Business Sustainability Certificate Program at Loyola Chicago

This one day world-class Business Sustainability Certificate Program at Loyola Chicago takes place on Thursday October 6, 2016. Space is limited and the deadline for application is September 30.

This new one-day certificate program in global business sustainability being offered Thursday, October 6 at the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago. The location is 16 East Pearson Street in Chicago, near the city’s historic Water Tower district.

This certificate program is intended for people considering a career in corporate sustainability or who are already working in the field and who would like to learn about social or environmental issues. It is also well suited to people who are currently managing corporate sustainability and social responsibility issues and are looking for some fresh insights.

The course is sponsored by the school’s Supply and Value Chain Center. Learn best practices from former executives at Waste Management and Baxter. 

The session will be taught by two seasoned global sustainability experts who together have over five decades of practical experience working inside major corporations:

Bill Blackburn, former Vice President and Chief Counsel of EHS and Sustainability Leader at Baxter International, and author of The Sustainability Handbook—The Complete Management Guide to Achieving Social, Economic and Environmental Responsibility

George Nassos, PhD., former executive at Waste Management, former Associate Professor and Director of the M.S. in Environmental Management and Sustainability program at Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business, and author of Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to Gain a Competitive Advantage

Each attendee will receive a free copy of Nassos’ and Blackburn’s books.

This is the perfect course to learn the fundamentals regarding the whole spectrum of sustainability considerations within business operations and supply chains, including sustainability’s social, environmental and economic aspects. The emphasis will be on practical implementation within business in a global setting.

The target audience includes individuals taking on new sustainability responsibilities, those new to the discipline, and those who desire to gain a sustainability role. It is also a good refresher and update for experienced sustainability practitioners, leaders, and academics.

The course will be taught in four parts and will include interactive discussion sessions:

The Pursuit of Sustainability by Business: What & Why
The Pursuit of Sustainability by Business: How
Sustainable/Green Products and Services
Prioritizing, Planning, Communicating

For more information click here. To register for this unique course, click here, or contact:

Executive Education
Loyola University Chicago
Ph. 312-915-6780
Email: executive-ed@luc.edu

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.   

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Comprehensive Compilation of Studies Proving the ROI of Sustainability

The Green Market Oracle has been following the plethora of studies that show the value of sustainability. Over the years we have summarized and republished links to more than 20 studies that show the ROI of sustainability.

Sustainable Brands recently released a complimentary compilation of 22 research studies that collectively demonstrate the positive ROI of sustainability. These studies cover a variety of angles, including company revenue, stock performance, product-level profitability, brand reputation, employee and consumer engagement benefits, accounting for externalities, reduced risk exposure, and a number of individual company case studies.

In this summary you will find:

• How leading researchers are analyzing the ROI of sustainability on multiple levels, including company revenue, stock performance, product-level profitability, valuation of employee and consumer engagement, and more
• Why investing in companies with strong sustainability credentials is proving to be a consistently good bet, and why Modern Portfolio Theory may be significantly outdated
• How measurable and manageable brand reputations are related to factors such as sustainability initiatives, quality of management, employee engagement, use of corporate assets, innovation, quality of products and global competitiveness
• What advantages climate leaders among S&P 500 companies create for themselves, and how they outperform their peers
• How the world's largest 500 companies are decoupling revenue growth from GHG emissions, and what that means for the future of climate and business leadership

To access this complimentary compilation from Sustainable Brands click here.

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Studying Sustainability at Hampshire College

Hampshire College has a wide assortment of sustainability focused academics. While the school may be best known for its massive solar power project (the school is working towards generating all of its electricity from solar energy arrays by the end of 2016) it also has a green curriculum. This includes the study of traditional sustainability topics like business and agriculture and prescient subjects like social change in the anthropocene era, which challenges students in every discipline to consider their role in human survival.

The school includes the Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute which offers an interdisciplinary academic program focusing on food production and sustainable agriculture, centered at the vibrant Hampshire College Farm.

National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Grant

In partnership with Holyoke Community College and the University of Massachusetts, Hampshire has received funding for “Application of Clean Energy Technology to Sustainable Agriculture Practice.” The grant will include support for clean energy infrastructure and course development, and will foster collaboration across the institutions. Proposed projects at Hampshire College include a moveable greenhouse with heat pump technology, as well as a solar array at the Hampshire College Farm that will provide power for new climate-controlled root and vegetable storage facilities, a mobile refrigeration unit, and a tractor that will be converted from diesel to battery power.

Hampshire is an innovative liberal arts college with a multidisciplinary approach. The college has a multicultural curriculum and it is committed to civic and social engagement as well as responsible leadership. The school is working on building a culture of sustainability with efforts to integrate food, operations, and curriculum.

As explained on Hampshire's website:

"The sustainability initiative is focused on four key transitions. Building upon Hampshire College's strong foundation of innovative research, forward-thinking decision-making, and environmental action and awareness, Hampshire is actively transforming its food systems, campus operations, creative curriculum, and campus culture. This effort capitalizes on the ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and commitment to social justice that have always characterized the Hampshire College community. Our work on these four key transitions is guided by the Sustainability Transition Advisory Committee (STAC), the Food, Farm, and Sustainability Advisory Committee, and the Environmental Committee, which oversee and organize the transition process."

Sample Areas of Study

• Agricultural Studies
• Applied Design
• Architecture and Environmental Design
• Biological and Life Sciences
• Business and Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Studies and Sustainability
• Geology
• Globalization/Third World Studies
• Marine Science

Recent Courses at Hampshire

• Agriculture, Ecology, and Society
• Vernal Pools: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
• Chemistry and the Physics of Solar Energy and Energy Storage Technology
• Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming
• Hot War: the Impact of Climate Change on International Peace & Security
• Innovations for Change: Problem Solving for the Future
• Sustainable Landscaping Practicum
• Sustainable Water Resources
• The Future of Food
• U.S. Climate Law and Policy
• Agriculture, Food, and Human Health
• Crafting a Sustainable Design Lens
• Designing the Post-Suburban Community
• Economics and the Environment
• Kitchen Ecology
• The Microbial Farm
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Zero Impact House

Recent Student Projects

• Agricultural Systems Thinking: Re-designing urban farming systems that are radically inclusive of marginalized communities Imagine the Earth: Illustrating Environmental Science and Philosophy
• Profit vs. People: A Case Study in the Environmental and Social Impact of Big Oil; Human Health
• Learning for Our Future: Moving Towards a Sustainable Worldview
• Tropical Reforestation
• Wetland Biogeochemistry and Climate Change
• Ecology and Management of Three Caribbean Fisheries
• Enviro-Education at a School in the Woods: an Ethnographic Journey
• Where the River Runs Dry: An Analysis of the Ecological and Socioeconomic Impacts of Large Dams on the Indus Delta
• Path of the Dharma Farmer: Seeking a Sustainable Spirituality
• You Are Where You Eat: Pedagogy for an Eco-Justice, Health-Oriented Sense of Place

Five College Programs and Certificates

• Five College Sustainability Studies Certificate
• Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Program
• Five College International Relations Certificate
• Peace and World Security Studies (PAWSS)

For more information on sustainability oriented programs and certificates click here.


Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.  

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Glaxo­SmithKline Doing Well by Doing Good

Glaxo­SmithKline (GSK) is at the top of Fortune's 2016 Change the World list. They are being recognized for their exemplary corporate citizenship. In an age of rampant profiteering in the pharmaceutical industry, Glaxo­SmithKline (GSK) has stood out by making it their business to give back.

The practices of GSK stand in stark contrast to other recent pharmaceutical news. Martin Shkreli bought the rights to a life saving HIV drug called Daraprim,then he hiked up the price by 5,000 percent. CEO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals Heather Bresch raised the price of an EpiPen pack to more than $600.

As reviewed in Fortune, Glaxo­SmithKline is a 300 year old company that built its name with products like baby formula and penicillin. The company made almost $16 billion in 2015 and they use their wealth to do good. They are working on vaccines for malaria and the Zika virus and they support HIV treatment programs in places like Botswana. The prices they charge are a function of people's means and the company reinvests 20 percent of the profits to local health care infrastructure and worker training.

Sustainability is part of Glaxo. As they say on the website GSK is focused on, "improving the quality of human life." They are committed to reducing the environmental impacts of their products and they have set ambitious goals to reduce carbon, water and waste. They are leaders in green chemistry.

In 2014 Glaxo was recognised for outstanding sustainable business practices at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards 2014 and in 2010 they recieved the Environmental Stewardship Award from Nalco.

Glaxo is number one on Fortune's annual Change the World list. This list of 50 companies are leading efforts to address major societal problems, reducing damage to the environment, strengthening communities, serving the underserved, and significantly improving lives. They are also generating a profit. The average return on publicly traded stocks in last year’s list was 16.6 percent which was even better than the S&P 500.

For the complete Change the World 2016 list of companies click here.

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Hampshire College Going 100% Solar Saving Money and Reducing Emissions

Hampshire college will be the first solar powered residential school in the US. This rural college located in Amherst Massachusetts is in the process of installing 15,000 solar panels on 19 acres of its 840-acre campus. When the installation is completed at the end of this year it will be the largest school based solar array in New England and one of the largest in the Eastern US.

These arrays will generate enough energy to power about 500 American homes. When the college achieves its goal of producing all of its electricity from solar it will generate a carbon savings equivalent to taking 650 cars off the road.

To reach their onsite renewable energy goals, Hampshire partnered with SolarCity who will build and operate the solar arrays and battery system. In addition to showing sustainability leadership, Hampshire will pay less for electricity than it does right now. The estimated saving will be around $400,000 per year for 20 years and up to $8 million total in electricity costs.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.  

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Solar is Now the Cheapest Form of Electricity on Earth

Fossil fuels have been definitively ousted as the world's cheapest source of electricy with solar energy prices falling to an all time low. Solar is now the least expensive way of generating electricity costing half of the price of coal, the cheapest form of fossil fuel energy.

In May 2016 there was  a record solar price bid of $29.90 per megawatt hour (MWh) in Dubai or 2.99 cents per kilowatt hour (KWh). This August solar prices fell by 80 cents a MWh with a bid bid from Spanish developer Solarpack Corp. Tecnologica of $29.10 in Chile. This means that electricity costs are 2.90 per KWh. As explained in Think Progress, the average residential price for electricity in the US is 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.

“Solar power delivers cheapest unsubsidised electricity ever, anywhere, by any technology,” BNEF Chair Michael Liebreich said on Twitter after this contract was announced.

Solar is declining in price in large part due to the declining costs of solar technology. As reported by Bloomberg at the beginning of the summer of 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency solar generated electricity could grow sixfold by 2030. With solar prices expected to fall as much as 59 percent by 2025, natural gas and coal-fired plants will not be able to compete. Solar will account for 8 percent to 13 percent of global electricity produced in 2030, compared with 1.2 percent at the end of 2015.

“The renewable energy transition is well underway, with solar playing a key role,” Irena Director General Adnan Amin said in a statement. “Cost reductions, in combination with other enabling factors, can create a dramatic expansion of solar power globally.”

The rapid growth of solar is being supported by smart grids and the declining costs of stationary energy storage.

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Event - AltCar Expo and Conference

AltCar Expo and Conference will be held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium East Wing, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, Friday September 16 and Saturday September 17, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. AltCar’s Government Fleet & Industry Conference that runs concurrent with Expo

The goal of AltCar is to provide a very accessible and comprehensive setting where both industry and general public can discover existing alternatives to the way they use energy and transportation and motivate everyone to take further action. California leads the nation in alternative vehicles, incentives and fueling stations, with many states now following the state’s example and implementing programs similar to those in California.

Environmental protection activist and attorney, Sharon Duggan, will present the keynote address on Friday, September 16. Duggan has been an attorney for more than 33 years, during which time she has represented local community, state and federal organizations which advocate for protection of our natural resources.

Duggan’s topic for AltCar is “Youth Stand Up for Their Future” against the fossil fuel industry. She will talk about how young people from throughout the United States and beyond are acting to secure a viable future for themselves and future generations. Faced with the dark and foreboding reality caused by climate change impacts, and less-than-robust efforts by politicians and elected officials, youth are engaging with government and in courts to secure scientifically-based action to deal with climate change. As they take on the forces of the fossil fuel industry, they are meant with enormous resistance and influence trying to thwart meaningful efforts to ensure a livable future for young people and future generations. Duggan will discuss what we all can do to give young people their inalienable rights to be treated equally and fairly.

