Strive Towards Sustainability Workshops

WasteCap Nebraska initiated a new program this January called Strive Towards Sustainability (STS).  The goals of the program are to create a network of businesses that are integrating tangible sustainability actions into their operations, educate the general public on key sustainability issues and provide a guided sustainability standard that is easily recognizable and understood.

It is useful for organizations that want to increase their sustainable business practices and earn recognition for their existing and future efforts.  It starts with a half-day workshop and provides a great educational experience for green teams as well as a marketing tool for organizations.  Participants leave the workshop with a better understanding of the scope of sustainability, new tools and methods for selecting and managing projects, and fact sheets containing ideas.

At the center of the program is an assessment that determines the current state of sustainability of the organization in nine key areas:

  • • Management
  • • Purchasing
  • • Energy
  • • Transportation
  • • Waste
  • • Facilities
  • • Employees
  • • Customers
  • • Community

 

A web profile is created for the organization based on the assessment.  Badges are earned where current achievements meet the assessment standard for sustainability.  Eco-seals are awarded when a sufficient number of badges have been earned.  Organizations benefit by creating a centralized record of sustainability achievements that can be shared with employees, customers, investors, supply chain and other stakeholders.  The web profile is placed on WasteCap Nebraska’s web site and provided to the participating organization to be used as they wish.

The first STS workshop was held in January, attended by State Farm, Tenneco, Ayars & Ayars and Energy Pro 2020 in Lincoln.  Here’s what they said:

“Gave me a complete way to maximize our company’s effectiveness in our industry and our community.”

“Very helpful to me to advance in my job.”

“I know this day has got me excited again.  I’ve been pretty burnt out lately on the whole green thing.  Thank you!”

“Gave me/us a great start to beginning our process.”

A second workshop was held in April.  Lincoln Electric System, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Kaplan University and Assurity Life Insurance Company participated. To view web profiles completed by participating businesses, visit www.wastecapne.org/sts/.

WasteCap's Mission Statement

Our Mission: To partner business leaders to implement resource conservation strategies that improve profitability, community goodwill and employee pride.