Eco-officers are moving into executive suites
At many companies, sustainability officers are placed in the upper echelons of companies, where they are highly visible. In some cases, the CEO has taken on the extra duty.
By Tiffany Hsu, The Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2009 As companies grapple with climate change, try to attract eco-conscious customers and develop alternative energy agendas while complying with regulations, a new kind of administrator is moving into the executive suite to help out. Sustainability officers and green supervisors, some say, are successors to the diversity managers and innovation specialists of the 1990s -- with their focus equal parts corporate responsibility, public relations and profit. "Our clients expect this," Pogue said. "A company of our size doesn't have the luxury any longer of not participating."
A good read from the LATimes, http://ow.ly/SH6z
Mission
Create a network of businesses interested in sharing sustainable practices and recognize leading green businesses in Omaha.
Background
In support of the Green Omaha Coalition (GOC), an alliance of organizations pursuing a common goal of a “Green Omaha,” the Green Business Council (GBC) will establish a collaborative network of businesses implementing sustainability programs to improve the environmental performance of their operations.
Focus
The GBC will engage interested businesses from all industries to improve the sustainability of their operations. The GBC will address a wide variety of environmental programs, including but not limited to: procurement, resource efficiency (energy and water), waste reduction (solid and hazardous), climate change, and green building.
The GBC seeks to involve two business groups: (1) those already implementing sustainability programs and (2) those interested but lacking the resources to pursue and implement sustainable strategies. Ultimately, the GBC will become a centralized resource for businesses to share, learn, and promote sustainable business practices.
Alliances
The GBC recognizes the importance of collaborating with existing organizations to more effectively and efficiently reach businesses to provide educational and networking opportunities. The following provides a preliminary list of strategic alliances the GBC will pursue:
- Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce (GOCOC)
- Neighborhood Business Associations
- Flatwater Chapter, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- WasteCap of Nebraska (WasteCap)
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
- International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
Objectives
The GBC has identified four primary objectives to establish a coalescing network of sustainable businesses to share environmental best practices and assist emerging green businesses in identifying better environmental strategies through education and networking with other businesses. A detailed description of the objectives described below are including on the following pages.
Interested in joining or learning more about Green Business Council email: greenbusiness@greenomahacoalition.org
Green Business Council Brochure (PDF)
Figure 1 | Objectives of the Green Business Council
| Short Term |
Long Term |
Objective 1
Establish a Framework for Ongoing Leadership of the Green Business Council.
|
Objective 2
Provide Networking and Education Opportunities to Businesses.
|
Objective 3
Develop, Maintain, and Distribute a Green Business Directory.
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Objective 4
Establish an Awards Program to Recognize Green Businesses.
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| Establish a leadership team and organizational guidance to manage day-to-day functions of the GBC |
Collaborate with alliance organizations to provide networking and training opportunities to Omaha-area businesses. |
Compile a directory of individuals responsible for managing sustainability programs for Omaha-area businesses. |
Establish a framework for recognizing businesses for exceptional environmental performance. |
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