Recognized as an expert in the forestry field, Duggan has spent decades working to protect our forests from bad logging practices. She has litigated to secure protection for old growth redwood forests, fisheries, wildlife and water in California. Duggan helped to create in 2010, and continues as a Board member of, “Our Children’s Trust,” a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of young people to secure a viable future in the face of climate change. Over the years, Sharon has been repeatedly recognized for her commitment and dedication to the public interest, including with the “William Douglas Award” by the Sierra Club in 2011, the “Kerry Rydberg Award for Excellence In Public Interest Environmental Litigation” by the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference in 2011, and as a “Top Environmental Attorney” by the Recorder, a San Francisco Bay Area legal newspaper in November 2003.

• Other speakers include:
• Marco Anderson SCAG
• Mike Antonovich Supervisor, LA County
• Shad Balch Chevrolet
• Michael Brylawski Evercar
• Sue Carpenter The Drive
• Rhetta deMesa CA Energy Commission
• Mike DiNucci ChargePoint Senior VP Sales
• Sharon Duggan Attorney at Law
• Steve Ellis Honda
• Rajit Gadh UCLA & WINMEC
• Taylor Jones Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.
• Jon LeSage Green Auto Market
• Dan Neil The Wall Street Journal
• Hilary Norton FAST
• Terry O'Day NRG eVgo & City of Santa Monica
• Chris Paine Filmmaker
• Senator Fran Pavley California State Senate
• Laura Renger SoCal Edison
• Paul Scott Plug-In America
• Evan Speer State of California DGS
• Garrett Wong City of Santa Monica
• Geri Yoza Toyota

Admission to AltCar Expo is free. To register for Friday’s Government Fleet & Industry Conference click here. For additional information call (310) 390-2930.

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Event - National Drive Electric Week 2016

National Drive Electric Week started in 2011 as National Plug In Day, it takes place during the week of September 10 - 18, 2016. Celebrations for this event will take place across the US, Canada and elsewhere. National Drive Electric Week is presented by Plug In America Sierra Club Electric Auto Association Nissan LEAF® is the exclusive automotive sponsor of National Drive Electric Week.

This nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. They are fun to drive, are less expensive and more convenient to fuel than gasoline vehicles, are better for the environment, promote local jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Are you considering going electric? Come talk to owners who have successfully done so.

Started in 2011 as National Plug In Day with the simple idea to hold simultaneous events across the country on the same day, by popular demand we have expanded to an entire week of events and changed the name to emphasize the thing we all want to do: drive electric. We expect National Drive Electric Week 2016 will again grow to include more events in more cities with more drivers reaching out to share the many advantages of driving electric with the public.

To find an event near you, click here to visit the events page.

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It is Time for All of Us to Act on Climate Change (Videos)

Environmental degradation, the climate crisis and social injustice are present day realities that call all people and businesses to act. To illustrate the urgency of the situation consider climate change. Scientists tell us the the upper threshold warming limit agreed upon at COP21 in Paris last year is 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial norms. We are already 1.3 degrees above so the situation is dire, but not impossible. We cannot wait for the holdouts to come to an epiphany. We must demand that our elected officials make science based policy decisions.


As explained by Climate Reality, the signs (and the science) are clear: Our climate is changing..."the trend of exponentially rising CO2 levels and rising global temperatures that scientists have seen over the past century is unmistakable. Our climate is changing, and it's changing too quickly for many of our planet's ecosystems, animal species, and humans to keep up." This is an urgent call to action.



We are not powerless to change things. In addition to casting your vote with environmental and social issues in mind, there are other ways that we can make a difference each and every day. Consumers have the power to change the world by virtue of where you spend your money.



Companies that are producing the most emissions are a good place to start. As reported in a recent Science article, a handful of companies are largely responsible for climate change. According to an analysis by geographer Richard Heede, almost two-thirds of anthropogenic carbon emissions are produced by just 90 companies and government-run industries. At the top of this list are fossil fuel use, methane leaks, and cement manufacture.

We also need to support those who are standing up for the planet against those who protect polluters. In July Heede received a subpoena from climate denying Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Through sustainable supply chains businesses also have a salient role to play.

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MA in Global Sustainability at The University of South Florida

The University of South Florida's sustainability focused academics prepares students to lead sustainable change and meet the growing needs of private and public sectors around the world.

The Master of Arts (MA) in Global Sustainability is designed to prepare students to address complex regional, national, and global challenges related to sustainability and the ability to innovate in diverse cultural, geographic, and demographic contexts.

Core courses explore the collaboration between sustainable development, environmental management and the green economy. With the option of a capstone global internship and personalized career services, this truly is a master’s program like no other.

The Patel College of Global Sustainability strives to offer a dynamic curriculum, top-notch internship experiences, and overall superior education for our students.

The M.A. in Global Sustainability offers nine concentrations, all concentrations are available in a traditional on-campus format and most are available fully online. See your concentration of interest for details.

To leverage existing strengths in faculty expertise in global sustainability that parallel student demand, we have identified Water, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Tourism and Sustainable Energy as logical concentrations for the MA degree.

All M.A. in Global Sustainability students must complete all core requirements (18 credits), at least one concentration (6 credits), and two courses from the electives (6 credits). In order to ensure successful (and well-timed) progression through the graduate program, it is important students commit to their concentration of choice upon admission to the School.

Concentration in Sustainable Energy

The sustainable energy concentration provides knowledge in the growing field of renewable energy, which is expected to quadruple within a few decades creating significant employment, investment, and trade opportunities. As the U.S. and world economies seek to become more sustainable, they will be increasingly dependent on renewable fuels and power. Students will be prepared for private and public sector positions of leadership and responsibility in the biofuels, solar, wind, biomass, smart grid, and other renewable energy sectors.

Concentration in Water

The water concentration will enable students to understand the complex regional and global water-related sustainability challenges and to develop innovative, sustainable solutions specifically in the specializations of green infrastructure, urban water, and coastal issues.

Concentration in Entrepreneurship

The M.A. in Global Sustainability concentration in entrepreneurship provides students with a comprehensive understanding of concepts, tools, and skills of sustainability and green technology. Focus areas include green technology, development, transportation, energy, and sustainable enterprise.

Concentration in Sustainable Tourism

The M.A. in Global Sustainability concentration in Sustainable Tourism enables students to understand the relationships between tourism, society, culture and sustainability. Students develop the skills necessary to design a successful sustainable tourism strategy and development plan that is beneficial to business, coastal and marine habitats, and the local community.

Graduate Certificates

Requiring just 12 credit hours, graduate certificates offer students an abbreviated path to a specialization in sustainability. They’re perfect for professionals looking to enhance their skills and expertise or boost career advancement potential. Plus, all graduate certificate credits can transfer directly into the master’s degree program.

