US BCSD operating activities are organized under five primary focus areas, which provide a structural framework for our operations.  This five areas respond directly to our members’ most important sustainability goals, industry drivers, and growing environmental pressures.

As a core component of these focus areas, the US BCSD provides members with the opportunity to participate in authentic sustainability projects with industry, governmental and other key stakeholders. The projects generate economic returns while improving the environment and society – the triple bottom line. Members find that participating in our projects raises a company’s sustainability profile and credibility, opening doors to new relationships with other companies, government agencies, NGOs and non-profits.

By-Product Synergy

BPS is the matching of wastes and under-valued resources at one facility with potential users at another – the results include reductions in operating costs, improved environmental performance, increases in energy efficiency, reductions in CO2 emissions, and job creation and retention. The US BCSD’s approach to BPS results in quantifiable economic, environmental and societal benefits for not only the participating companies and organizations but also the communities in which the project located.

The US BCSD currently has six active synergy projects around the country – in Seattle, Chicago, Ohio, Kansas City, Houston, and Mobile. By 2015, our goal is to have robust, ongoing synergy programs in 20 cities, delivering on 5 million tons of CO2 equivalent reduction, 5 million tons of landfill diverted and 2,500 jobs created. Visit BPS-Hub – our website dedicated to BPS and our growing network of projects to learn more…

Business, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The Business, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services focus area was formed in direct response to the overwhelming importance of ecosystem services, and their direct value to business. The global community should view better protection of biodiversity as a prudent and cost-effective investment in risk-avoidance. The working group will pursue educational and operational activities to enhance business understanding of these critical values.  Read more…

Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing

Companies and local governments across the country are faced with the challenge of reducing energy consumption within their communities and encouraging sustainability. The most direct way to cut consumption is to reduce energy demand by improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings, related equipment and operating processes and practices. Buildings worldwide account for an astounding 40% of global energy consumption. In terms of commercial and industrial operations, the challenge is to create ways to enable consumers to invest in efficiency improvements in addition to approaches that may have a faster rate of return on investment. The US BCSD, in coordination with Ygrene Energy Fund and Barclays Capital, has developed a solution to this problem that can be achieved using 100% private capital at no cost to local, state or federal government.  Read more…

US-China EcoPartnership

The US BCSD has extended its efforts beyond U.S. borders as one of six groups nationwide participating in the US Department of State’s U.S.-China EcoPartnerships Program. This EcoPartnership, which strengthens an existing bi-national partnership between the US BCSD and China Business Council for Sustainable Development (CBCSD), will tackle energy and environmental challenges facing both countries.  Read more…

Water

While there is recognition that water management challenges are best addressed locally, there are not many forums where business leaders can come together to participate in focused interactions to identify water management issues, share best practices across industries, identify practical solutions and work together to implement them. This focus area creates a project model to provide that forum in regions across the US.  Read more…