amount of packaging decreases transportation costs, waste, emissions, and material use.  Packaging is involved in all stages of the product life-cycle, requiring major collaboration throughout the supply chain.

Key Requirements

• Dun & Bradstreet listing to be able to raise the needed capital to supply their purchases, have substantial insurance, conduct business electronically, adhere to labor law and product safety compliance, and meet delivery and lead time deadlines.
• Retailers are increasingly requiring their manufacturers to sign Codes of Conduct related to labor, health, safety, and environmental standards.  Gap Inc. uses their Code of Vendor Conduct to focus on health and labor standards, and ON Semiconductor has asked their key suppliers to sign a written commitment to comply with the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition Code.
• Retailers are also using restricted substances lists to make sure that their products to do not include chemicals of concern.  NIKE’s Sustainable Chemistry Guidance is used to confirm that their products observe strict global legislation, reduce or eliminate targeted substances, and helps enable product innovation.

Key Certifications

• Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), used by Kroger. 
• Forest Stewardship Council. Purchasers of FSC-certified wood include Home Depot, Lowe’s, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel.

Getting Started

Develop operational plans to address the environmental impacts of your operations, including measurement, assessment, and reporting of energy use, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, recycling rates, waste.

Going Further

Collaborate and/or join collaborative working groups, including the Sustainability Consortium, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and the Global Social Compliance Program, to develop comprehensive and consistent industry standards and best practices.

Carefully consider the environmental impacts of a new retail building.  Try to minimize them by selecting brownfield sites, consider sustainability criteria during the design and construction phase, increase the ability of alternative transportation to stores, and increase smart landscaping.

Advanced Steps

The Retail Industry Leaders Association’s Retail Sustainability Initiative (RSI) holds an annual conference attended by more than 400 sustainability and compliance professionals from across the retail industry to discuss best practices, build collaborations, and identify future trends.

Best Practices

Kohl’s

Largest single host of solar electricity production in the United States with 78 solar power systems.

Walmart

Set a goal to remove 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from their supply chain by 2015 by determining “hot spots” in their supply chain, collaborating with nonprofits and consultants, and by educating merchants about their goals.

Gap Inc.

Established an energy plan to gain buy-in throughout the organization, communicate long-term goals, and be held publically accountable, which resulted in a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2003 and 2008.

PetSmart

Formed a strategic employee engagement program that has increased awareness of sustainable cafeteria options, helps employees find alternative modes of transportation to work, holds employee engagement events, and facilitates a forum for employees to talk about green issues.

Lowe’s

Since partnering with EPA’s SmartWay program in 2005, they have reduced 560 million miles of travel from their truck fleet, translating to a diesel fuel savings of more than 100 million gallons.

McDonald’s

Redeveloped its packaging by using un-bleached paper carry-out bags, coffee filters, Big Mac wrappers, and napkins.  Also switched from polystyrene foam boxes to paper-based wrappers for its sandwich packaging.

Best Buy

Best Buy’s Buy Back Program buys back products from the customer to reduce e-waste.

Key Resources

U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership

Provides information on how to purchase green power and highlights the top 20 largest retail purchasers of green power.

Walmart’s Supplier Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP)

Provides assistance and financing to Walmart’s suppliers to retrofit plants to decrease energy use.

Sustainable Packaging Coalition

An industry working group that provides sustainable packaging information and sustainable packaging indicators and metrics.

Key Words: 

Incentives for retail sustainability

Joint retail initiatives

Product lifecycle

Supplier sustainability

Sustainable product development

SIC Code: 23

Major Players in the Construction Industry

• Bechtel
• Koch Industries
• Kiewit Corp.
• Renco Group
• CH2M Hill
• Guardian Industries
• Clark Enterprises
• Kohler
• Berry Plastics
• Gilbane

Major Issues Affecting the Industry

Doing business with large construction companies will require identifying your goods or services, researching the market for your goods or services, and then contacting your target company (e.g., via online bidding portals or E-mail).  Some online sites for companies may not make it clearly apparent if they offer procurement options nor how to make your goods and services available.  Others, like Bechtel, CH2M Hill, and Gilbane, have straightforward online portals that require you to register with them, which will make your bids available to their global database. 

Key Requirements

• Registration with Dun & Bradstreet and have a current DUNS number
• Federal Tax ID/Business Registration

Key Certifications

• LEED
• Energy Star Products / Buildings
• BPI Certified Professional
• Regreen

Getting Started

• Identify the goods and/or services you wish to supply
• Research different companies and what goods and services they purchase
• If interested, research how to become a supplier at each company’s website
• Make sure your company passes your target company’s requirements and qualifications
• Understand U.S. export and import control regulations and laws (if applicable)
• Strengthen your knowledge of industry codes and standards

 Going Further

• For companies with online portals (i.e., Bechtel, CH2M Hill, Gilbane):
• Register your company at the website
• After registering, frequently update your company’s capabilities
• Research more about their supply chain requirements and maintain qualifications
• Evaluate specific project opportunities
• Submit information and make bids into database of suppliers and subcontractors

Best Practices

Bechtel

Established a Sustainable Development Policy.

http://www.bechtel.com/

Koch Industries

Tower office headquarters building has ENERGY STAR certification for three straight years.

www.kochind.com

Renco Group

Commitment to incorporating recycling, conservation, and preservation in each of their projects.

www.rencogroup.net

CH2M Hill

Leading engineer-procure-construct company offering wide spectrum of expertise, knowledge, and services across varied industries and government agencies.

www.ch2m.com

Gilbane

One of the nation’s oldest family-owned construction and real estate development companies.  Still keeping strong, as Forbes named Gilbane in 2009 one of the “100 best companies to work for” in the United States.

http://www.gilbaneco.com/

Key Resources

Bechtel Supplier and Contractor Portal

Link to Bechtel’s online portal for suppliers and subcontractors

Bechtel Portal

CH2M Hill “Help Guide for ePortal”

Helps with the registration process online with CH2M Hill

Help Guide for ePortal

Gilbane Training Guide to iBidPro

Training and how-to guide for Gilbane’s web-based purchasing application, iBidPro

iBidPro Guide

Key Words:

CM: construction management (acronym)

EPCM: engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance (acronym)

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): a new delivery model based on lean construction principals that enhances value through maximizing efficiency and collaboration of all involved

Lump Sum contract:  a contract used to reduce design and contract administration costs often associated with simple and small projects

Procurement:  the acquisition of goods or services

Direct procurement: the procurement of goods and services on client projects across company business groups (as used with CH2M Hill)

Indirect procurement: the procurement of goods and services on non-client internal company operations purposes (as used with CH2M Hill)

Subcontractor: One that enters into a subcontract and assumes some of the obligations of the primary contractor