* The master’s degree and graduate certificate options are available either online or on campus.

For more information click here.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources. 

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Repeated Spills Show the Soulless Self Interest of Fossil Fuel Companies

A number of fossil fuel companies are guilty of repeated spills. This includes companies like PetroPeru, Shell, and Duke Energy. Whether crude oil or coal ash, these leaks are a regular occurrence. It is safe to say that these companies and many like them are guilty of chronic spill recidivism. Sadly, repeated spills are the norm not the exception.

They remain undeterred even in the face of  massive fines. Last October BP was forced to payout more than $20 billion in a settlement agreement for the massive oil leak caused by the deadly explosion of the Deepwater Horizon. The cost of this one spill is approaching $62 billion. A bit more than a month ago BP agreed to settle a lawsuit and pay investors $175 million because of the companies failure to disclose business risks.

Spills are not only expensive for fossil fuel companies, they are utterly devastating to wildlife and people. In Peru four spills have occurred from the same pipeline this year and 23 have occurred in the last five years.. The troubled half century old 687-mile pipeline belongs to State owned oil company Petroperu. The latest spill occurred in August and there were two spills in February that were devastating to local indigenous people. Another rupture was reported on June 24th. The most recent spill took place right around the same time as PetroPeru was fined $3 million for improper clean-up of the Cuninico oil spill in 2014.

Shell is also is guilty of repeated spills in 2016 with two occurring in the span of a week. The first occurred on May 12 and then another on May 23.

Duke energy recently leaked 50,000 gallons of storm water over a coal pile at the Roger Energy Complex into the Broad River near Mooresboro, N.C. Duke is another fossil fuel giant that has a long rap sheet of spills. They are best known for their broken storm water pipe that spilled up to 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River in February 2014. Then they got caught pumping coal ash into public waterways a month later.

Duke pleaded guilty to nine violations of the Federal Clean Water Act in May of 2015 and they where ordered to pay $102 million fine which upon appeal was commuted to $6.6 million. But Duke still doesn't want to pay so they are contesting.

All of these companies have done everything in their power to avoid paying their fines. They refuse to accept responsibility for their roles as causal agents in climate change so it is no surprise that have no desire to assume responsibility for the damages they are causing through spills. The devastation in Louisiana is a case in point. Massive flooding has ravaged the state, and oil companies have yet to invest in coastal recovery projects even though this increases the risk of yet more spills as their pipelines are being exposed to corrosive salt water through coastal erosion.

Time and time again fossil fuel companies have shown soulless disregard for people and for the planet.

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Sustainable Educational Solutions from Sustainia

Here are some of the best ideas in sustainable education from the last couple of years. These ideas are curated by Sustania in its annual guide to innovative sustainability solutions. The guide known as Sustania100 identifies readily available projects, initiatives and technologies at the forefront of sustainable innovation. This is a powerful solutions based resource for investors, business leaders, policy makers and consumers insights. These vetted projects and technologies span from Western innovation hubs to emerging economies.

In 2016 Sustania100 celebrates its fifth year. This years version of the Sustania100 is subtitled ‘Systemic Opportunity’  Sustainia100 has tracked more than 4,500 solutions to date from all over the world. This year’s edition features solutions deployed in 188 countries, and more than half come from small and mid-sized enterprises. Showcasing everything from health solutions that tackle climate change, to renewable energy products that alleviate gender inequality. Below you will find Sustania's best ideas for education in 2016 and 2015

Education 2016

Digital Platform Sparks Supply Chain Learning
2degrees

Clean-tech Microbusiness Empower Women
The Appropriate Technology Collaborative

Bringing Digital Learning into Any Classroom
BRCK Education

Smart Home Teaches Sustainable Living
Trumpet

Empowering Youth through Food Education
Melting Post Foundation | ICCO Cooperation

Zero-Waste School Cafeterias
Cafeteria Culture

Practical Training and Mentors Spark Entrepreneurship
Educate!

Parental Work Exchange Funds Schools

Maya Universe Academy

Cooperatives Empower Women Weavers
Yayasan Satu Karsa Karya | Jendela Nusantara Media

Women's Coding School Bridges Gender Gap
Code to Inspire

Education 2015

The fourth annual installment of the Sustania 100 in 2015 was subtitled "Solutions you must know about!" Winners were announced at the Sustainia Award Ceremony at COP21 in Paris, on Dec 6th. 2015.

Citizen Engagement for Voluntary Behavior Change
Seoul Metropolitan Government
Community Mapping for Development in Slums
Map Kibera Trust

Global Labs for Invention through Technology
MIT Center for Bits and Atoms, Fab Foundation

Inspiring a New Generation of Social Entrepreneurs
Teach a Man to Fish

Crowdsourced Labels for Conscious Consumption
OpenLabel

Mobile Solar Computer Classrooms
Maendeleo Foundation

Learning to Value Resources by Swapping Toys
Retoy

Improving Livelihoods through Entrepreneurship
Dharma Life

Learning to Build Towards Disaster Resilience
Build Change

DIY Monitoring for Environmental Accountability
Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Space to Grow Wins the Green School Award for Collaboration
The Best of the 2016 Green Schools Honorees (Video)
Green Schools Honorees 2016 (USGBC and the GSNN)

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Oil Industry Ignores Coastal Restoration Efforts Despite Being Battered by Louisiana Flooding

The fossil fuel industry is the primary cause of climate change contributing to flooding and sea level rise yet they fight calls to scale back production and they ignore pleas to fund mitigation efforts. The recent floods in Louisiana killed 13 people, destroyed 60,000 homes and prompted more than 100,000 people to seek assistance from FEMA.  Although it offers no comfort to the thousands left homeless, flooding and erosion are also battering the fossil fuel industry in the confederate state.

The floods in Louisiana have been linked to climate change.  As reported in a Guardian article storms like the one that ravaged the state in August will worsen as the planet warms. Already the multitude of once in 500 year storms are changing the record books and lending credence to climate models. As reported by Wired the latest Louisiana storm is the eighth time in the last year that the US has experienced once in 500-year rainfalls. Climate models predict that such storms will happen again and with greater frequency.

While the government of Louisiana has an increasingly good idea of what needs to be done the state is running a 2 billion deficit and simply does not have the money to make good on its plans. Given that the fossil fuel industry's culpability some have suggested that revenues generated by the state from offshore oil should be put towards coastal restoration and other mitigation efforts. However, Louisiana earns a paltry sum (around 800,000 in 2015) from oil and gas royalties.

