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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, B.C. 20460
202 260-6135
www.epa.gov/partners
) Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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Partners for the
Environment:
Roosting Your Bottom T ine
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Contents
Introduction 2
Drive Down Costs—and Boost Your Profits 5
Gain Recognition—and Boost Your Image 8
Take Action—and Boost Your Performance 11
Become a Partner—and Boost Your Bottom Line 14
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Introduct
>- Businesses just like yours are boosting their bottom lines
through improved environmental performance. They're finding that protecting
the environment doesn't have to come at the expense of profits. On the con-
trary, cleaner, leaner operations really pay off.
By making improvements that optimize performance, companies are cutting
costs, adding value, and increasing market share. That's why many compa-
nies—perhaps your competitors—have come to view environmental manage-
ment as a fundamental part of smart business strategy They're protecting the
environment and gaining competitive advantages as a result.
You can do the same, and the good news is you don't have to spend valuable
time or money learning how. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers
a variety of programs, known collectively as Partners for the Environment, that
help organizations make improvements that are good for business and the envi-
ronment. They're designed to help you apply ideas and practices that can pro-
duce environmental results more quickly and cost-effectively
Whether you're in manufacturing, retail, transportation, agriculture, or a service
industry, at least one of EPAs partnership programs should suit your needs. From
ENERGY STAR to AgStar, from Waste Wise to Climate Wise, you can choose from
more than 20 partnership programs that address issues such as energy efficiency,
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
ion
air quality, waste reduction, or water conservation. In addition, EPA regional
offices offer partnership programs that address specific regional priorities.
More than 7,000 organizations have stepped forward to become a Partner for
the Environment. Some participate in one program while others participate in
several. What does joining actually entail? For many programs, the process
works like this. A company contacts EPA to find out how a program works and
how it's beneficial. Once they see the value and decide to join, the company
signs a partnership agreement. This agreement isn't legally binding, but it does
lay out steps the company will take to pursue environmental improvements.
These actions might include conducting a self audit to assess water and energy
use, installing more efficient equipment, and reporting on progress. Other pro-
grams take a different tact. Rather than "signing up," companies become part-
ners by working with EPA on technical or policy issues.
"Limited resources—technical, financial, and physical—are a fact of life
in business, industry, and government. [Voluntary programs help us]
make the best use of limited resources, to the benefit of our employees,
customers, community, and shareholders."
T. Halliburton Wood, Environmental Manager
Johnston Industries
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Exactly what can a company expect from becoming a Partner for the
Environment? Along with improving environmental performance, an opportuni-
ty to gain:
• Cost savings. Programs are designed to help companies cut waste and
increase efficiency and productivity
• Public recognition. Many partnership programs offer awards, logos, and
other distinctions that can be used for marketing purposes.
• Technical assistance. Valuable tools, information, and peer networking
opportunities are available to help partners develop environmental strategies
that work best for them.
Isn't it time you looked into these benefits, too? The following sections offer
more information about partnership programs and how they're helping compa-
nies gain competitive advantages in an increasingly competitive business world.
Last year, our partners collectively saved $3.3 billion!
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Drive Down Costs—
and Boost Your Profits
>• You're interested in cutting costs without sacrificing service or
quality. So are the companies that have become Partners for the Environment. How?
By making improvements that allowed them to reduce 7.8 million tons of solid
waste, conserve 1.8 billion gallons of water, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions
equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the road.
For example, Herman Miller, an international manufacturer of office furniture,
found significant savings through the Waste Wise program. This program helps
companies reduce solid waste and material use. The company reduced its use of
packaging material for finished goods by 50 percent and eliminated 500,000
pounds of wood pallets and close to 1 million pounds of corrugated boxes.
These improvements are saving $4 million a year.
For small companies, savings on
a more modest scale can be just
as important. Vegetation
Managers, Inc., a business that
maintains right-of-way property
for utilities, saves close to
$2,000 annually based on a
simple change they made
after joining the Pesticide
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"Waste in any form is lost profits. Maximizing efficiency
through reducing our waste stream is not only good for
the environment—it's good for our bottom line as well."
Nancy Hirshberg, Director of Natural Resources
Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
Environmental Stewardship Program. The company began using returnable-
refillable pesticide containers. Now, they have less waste to manage, and con-
cerns about disposing contaminated packaging have all but disappeared.
