Click here to get started
or call
503/823.3919
for free advice.
Sustainability Planning
Other resources
Small businesses in Portland with fewer than 100 employees account for almost 97 percent of the total business community. This means that the aggregate impact of small businesses on Portland’s environment, economy and community is greater than even the largest multi-national corporation. The truth is, Portland can’t go green without the involvement of its small business community!
It’s important to have a system, no matter how simple, that evaluates current operations, sets goals for improvement, and tracks successes and setbacks. After all, if it’s not measured it can’t be improved.
The BEST Business Center can help businesses develop a sustainability plan, a sustainable purchasing policy, a green-lease agreement, and more. Contact us for more information and to receive your free business evaluation.
Download our sample Sustainability Plan [PDF]
The following resources also provide important information on this topic:
Background and Theory
-
Oregon Natural Step Network
The Oregon Natural Step Network supports Oregon business, governmental, and educational organizations interested in using The Natural Step (TNS) framework for sustainability. TNS is a non-profit, research, education and advisory organization that uses a science-based framework to help organizations, individuals and communities move toward sustainability.
-
Sustainable Oregon Toolkit
The Sustainable Oregon Toolkit is a resource to assist communities and organizations become more sustainable. This site provides advice and best practices for communities to simultaneously improve the health of their economy, their community and the environment. Find links to best practices, policies and programs in the areas of sustainability planning and resource conservation.
-
The Northwest Earth Institute
The Northwest Earth Institute offers study guides in various areas of sustainability. These self-guided discussion courses allow small groups of people to explore topics such as climate change, sustainable living and voluntary simplicity.
Environmental Management Systems
-
Environmental Protection Agency
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that enables an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency. The EPA Web site provides information and resources related to EMS for businesses, associations, the public, and state and federal agencies.
-
EPA : National Environmental Performance Track
Performance Track recognizes and drives environmental excellence by encouraging facilities with Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and strong environmental records to go above and beyond their legal requirements to improve the nation’s air, water, and land. Performance Track members receive local and national recognition, access to networking events and services, and regulatory and administrative benefits. Members include major corporations, small businesses, and public facilities that are steering a course toward environmental excellence.
-
ISO 14001
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a standard-setting body that develops world-wide industrial and commercial standards. The ISO 14001 is the standard for environmental management. The intention of ISO 14001 is to provide a framework for a holistic, strategic approach to an organization’s environmental policy, plans and actions. The generic requirements of an organization’s environmental management system are to: minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities and to achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance.
Assessment and Reporting
-
CorporateRegister.com
CorporateRegister.com is a free directory of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability, and Environment reports, including directories of reports that follow the Global Reporting Initiative, AccountAbility AA1000 Assurance Standard and the Global Compact index.
The site also features a free Reporting Partners directory covering thousands of CSR reporting service providers (e.g., consultants, designers and verifiers). This service is designed to help organizations find assistance for their next CSR report. -
Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used framework for sustainability reporting. The cornerstone of the framework is the “Sustainability Reporting Guidelines”that provide guidance on how organizations can disclose their economic, social and environmental performance. The Guidelines also provide stakeholders with a universally applicable, comparable framework in which to understand disclosed information.
-
SCORE
SCORE (Sustainability Competency and Opportunity Rating and Evaluation) is an easy-to-use assessment tool that rates sustainability practices. It helps organizations understand where they are now and what ‘sustainability’ looks like. It was developed in collaboration with the International Sustainable Development Foundation, the Zero Waste Alliance, and AXIS Performance Advisors.
It is integral as a business that provides any sort of service to the community to do so in the most responsible way possible. The BEST business program is a great start down that path.
Green Team
United Fund Advisors
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a light bulb for four hours.
The Sustainability Guide was valuable because it was customized to my own business. I also appreciated that they came out to my restaurant so we could review it together.
Mounir Gabriel, Owner
Mummy's Restaurant