Climate change may destroy people's homes but those who are being ravaged by global warming may take some solace from the fact that it also wreaks havoc on the oil industry. As reported in a Bloomberg article by Catherine Traywick, $100 billion of Louisiana's energy infrastructure is threatened by climate change. The seas are rising and erosion is exposing pipes to corrosive seawater. This puts refineries, tank farms and ports at risk.

Each year more than 20 square miles of Louisiana coastline disappears into the sea. The deepwater oil production site in Port Fourchon, loses three feet of shoreline every month.According to a report from Louisiana State University and the Rand Corporation more than 610 miles of pipeline could be exposed over the next 25 years.

“All of the pipelines, all of the things put in place in the ’50s and ’60s and ’70s were designed to be protected by marsh,” said Ted Falgout, an energy consultant and former director of Port Fourchon.

With less land to buffer storm surges flood risks increase. The costs of flooding could increase by $20 billion in the coming year.

A study by America’s Wetlands Foundation and Entergy Corp found that the latest flooding forced Exxon Mobil Corp. shut down units at its Baton Rouge refinery, the fourth-largest in the US. A study by America’s Wetlands Foundation and Entergy Corp. suggests that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The oil and gas sector is already losing an average of $14 billion a year to environmental threats to its infrastructure. By 2030, those losses could exceed $350 billion.

While there are some tiny pilot erosion mitigation projects financed by oil companies they are nowhere near where they need to be. BP was forced to pay for coastal restoration as part of a multi-billion dollar settlement for its role in the Deepwater Horizon incident that dumped millions of barrels of crude into the Gulf of Mexico the effects of which continue to harm wildlife to this day.  As of August the BP oil spill has cost the company a total of $62 billion.

There is virtually no voluntary financial support for coastal restoration from the oil industry. Perhaps one of the reasons that the industry is not doing what it must to protect its own infrastructure is because they realize that they cannot be seen to be investing in mitigation efforts against a threat of their own making.

The fossil fuel industry refuses to acknowledge their culpability even though they know better. It would appear the only way you can get Big Oil to pay for coastal restoration is if they spill millions of gallons of crude.

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The Top 50 Greenest Universities in America (Sierra Magazine)

Each year Sierra Magazine ranks schools in terms of the following categories: Energy, investments, food, innovation, academics, planning, purchasing, transport, waste, and water.

Formally known as the "Cool Schools" ranking, this is one of the most widely read measurements of colleges' and universities' environmental standards. To compile these lists Sierra Magazine collaborates with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to collect raw data. Institutions can report data using the STARS 2.0 Reporting Tool, available on AASHE's website.

Here are Sierra's top fifty universities for 2015:

1. University of California, Irvine
2. University of California, Davis
3. University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh 
4. Colorado State University 
5. Middlebury College
6. Oberlin College 
7. University of California, San Diego  
8. University of Connecticut 
9. Lewis & Clark College
10. University of Washington 
11. Arizona State Universit
12. Dickinson College
13. University of California, Berkeley
14. University of South Florida
15. Green Mountain College
16. College of the Atlantic
17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
18. Portland State University
19. University of California, Santa Barbara 
20. Colby College
21. Stanford University
22. Chatham University
23. University of Pennsylvania
24. Appalachian State University
25. Emory University
26. Wisconsin–River Falls
27. University of Maryland, College Park 
28. Duke University
29. Cornell University
30. Macalester College
31. California State University, Chico
32. George Washington University
33. University of Minnesota, Morris 
34. University of the Pacific  
35. University of Arizona 
36. Pomona College  
37. Grand Valley State University
38. Pennsylvania State University
39. Colgate University
40. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
41. Harvard University 
42. Oregon State University
43. University of California, Los Angeles
44. University of California, Santa Cruz
45. University of Vermont 
46. California State University, Channel Islands  
47. University of Missouri (Mizzou)  
48. Bard College 
49. Rice University  
50. Santa Clara University 

For the full list and scores click here.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Green Party a Threat to Climate Action in the 2016 Presidential Elections

Jill Stein's Green Party could split the vote and put climate action at risk. The two third parties in the 2016 US presidential elections are the Greens and the Libertarians. Conventional wisdom suggests that support for the greens will hurt Hilary and other Democrats while support for the Libertarians will harm Trump and other Republicans.

This is a crucial election as we are rapidly running out of time to deal with the climate crisis. A Trump presidency would be a disaster for the economy and the environment. Under Trump we would see less environmental regulations, more fossil fuels and an end to the Paris Climate Agreement. Simply put his policies would push us past irreversible tipping points from which we may not be able to recover.

In 2000 we saw how a third party candidate could alter the electoral outcome. Ralph Nader siphoned votes away from Al Gore and gave George Bush the win. Given what is at stake in this electoral cycle, concerns about the potential spoiler effect of a third party candidates are well warranted.

In a recent exclusive interview with Think Progress, Al Gore bluntly stated that voters who care about the climate crisis should not vote for a third party this election. "In my experience it matters a lot.” he said. He was asked about voters who are concerned about climate change but dissatisfied with both major candidates and considering voting for a third party, such as the Green Party. He replied:

"First of all I understand their feelings and misgivings. But if they are interested in my personal advice. I am voting for Hillary Clinton. I urge everyone else to do the same. I particularly urge anyone who is concerned about the climate crisis, sees it as the kind of priority that I see it as, to look at the sharp contrast between the solar plan that Secretary Clinton has put forward, and her stated commitment to support the Clean Power Plan, and the contrast between what she has said and is proposing with the statements of the Republican nominee, which give me great concern...I would also urge them to look carefully, as I know they have, at the consequences of going in another direction for the third or fourth alternative…. The harsh reality is that we have two principal choices. And I am supporting Hillary Clinton."

While the Democratic candidate has a comfortable lead in the polls, if this ends up being a close race, Hilary may not have the support she needs. This is particularly true among younger voters including some supports of Bernie Sanders. "Clinton’s margin over Trump among this age group is lower than we’d expect given how Obama did in the last two election cycles," electoral analyst Harry Enten explained. A key reason is the “unusually high share of under-30 voters saying they’ll vote third party."

Bernie understands that voters have a binary choice and he has repeatedly stated that Hilary is by far the better option.  Bernie has called the Democratic presidential nominee the only sensible choice, he even announced that he will be campaigning for Hilary.