Similarly, Centerplex, a small business located in Seattle, found that energy efficiency
helped cut its annual energy bill in half! By switching to more energy efficient prod-
ucts, the company is saving $23,000 and preventing more than 465,000 pounds of
greenhouse gas emissions a year. Centerplex estimates it was able to recover the cost
of this environmentally and economically sound investment in only 18 months.
Companies are also achieving cost-savings by fundamentally rethinking the
design and production of existing products. The Design for the Environment
(DIE) Program develops and provides businesses with information about more
environmentally preferable processes or technologies. For example, with tradi-
See What You've Been Missing
When Boeing joined the Green Lights program to
improve their lighting efficiency, they were able to reduce
energy consumption by 200 million kilowatt hours a
year. This move cut their annual operating costs by $ 12
million, but it also provided another unexpected bene-
fit—better quality products. The new lighting in one
building boosted the defect detection rate by 20 percent.
•
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tional methods, printed wiring board (PWB) manufacturers use toxic chemicals
that pose potential health and environmental risks, generate large volumes of
hazardous waste, and use substantial amounts of water and energy. The PWB
industry worked with EPAs DIE Program to examine ways to reduce or elimi-
nate these impacts. As a result, this industry achieved significant environmental
improvements, including the reduction of 240,000 pounds of formaldehyde
and savings of 400 million gallons of water and 4.4 million kilowatt hours a
year, as manufacturers switched to cleaner technologies. As one
partner said, "Participating...helps individual companies man-
age their environmental affairs, and it reduces the potential
health and environmental impacts of their businesses,
materials, regulatory compliance costs, and liabilities
—all of which serve to increase competitiveness."
Consider New Alternatives
Lucent Technologies found it could save approximately $100,000 a year on fuel
bills at its Columbus, Ohio plant by using captured landfill gas instead of fossil fuels
to power boiler operations. This approach was developed through EPAs Landfill
Methane Outreach Program. Along with saving the company money, Lucent's new
fuel source is good for the environment, too—the reduction in green house gas
emissions is equivalent to taking more than 23,000 cars off the road each year.
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Gain Recognition-
and Boost Your Image
>- Are awards and other forms of public recognition for envi-
ronmental performance valuable to companies? Recent surveys suggest they
are. According to the Conference Board, an international business membership
and research organization, almost 80 percent of senior environmental, health,
and safety (EH&S) executives predict that their companies'
global EH&S reputation among stakeholders will
become more crucial to their bottom line in the
next 5 years. Another survey, by market-
ing analysis firm Walker Research, found
that more than three out of four customers
avoid businesses that have an irresponsible cor-
porate environmental attitude.
"Participating in EPA's voluntary programs is good for us not only
because of the cost-savings, but also for the way it reflects
positively on our corporate image."
Scott Seydel, Chief Executive Officer
The Seydel Companies
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Enjoy Recognition
Brian Olson, owner of the 45th Avenue Cleaners in
Portland, Oregon, knows first hand how public recognition
for environmental achievements can have a positive impact
on business. Since his dry cleaning operation received EPA Region 10s
Evergreen Award for Pollution Prevention, Olson has seen a tremendous
increase in the volume of customers he services. By adopting a "reduce, reuse,
and recycle" mindset, the company has reduced solvent use by 80 percent and
solvent waste by more than 60 percent and virtually eliminated wastewater dis-
charges. Along with EPA, recognition has come from other sources; shortly after
EPAs award, the National Waste Prevention Coalition named 45th Avenue
Cleaners to its list of the top 15 dry cleaning operations in the country.
Recognizing its potential value, many partnership
programs offer recognition, such as national
awards for exceptional performance. These
awards typically generate positive press cov-
erage for winners. And over the long term,
they're often used as a basis for highlighting
environmental commitment and achievement in cor-
porate communications. Past winners, such as IBM,
Dupont, and Dow, for example, feature their awards on their Web sites.
Logos that can help companies distinguish their products in the market place
provide another form of valuable recognition. The Energy Star program for
example, offers a logo for placement on computers and other appliances that
meet energy efficiency criteria. This distinction sends a signal to consumers
and can be influential in purchasing decisions. A survey conducted by the
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy showed that 80 percent of
consumers concerned about energy efficiency are familiar with EPAs Energy Star
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
10
logo, and 43 percent of consumers say they have looked for the Energy Star
logo when purchasing a product.
