The case studies collected detail on each company’s journey from initial sustainability idea through building a comprehensive plan, establishing a new company culture, engaging stakeholders and planning for the future. Each chapter also provides the challenges encountered along with lessons learned. Here are a few of the companies that are discussed in the book; Eco-Products, Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder Outlook Hotel, Boulder Valley Credit Union, First Affirmative Financial Network and Guaranteed Recycling Xperts.

The book is now available for purchase from e-retailers such as Amazon.com and Google.com.

A Simple Path to Sustainability: Green Business Strategies for Small and Medium Sized Businesses (ISBN: 0-3133-8269-7). Edited by Fred Andreas, Elizabeth Cooperman, Blair Gifford and Graham Russell.  

Step 1: Procure Management Support

Before getting started on developing a sustainability plan, an organization must first prepare. Making sure you have the necessary data and support is essential before developing a sustainability plan. One of the very first steps is to procure management support.

It can’t be stressed enough, sustainability initiatives won’t happen unless you have top management support within an organization . It is important to not only educate management but also increase their involvement in the sustainability program. Make sure that the CEO and all top executives are on board to support a sustainability plan. This will require time from their staff along with consistent follow-through on sustainability initiatives. Ideally, management should be involved in the entire planning process, but at the very least should provide suggestions and input into the sustainability vision and objectives.

A good book for managers is Leading Change Toward Sustainability by Bob Doppelet, that discusses a methodology that manage rs can use to successfully lead their organizations to embrace sustainability.

1. Start with the cheapest option and encourage behavior change from employees such as turning off lights and computers and reducing waste in the office.
2. Automate when possible. If the behavior change is too difficult or cumbersome, automate the process such as with light sensors.
3. Don’t reinvent the wheel.  Review what other companies and competitors are doing. Go to Share Green for a free list of best practices.
4. Provide data to employees. Tracking and sharing data to employees has proven to have strong affect.
5. Be Innovative. The companies that move to solve the world’s problems will be prepared for the future.
6. Engage your employees. Give employees a base of knowledge on environmental issues and their implications for the business and their personal life.

I had the chance today to hear Bob Willard discussing his new book, The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook (New Society Publishers). The book is about leading organizations in the sustainability movement. He talks about the 7 Leadership practices essential for moving a company towards sustainability;

1. Get credible, stay credible: Leaders must establish their credibility and build trust with their group and/or organization.
2. Dialogue: Hone in on the communication skills and engage in thoughtful discussions. Be a good listener and be ready to hear about success and challenges.
3. Collaborate, educate, network: Encourage collaboration and education among employees.
4. Influence and influencers: Don’t do it alone, engage those individuals who have influence in an organization and seek their help, guidance and advocacy.
5. Meet them where they are: Don’t push the skeptics, meet them where they are and show how sustainability strategies are important to their job and the organization.
6. Piggyback existing initiatives: Create sustainability initiatives that align with current company goals and objectives.
7. Practice ‘planful opportunism’ : Engage senior leadership in the initiatives.

If you haven’t read it yet, I also suggest Bob’s book called the Sustainability Advantage where he discusses the business case for sustainability.

Daniel Goleman did a 20 minute interview with Bill Moyers that provides a nice overview of his book.