Bernie first endorsed Hilary early in July and he clearly reiterated his support in his speech at the DNC convention when he said, "based on her ideas and her leadership Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States. The choice is not even close."

Despite Bernie's logical position, an August 8 report by FiveThirtyEight indicates that a third of Sanders supporters do not support Hilary. This sentiment persists even though Bernie has made it abundantly clear that he will do everything he can to ensure that the GOP nominee does not become president.

Bernie recently told the Washington Post, "I feel very strongly that Donald Trump would be a disaster for the country. I want to do everything I can to see that Secretary Clinton wins." With these words Bernie puts the national interest ahead of his own personal interests. Sadly, this is something some Bernie supporters just can't do. They can't see the forest through the trees as they continue to tilt at windmills and fight for their noble but no less dead revolution.

I recently sought out and spent some time exchanging views online with a group of Bernie supporters. After reading and commenting on a Facebook page called "We are Bernie Sanders" I realized how impervious to reason these people can be. 

To start with they talk about their hearts being broken by Bernie's support for Hilary. Some even sound like jilted lovers as they profess hatred for their namesake. Posts vacillated between calling Bernie a sell-out and hoping for his messianic return as an Independent candidate.

They also hate Al Gore, when the Think Progress article mentioned above was posted to their page it prompted comments like "Fuck Al Gore."  They will turn on anybody who espouses conflicting views. What makes this noteworthy is that this is the type of aggressive response often associated with supporters of the GOP's nominee. The people on this page also seems to buy into Trump's delusional rants about the media being unfair. They are especially passionate about Trump's rigged elections fallacy.

This page is undoubtedly frequented by Trump trolls who see value in playing up Hilary's hawkish reputation as a war monger. They definitely see the merit of helping the green party split the vote. However, there may be some input from Bernie's digital staffers who quit recently. This includes people like digital director Kenneth Pennington and digital organizing director Claire Sandberg.

There are sizable numbers of Bernie's people who stalwartly refuse to support Hilary.  Although many of these supporters will be voting for the Green Party they are not casting their ballots for either the climate or the environment. They are not voting for Jill Stein, they are voting against Hilary and wittingly or unwittingly leaving the door open for Trump.  All they really care about is keeping their revolution alive.

As disconcerting as it may be we must acknowledge that in a close election these people could very well hold the balance of power. 

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Top 50 Green Colleges (Princeton Review 2015)

Each year The Princeton Review publishes the world's most prestigious ranking of green colleges in the US. As explained on their website, these colleges sustainable practices include everything from solar-powered dorms to organic campus farms and clean energy career prep. Here is the list of the top 50 Green colleges leading the 353 schools in the 2015 Princeton Review Guide:

1. Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR

2. Green Mountain College
Poultney, VT

3. University of California--Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

4. State University of New York--Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

5. Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA

6. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

7. American University
Washington, DC

8. College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor, ME

9. Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT

10. University of Vermont
Burlington, VT

11. Portland State University
Portland, OR

12. Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO

13. Willamette University
Salem, OR

14. University of Washington
Seattle, WA

15. Pomona College
Claremont, CA

16. University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA

17. Warren Wilson College
Asheville, NC

18. Mills College
Oakland, CA

19. Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

20. University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD

21. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA

22. Stanford University
Stanford, CA

23. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA

24. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL

25. Columbia University
New York, NY

26. University of Maine
Orono, ME

27. University of Colorado--Boulder
Boulder, CO

28. Iowa State University
Ames, IA

29. Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO

30. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA

31. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

32. University of California--Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

33. State University of New York--College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY

34. University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH

35. Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

36. Colgate University
Hamilton, NY

37. Emory University
Atlanta, GA

38. Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR

39. Saint Michael's College
Colchester, VT

40. University of California--Davis
Davis, CA

41. University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

42. University of North Texas
Denton, TX

43. Loyola University of Chicago
Chicago, IL

44. University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA

45. Washington State University
Pullman, WA

46. Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA

47. Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA

48. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX

49. Northeastern University
Boston, MA

50. Ball State University
Muncie, IN

To download The Princeton Review college guide including sustainability information on 353 colleges click here.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Get Ready for Supply Chain Sustainability Guidance and Standards

Sustainability is a large and expanding trend and procurement has been a major part of this trend. Efforts to adopt more sustainable supply chains have been around for years. We now have ample information to confidently make the claim that businesses practicing sustainability are leading the way forward. Procurement and supply chains are key components of sustainability.

However, a lack of standardization and guidance have made this transition difficult for some. That is rapidly changing as we have seen more guidance and now forthcoming standardization.

President Obama has launched a major initiative to reduce greenhouse gases with an executive order related to the federal government's supply chain.

As revealed in an Environmental Leader article, public sector procurement accounts for around 12 percent of GDP and 29 percent of government expenditure in OECD member countries.

ISO standards, specifically ISO 20400, Sustainable procurement – Guidance will be published in 2017.

"ISO says because sustainable procurement is a key aspect of social responsibility, ISO 20400 will complement ISO 26000, Guidance on social responsibility, by enabling organizations to contribute to sustainable development efforts by minimizing their impact on the environment, tackling human rights issues and contributing to society and the economy."

The nonprofit Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council is also developing a Sustainable Purchasing Benchmarking System consistent with the ISO 20400. Sustainable Purchasing Council provides guidance on incorporating sustainability in procurement decisions.

In 2015 SPLC released its Guidance for Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing v1.0. This guidance has been field tested in a pilot program by a number of organizations including Lockheed Martin and Office Depot. SPLC will provide third party recognition for their procurement efforts.

The SPLC has previously released five principles for sustainability leadership which includes environmental, social and economic impacts of purchasing. The SPLC also released guidelines for suppliers of products and services.

Related
Obama Signs Executive Order to Reduce GHGs in the Federal Government and Across their Supply Chain
Sustainable Procurement: Environmental Social and Economic Supply Chain Considerations
How to Craft Value Out of Sustainability Focused Supply Chains
Supply Chain Advocacy to Advance Renewable Energy: The Story of E.ON
Winners of the 2013 Green Supply Chain Awards
Sustainable Supply Chain Transparency: Strategic Analysis and Best Practices
The Sustainable Supply Chain Imperative

Read More»

Space to Grow Wins the Green School Award for Collaboration

For their efforts to transform the urban schoolyard, Space to Grow, is the winner of the 2016 Best of Green Schools Awards in the Collaboration category.