In addition to sharpening a company's image externally receiving recognition can
be helpful internally too. In 1999, Carrier Corporation, a manufacturer of heat-
ing, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, received an award from the
Waste Wise program for its waste reduction efforts. Company spokesperson Angie
Scafidi commented that "the award helps me justify Carriers waste management
and recycling program to top management." She also noted the awards value in
helping to boost employees' corporate pride and sense of accomplishment.
"Numerous case studies show that companies leading the
way in implementing changes that help protect the envi-
ronment tend to gain disproportionate advantage, while
companies perceived as irresponsible lose their franchise,
their legitimacy, and their shirts."
Amory B. Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken,
Authors of "A Road Map for Natural Capitalism," in
the May-June 1999 Harvard Business Review.
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Take Action—and
Boost Your Performance
>- Are you concerned that your environmental staff is already
overloaded? Or maybe that you don't have an environmental staff? Don't
worry. No matter how large or small your company, Partners for the
Environment provides products and services that can help you uncover cost
effective strategies for improving environmental performance.
Many programs offer reference documents that provide step-by-step guidance
for making improvements. If you're in the natural gas industry for example,
you can reach for the Natural Gas STAR
Programs Implementation Road Map
to answer questions about reducing
greenhouse gas and methane emis-
sions. This handy document
includes practical "Lessons Learned"
that highlight industry-specific best
management practices to assist par-
ticipants in determining if these
practices could help them, too.
Partners can also attend
forums to receive and share
information. These include
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"With cooperative voluntary programs, EPA functions
as a true leader in assisting companies [like Radio
Flyer] to fulfill tlieir mission and achieve a healthier
and safer environment for our children."
Paul Pasin, Vice President of Manufacturing
Radio Flyer
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free workshops and technology demonstrations as well as networking opportu-
nities among peers. After all, who better to learn from than colleagues who've
faced similar production and management challenges? Recently more than 500
companies had a chance to network on the air when they tuned in to a national
Waste Wise teleconference to learn about the value of buying recycled goods
and participating in the Waste Wise program.
Some programs also provide specialized software for tracking environmental per-
formance. The Climate Wise Program, for example, works with companies to turn
Find Hidden Costs
While environmental accounting methodologies can help
managers understand the cost of producing an existing prod-
uct, they can also be helpful to managers making decisions
about new ones. Like many companies, Chrysler, Inc. is put-
ting this tool to work to improve business decision-making.
They've performed analyses when selecting hundreds of com-
ponents used in producing new vehicles. Should we choose
the mercury free light switch? the all-plastic oil filter? the lead
free electrocoating process? These decisions became easier
once Chrysler understood the true costs and benefits associ-
ated with their choices.
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Set and Achieve Higher Goals
The American Portland Cement Alliance (APCA), whose members produce 60
percent of U.S. cement, has found Climate Wise to be an excellent partnership
for improving environmental management in their industry. APCA joined
Climate Wise to develop energy efficiency and pollution prevention goals as
part of a comprehensive environmental management strategy for their industry.
The industry received tools and assistance specific to their operations. As a
result of their members' improvements, in the coming year they expect to save
$2.3 million and prevent 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
energy efficiency and environmental improvement into corporate assets.
The multimedia tracking software offered by the program allows compa-
nies to monitor and report on a variety of environmental factors, includ-
ing energy and water use. One Climate Wise partner, Johnson and
Johnson, estimates its efforts to track and improve energy efficiency is
saving $2.6 million a year. They cut energy use by 8 percent during a
period when production soared by 330 percent!
Better accounting methods are offered by the Environmental
Accounting Project. This program was designed to help business-
es understand the value of preventing pollution by first enabling
them to understand the true cost of providing a good or service.
For example, S.C.Johnson, a specialty chemical product manufacturer,
used environmental accounting methodologies to analyze the costs associated
with producing and selling one of its pesticide products. The analysis revealed
costs associated with product registration, research and development, safety
actions, and other activities that had never before factored into previous cost
estimates. Such revelations can help managers understand the importance of
prevention and begin to incorporate environmental considerations more fully
into decision-making.
Remember, these and other products and services are available to partners at no
cost. Isn't it time you consider putting them to use in your organization?
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PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Become a Partner—and
Boost Your Bottom Line
14
>- What's left to think about? Becoming a Partner for the
Environment can be a smart business decision. There are a variety of programs
and services available to help optimize performance, improve environmental
results, and meet customer expectations—which ones are right for you?
