Tiered Performance-Based Environmental Leadership Programs

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Tiered Performance-Based Environmental Leadership
Programs Georgias Approach
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Partnership for a Sustainable GA

• State performance-based environmental leadership
  program
• Fosters environmental leadership by
• Recognizing superior environmental performance
• Providing real bottom-line business benefits and
  FREE technical assistance
• Encouraging social responsibility, community
  involvement, and good corporate citizenship

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Program Inception - 2003

• Born out of traditional sector-focused P2 program
  10 years of hit and miss results
• Saw that EMS might lead to more sustainable
  results program must be about relationships
• Program philosophy
• Provide resources to help companies improve
  performance
• Provide models at the top, but on ramp for the
  rest
• Transparency and accountability key Advisory
  Panel keep us on track

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Partnership Structure
4 levels
3 tracks

• Aligned with EPA Performance Track
• Based on ISO 14001 EMS framework, with additional
  community outreach, supply chain and mentoring
  requirements

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Our Approach to Tiers

• Four Levels
• Champion Advocates (annual renewal)
• Bronze System planning
• Silver System implementation (stepping stone to
  PT)
• Blue Beyond EMS towards sustainability (PT plus)

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Program Tiers Within Sample
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Growth to 180 Partners
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Partners by Business Size
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Responding to Small Business

• New tracks launched in 2007 - 2008
• Received 30 SOT Track applications in first year
  of track
• Uses P2ADs award-winning Sustainable Office
  Toolkit as a platform for a stealth EMS (vs.
  ISO 14001)
• Better fit for smaller businesses, particularly
  those with office-based operations
• AgTrack re-launched in late 2008 using modified
  SOT platform

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Moving Towards Sustainability
At the end of the first 3-year enrollment terms
and 5 Champions made commitments at the Bronze
Level
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Cumulative Impact
Since the programs inception, Partners have
reported to us cumulative savings of

• 909 million gallons of water
• 75 million kWh of electricity
• 15,000 tons of total solid waste
• 1,500 tons of NOx
• 200 tons of VOCs
• 60 tons of hazardous waste
• 28,000 tons of recycled materials increased
  (feedstock)

Reported by 14 Silver/Gold Partners who saw
cumulative savings through 2007
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Challenges

• Bronze resources
• 86 Bronze 86 Silver
• How much quality hand-holding can we provide 86
  (or 100or 200) Partners who need help?
• How can we better engage top 26 Partners to
  extend a hand to the 86?
• Progression policy
• Rigid to maintain program integrity?
• Flexible to commit to helping Partners facing
  legitimate challenges?
• Level equity for different tracks
• Leveraging PT synergies 15 common members
• 10 PT ? PSG
• 4 PSG ? PT
• 3 simultaneous applications

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Recommendations

• On ramp requires significant resources, but
  necessary
• Consider an advocate level let them market for
  you
• Embed requirement that top tier members assist
  lower tier members
• One size doesnt fit all help translate
  continual improvement model into many languages
• Leave yourself room to grow as a program

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Questions?

• www.p2ad.org
• Suzanne Burnes
• 404-657-5686
• suzanne.burnes_at_p2ad.org