Space to Grow transforms Chicago schoolyards into green spaces that provide students and their families and neighbors with a place to play, learn, garden and enjoy being outside. These schoolyards also help reduce flooding in the neighborhood through unique materials and designs that capture hundreds of thousands of gallons of rainwater and melting snow at each school.

Space to Grow is made possible through a collaboration between the Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands and with the financial support and expertise of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the Chicago Department of Water Management and Chicago Public Schools.
The Best of Green Schools Award for Collaboration is one of the most meaningful awards we could hope for Space to Grow to achieve, because collaboration has been such a powerful factor in its success. We’re honored to be recognized with this award and thrilled to be in the company of the other impressive winners.

This collaboration allows us to bring together diverse groups of people and leaders across different industries to accomplish goals that benefit our entire city. It’s an example of a whole that adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

Since its launch in 2014, Space to Grow’s three public agency partners have committed $51 million to transform 34 Chicago schoolyards by 2019; so far, six have been built and are open to students and their communities, and many more are under way. Just as important, Space to Grow is beginning to redefine the way we think about the potential of the schoolyards in our city.

Each schoolyard is designed with several goals in mind, which reflect the diverse aims of the collaborators:

Boosting physical activity and wellness. Schoolyards provide healthy, engaging places for students to be physically active before, during and after school.

Improving stormwater management and reducing neighborhood flooding. Special materials, surfaces and techniques—from rain gardens to permeable play surfaces—capture significant amounts of rain during the heaviest of storms.

Supporting learning. Outdoor classrooms, native trees and plants, vegetable gardens and even the stormwater capture techniques support opportunities for learning and exploration.

Engaging communities with local schools. The schoolyard transformation process engages students, parents and community members in developing the design and later in celebrations, gardening and more. Plus, schoolyards are open to the public and provide a welcoming space for physical activity and connection with nature.

We recently released the report Green Schoolyards: A Growing Movement Supporting Health, Education and Connection with Nature, based on the findings of the 2015 National Green Schoolyards Summit. This report documents the journeys and lessons of green schoolyard programs across the country, including Space to Grow. We’re encouraged by these stories and proud to be part of this movement. We are confident that these schoolyards and the innovative partnerships and new ideas that are a hallmark of all these models will significantly benefit our children, communities and environment.

We’re so honored for Space to Grow to be recognized with this award, and see it as a testament to the power of working together. The recognition reinforces the notion that such innovative partnerships are key to a future in which all students have access to the benefits of green schoolyards.

Source: USGBC

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

Related
Sustainable Educational Solutions from Sustainia
The Best of the 2016 Green Schools Honorees (Video)

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Event - Green Apple Day of Service (Video)

Green Apple Day of Service will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016. This event gives parents, teachers, students, companies and local organizations the opportunity to transform all schools into healthy, safe and productive learning environments through local service events. Since 2012, more than 750,000 volunteers in 73 countries have had an impact on the learning environments of 7 million students and teachers around the world. This year’s Green Apple Day of Service will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016. Be sure to check out event ideas, pick up helpful event resources, and register your event.


About Green Apple Day Of Service

With more than 700 million students worldwide and one sixth of all Americans entering a K-12 school building each day, there is no questioning the enormity and urgency of the task before us. Both the way we educate and the way we take care of the school environment send a tangible sign of a community’s willingness to provide an excellent and equitable education to all its students. Many of our schools simply send the wrong message: stuffy, poorly lit, overcrowded, and sometimes toxic environments unfit for learning. Poor air quality leads to more colds, flus and asthma attacks; deficient ventilation makes it difficult to focus and stay alert; inadequate lighting can cause headaches and disrupt sleep cycles; and bad acoustics render kids unable to hear lessons. When we educate a child, we choose the future we hope he or she creates. We choose a sustainable future, and so we must educate students to prepare them to create it—in a place that inspires them.

Our kids deserve better. Where they learn matters.

Green Apple gives individuals, companies and organizations the opportunity to transform all our schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient and productive learning places. About the Center for Green Schools

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) , the organization behind Green Apple Day of Service, was founded to ensure green schools for every child in this generation. The Center believes that all students deserve the opportunity to attend schools that sustain the world they live in, enhance their health and well-being, and prepare them for 21st century careers. The Center works with school decision makers, thought leaders, global corporations, and governing bodies to drive progress at the intersection of sustainability, education, public health, and the built environment.


To register click here.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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The Best of the 2016 Green Schools Honorees (Video)

At the top of their class: Shining a light on 2016 Best of Green Schools honorees Published on 1 Apr 2016 Written by Amanda Sawit Posted in Center for Green Schools

The Best of Green Schools awards were announced yesterday at the opening plenary of the Green Schools Conference and Expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a culmination of thoughtful planning, investment, collaboration and development efforts on the part of thousands of leaders, students and volunteers in the green schools movement.

This is the first year that the awards were co-presented by the Green Schools National Network and the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. It is an opportunity to shine a light on those who have truly exemplified what it means to be a green schools champion. The announcement also marks an exciting end to a huge month for the green schools movement, which recently saw the release of the State of Our Schools: American’s K-12 Facilities report, an in-depth analysis of funding for U.S. public school infrastructure.

“This year’s honorees are making huge strides in their schools and communities,” said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools. “Each ‘Best of’ designee is an inspiring example of innovation and passion in pursuit of schools that educate a generation of sustainability natives, students prepared to take the lead in the 21st century. Becoming a green school is a journey, not a destination; through their work, all of our honorees are blazing new trails in this movement to transform all schools into healthy, safe and inspired places for learning.”

The Best of Green Schools recognizes the people, schools, campuses and organizations instigating positive change to the status quo by creating healthier, sustainable and more efficient learning environments, as well as inspiring educational experiences.

“Each of the Best of Green Schools honorees plays an essential role in propelling the green schools movement forward and setting excellent examples of how to transform schools into healthy learning environments,” says Jennifer Seydel, executive director, Green Schools National Network. “As our movement advances, having such exemplary mentors and role models across the country will help us improve our work and drive our mission.”

The 2016 honorees go beyond modeling sustainable practices and have made green schools a part of their platform and legacy. Their efforts include amplifying students’ role in the green schools movement; serving as conduits for collaboration and facilitating partnerships between businesses, school districts and local agencies; and developing and implementing plans to improve eco-literacy, building performance, and health and well-being, among others. All embody the good that can come from a holistic approach to sustainability that focuses on balancing people, planet and prosperity.

