Quick caveat: The Starbucks in the West Building had no line this morning. Things have changed since this afternoon. I'd like to think it's due to my post alerting our thousands of green building readers to its location. So, there's a line now. I've forewarned you.
The Corporate Sustainability session this morning was great! I will go to any session that has Harvey Bernstein from McGraw Hill Construction speaking. He always rolls out great statistics. This morning he shared with us the 2009 Greening of Corporate America SmartMarket Report and compared the numbers to the 2006 report of the same name. Very exciting stuff...
61% of polled big corporations have staff dedicated to sustainability issues.
In 2006, only 16% of companies considered themselves to be on the cutting edge of corporate sustainability, incorporating green issues into their procurement and annual reports. In 2009, this number had increased to 30%. More importantly, innovative firms that incorporate sustainability into the fiber of their companies increased from 2% to 7% this year. Remember, these are big corporations... Fortune 500s. The firms that can enact positive change on a global level when they make a move.
This year, 50% of polled companies offer green products and cite that resource-saving features of those products.
Energy savings and customer needs are the primary drivers to these initiatives.
In 2006, 31% of CEOs believed that sustainability would provide market differentiation. This year, that number is up to 61%.
Food for thought. It's encouraging to see larger organizations making sweeping change but remember that small business has the power in numbers to enact similar change. When I compared the sustainability initiatives of companies like Siemens, Owens Corning, and CB Richard Ellis with the initiatives of Breaking Ground, I was satisfied to see that our small business is, and had many years ago, incorporated similar initiatives and measurables. Many of our initiatives are loftier and and far more audacious.
My point is that big companies SHOULD be making sweeping change. They have the resources and people to make it happen. What can small business do today to affect change? Think about what Breaking Ground has done.... What can YOU do?
Challenge your people. Challenge yourself.
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