To find out more, visit the Partners for the Environment Web site at
www.epa.gov/partners, call Partners for the
Environment at 202 260-6135,
or contact one of the individual
partnership programs listed in thi
brochure. There's nothing to lose
but, as current partners already
know, a whole lot to gain!
"It is encouraging to see what can be accomplished when both EPA and
the private sector come together on a voluntary basis."
Tracy L. Pope, Environmental Safety Officer
Schlegel Corporation
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Partners for the Environment: Current Programs
Adopt Your Watershed
Encourages and facilitates citizen involvement
in local watershed protection activities.
202 260-1956 (800 832-7828)
www.epa.gov/adopt
AgStar
Promotes cost-effective methods for reducing
methane emissions at dairy and swine opera-
tions through improved manure manage-
ment. 800-95AGSTAR (800 952-4782).
www.epa.gov/agstar
Climate Wise
Reduces industrial greenhouse gas emissions
and energy costs through comprehensive pol-
lution prevention and energy efficiency pro-
grams. 202 260-4407 (800 459-WISE).
ww.epa.gov/dimatewise
Coalbed Methane Outreach
Encourages profitable recovery and use of
methane liberated from coal mines by help-
ing identify viable technologies, markets, and
finance sources. 202 564-9468.
www.epa.gov/coalbed
Consumer Labeling Initiative
Makes health, safety, and environmental
information on household product labels
easier for people to find, read, understand,
and use, and encourages people to "Read the
label first!" before buying, using, or dispos-
ing of products. 202 260-7768.
www.epa.gov/oppintr/labeling
Design for the Environment
Helps business incorporate environmental
considerations into the design of products,
processes, and technical management sys-
tems. 202 260-1678. www.epa.gov/dfe
Energy Star
Maximizes energy efficiency in commercial,
industrial, and residential settings by pro-
moting new building and product design and
practices. 888 STAR-YES (782-7937).
www.epa.gov/energystar
Environmental Accounting
Increases business understanding of environ-
mental costs and incorporation of these costs
into routine operations. 202 260-3844.
www.epa.gov/oppintr/acctr
Environmental Technology Verification
Verifies the performance of innovative tech-
nologies to accelerate entrance into the mar-
ketplace. 202 564-3212. www.epa.gov/etv
Green Chemistry
Promotes the design of chemical products
and processes that reduce or eliminate the
use and generation of hazardous substances.
202 260-3960.www.epa.gov/dfe/greenchem
Indoor Air Quality
Promotes simple, low-cost methods for
reducing indoor air quality risks.
202 564-9733. www.epa.gov/iaq
Landfill Methane Outreach Program
Reduces methane emissions from landfills
by installing products to capture gases and
produce electricity, steam, or boiler fuel.
202 564-9797. www.epa.gov/lmop
Natural Gas STAR
Encourages natural gas industry to reduce
methane emissions through the implemen-
tation of cost-effective technologies and
best management practices. 202 564-9736.
www.epa.gov/gasstar
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
Program
Promotes integrated pest management and
pesticide risk reduction in agricultural and
nonagricultural settings. 800 972-7717.
www.pesp.org
Ruminant Livestock Efficiency
Reduces methane emissions from ruminant
livestock operations. 202-564-9043.
www.epa.gov/rlep
State and Local Outreach
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from
states and local communities by empower-
ing officials with information and technical
assistance. 202 260-4314.
www.epa.gov/globalwarming
Voluntary Aluminum Industrial
Partnership
Reduces perflouorocarbon gas emissions
from aluminum smelting. 202 564-9044.
www.epa.gov/vaip
Waste Minimization National Plan
Reduces persistent, bioaccumulative, and
toxic chemicals in hazardous waste.
703 308-8489. www.epa.gov/wastemin
WasteWise
Encourages business, government, and insti-
tutional partners to reduce municipal solid
waste through waste prevention, recycling,
and buying/manufacturing products with
recycled content. 703 308-8755 (800 ERA-
WISE). www.epa.gov/wastewise
WAVE (Water Alliances for Voluntary
Efficiency)
Promotes water efficiency in hotels, schools,
universities, and office buildings. 202 260-
7288. www.epa.gov/owm/genwave
P
;artners
for the
vironment
Information about regional programs is available on the Partners for the Environment Web site.
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