Ambassador: Deborah Moore, Green Schools Initiative Business Leadership: Pauline Souza, WRNS Studio Partner and Director of Sustainability Collaborator: Space to Grow: Greening Chicago Schoolyards Higher Education Partner: Wings of Hope Environmental Education Program at Florida Gulf Coast University K–12 School: Environmental Charter Schools Moment for the Movement (tie): Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative Moment for the Movement (tie): Research Summit on Childhood Health and School Buildings Policymaker: Representative Chris Lee, Hawaii School System: Fayette County Public Schools Student Leadership: Hammond Junior High Magnet School Transformation: USGBC Louisiana Green Schools Initiative


Source: USGBC

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Green Business Award Winners in 2016 (Guardian and Environmental Leader)

Here is a summary of sustainable businesses, projects and individuals that are leading the way forward. As we teeter on the brink of tipping points, sustainability leadership is more important than ever. Awards that recognize the best companies, projects and individuals lead by example and serve as valuable models. In addition to well deserved recognition these efforts put sustainability on display, showcasing achievements that other businesses can follow. Here is a summary of green awards that have been handed out to businesses and individuals in the first half of 2016. This list includes Guardian's Sustainable Business Awards as well as Environmental Leaders Product and Project of the year awards.


Guardian 2016 Sustainable Business Awards

The sixth annual Guardian Sustainable Business Awards celebrate those organizations and individuals going above and beyond to tackle the global challenges we face. As explained by Environmental Leader:

"In the wake of the Paris climate talks and the launch of the global goals, 2016 is the year that businesses are ramping up their engagement with sustainability."

Bold move
Winner - Páramo
Runner up - Southern Water

Waste
Winner - Winnow
Runner up - Interface

Water
Winner - Innocent drinks

Finance for good
Winner - Social Stock Exchange
Runner up - Carbon Tracker Initiative

Supply chain
Winner - SABMiller
Runner up - Pennine Pack Ltd

Social impact
Winner - The University of Manchester
Runners up - Shared Interest Society and Neighbourly

Diversity and inclusion
Winner - Marcatus QED
Runner up - Microlink PC (UK) Ltd

Net positive
Winner - IKEA UK and Ireland
Runner up - Good Energy

Communicating sustainability
Winner - Climate-KIC
Runner up - CTC and Diva Creative Ltd

Collaboration
Winner - Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
Runner up - Falcon Coffees Limited

Carbon and energy management
Winner - Wyke Farms
Runner up - ENWORKS

Built environment
Winner - The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia
Runner up - XCO2 Energy

Startup of the year 
Winner - Winnow
Runner up - Guru Systems

Sustainable business leader of the year 
Paul Corcoran

Unsung sustainability hero of the year
Rachel Bradley

Click here for the full list.

Environmental Leader's 2016 Product & Project Awards

The fourth annual Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards, recognizes excellence in the fields of environmental sustainability and energy management. As explained by Environmental Leader:

"Each year since the inception of the Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards program, the range and quality of the entries has risen... The community of providers continues to address the rising demand for cost-effective solutions to address complex environmental, sustainability, and energy management challenges. And end-user organizations are becoming more creative in applying the available solutions to get real results."

Product of the Year Award winners:

3M: 3M Petrifilm Plates
AkzoNobel's Marine Coatings Business, International: Carbon Credits
Big Ass Solutions: Essence
Big Ass Solutions: Haiku Light
Bloomberg LP, The Water Risk Valuation Tool: Lee Ballin
DePuy Synthes, Companies of Johnson & Johnson: ATTUNE Knee System LOGICLOCK tibial Base
DePuy Synthes, Companies of Johnson & Johnson: Attune Knee INTUITION
Ecometrica: the Ecometrica Platform
Enablon: The Enablon Enterprise-Class Platform
FoundationFootprint: FoundationFootprint
GridPoint: GridPoint Energy Management System
Hilton Worldwide: LightStay
IHS: Repsol EMISphere
Lakeshore Recycling Systems: Lakeshore Recycling Systems Sustainable Business Model
Leidos: AMPLIFY Application Management Platform for Energy Efficiency Programs
Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Co. of America: Panasonic Vacuum Insulation Panel
Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc: HYDREX XV
Quantis: Life Cycle Perceptions Game
Rapport: Rapport
Source Intelligence: Supply Chain Compliance Tool
SunPower Corporation: Cradle to Cradle Certified SunPower E and X Series DC Panels
Thermo King, a brand of Ingersoll Rand: Thermo King Truck and Trailer Refrigeration Units in Europe
Thinkstep Compliance Limited: EC4P
Thinkstep Compliance Limited: BOMcheck Substances Declarations Web Database
Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand: CenTraVac Water Chiller Models CVHH and CDHH
Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand: Sintesis
UL EHS Sustainability: cr360
Urjanet: Urjanet Utility Data Service
Waste to Energy Partners: Bolder Black
WeNow: WeNowBox

Top Project of the Year Award winners:

ALDI Inc: ALDI Energy Management Systems, Siemens Rollout
AMD: 25 x 20 Energy Efficiency Initiative
Ameresco: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Arby's, Ecova, Powerhouse Dynamics and Weathermatic: How Arby's Leveraged Ecova and a Partnered Water Meter Solution to Save over 7M Gallons of Water
Caesars Entertainment: Enterprise Waste Diversion Project
Consumer Technology Association and National Cable & Telecommunications Association: Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvement to the Energy Efficiency of Set-Top Boxes
Domtar: Plymouth K-Lime
Dow Water & Process Solutions: Camp de Tarragona DEMOWARE Municipal Wastewater Reuse Project
General Motors: Chevrolet Volt Battery Secondary Reuse Project
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Energy Management Program
IHS: Repsol EMISphere
Jackson Family Wines: Tesla Stationary Energy Storage System
Leidos: Hawaii Energy Conservation and Efficiency Program
MillerCoors: MillerCoors Irwindale Brewery Solar Array
Timberland: Empowering Haitian Farmers through Tree Planting
United States Business Council for Sustainable Development: United States Materials Marketplace

Click here to download the full Awards Report.

Related
2016 Green Business Award Winners
2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders
2015-2016 Awards for Reporting on the Environment (SEJ)
The Best and the Worst Sustainability and Climate Stories in 2015 
2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders 
The Best of Green in 2015: Products, Projects, Leaders, Corporations, CEOs and Chemistry
The Top Sustainability Focused Innovations of 2015

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