On May 9, 2011, the FSBA Public Policy Committee signed on to a letter written by the American Sustainable Business Council to Senator Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter advocated support for limits on the billions of dollars oil companies receive in subsidies from the federal government. The full text of the letter can be found below. Continue reading »
On May 25, 2011, the FSBA Public Policy Committee sent a letter to Senator Mark Kirk urging him to vote against any bill or amendment that would reduce funding to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Committee’s letter focused on the tangible business interests that are inherently protected by a well-funded EPA. The full text of the letter to Senator Kirk is below. Continue reading »
On May 9, 2011, the FSBA Public Policy Committee signed on to a letter written by the American Sustainable Business Council to Senator Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter advocated support for limits on the billions of dollars oil companies receive in subsidies from the federal government. The full text of the letter can be found below.
With a wave of new aldermen taking seats in Chicago’s City Council, the FSBA Public Policy Committee is working to identify those supportive of sustainability issues. The committee envisions forming an informal caucus of these representatives with whom it might forge constructive working relationships towards mutually desirable goals.
The Public Policy Committee is continuing to research successful B-corp campaigns in other states, including Vermont and Maryland as well as working with the staff of B Lab, the organization behind the concept. The Public Policy Committee is working on building a large coalition of supporters over the summer with the aim of introducing legislation in the Illinois General Assembly in early 2012.
Making a business more sustainable isn’t just about adopting more environmentally friendly practices – it’s also about cultivating a more sustainable workforce. Chemical and cleaning supply manufacturer Portion Pac’s award-winning workplace prioritizes employee happiness and well-being. As a result, the company experiences minimal turnover. Many of their employees have been with the company for as many as 15 to 30 years! Continue reading »
The City of Chicago is hosting a series of Business Education Workshops on Wednesdays and Fridays during the month of May 2011.
All workshops are held at:
City of Chicago
Dept of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
City Hall
121 N LaSalle St, #805
Chicago, IL 60602
Space is limited, so reserve your attendance by calling (312) 744-5344.
See the topics and schedule here.
For those not able to attend the sold out Green Drinks-Business Edition last night, I wanted to provide a brief recap (below) of the observations shared. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first time that these 7 organizations collaborated on such an event, and that their leaders have appeared on the same “stage.” Our gratitude to them, and to all who attended, for a great event. A special thanks to ELPC for hosting in their space, and to Hannah’s Bretzel for providing delicious food. We look forward to the next edition on June 14.
As the Director of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability at ORA Dental Studio and ORA Oral Surgery and Implant Studio, Dr. Steven Koos has overseen the business’s plan for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). One important component of their CSR strategy is to create a healthy and sustainable environment for their workers. You might think a healthy workplace would be a foregone conclusion in an industry focused on meeting the health needs of patients, but too often, the healthcare industry contributes to “sick building syndrome,” where bio-accumulative toxins like lead, mercury, cadmium, PVC and DEHP-containing plastics, and others literally make workers sick. Continue reading »
Chicago’s City Council passed an ordinance establishing a “Chicago Green Business Certification” on April 13, 2011. The following is a personal comment from Foresight Executive Director Peter Nicholson that has not been endorsed by the FSBA Public Policy Committee:
Having been involved in the process that resulted in this ordinance since before its official inception three years ago, I was disappointed to see the Chicago Green Business Certification pass in City Council today. It potentially opens the door for citywide green washing, however unintentional. That said, the Foresight Sustainable Business Alliance looks forward to working with members of the incoming City Council to build upon this first step. We’ve been encouraged by the positive overtures that have already been made, and look forward to working together to craft a sustainable business policy that will position Chicago at the forefront of this important movement.