Oakland, CA — When we asked some of our partners and friends about their professional resolutions for the new year, we didn’t want to hear about exercise regimes or more time with family. That’s personal. We wanted to know what kinds of commitments — formal or informal — people were making in their companies.
What we found was that new year’s resolutions about one’s professional world can sound a lot like company mission statements. No matter. As they say, it’s all good. What’s notable amid these individuals’ commitments is that it promises more of the same — with the emphasis on “more.” That bodes well that 2010 will continue to build on 2009, 2008, and all the other years in continually growing and improving companies’ green capabilities and business propositions..
As for us: We resolve to continue to improve the quantity and quality of information we bring you every working day, as well as learning opportunities to help companies of all sizes and sectors integrate environmental responsibility into their operations in a manner that supports profitable business practices.
Hey, isn’t that our mission statement?
Michael Meehan, President & CEO, Carbonetworks
Our green resolution this year is simply to help as many companies as possible achieve their sustainability and reduction goals, and reduce the global environmental impact of business through our software.
Jeff Rehm, Sustainability Manager, Grainger
Grainger is determined to set a new MRO [Maintenance, Repair and Operational] standard for sustainable, environmentally safe operations. We are constantly looking for ways to use resources wisely and reduce our impact on the environment and are laser focused on continuing to help our customers do the same by finding ways to offer the best solutions to help them achieve their sustainability goals. In addition, expanding our partnerships with organizations like the US Green Building Council, Energy Star, GreenBiz.com and others will be key to helping Grainger meet our customers' needs.
Andrew Shapiro, Founder and President, GreenOrder
Our 2010 resolution is to challenge business leaders to make environmental innovation an integrated part of their corporate culture. The Great Recession separated green hype from reality and showed that sustainability is a complex management challenge that requires strong leadership and measurable, enterprise-wide action over years. It’s less about changing lightbulbs or other quick fixes than it is about changing mindsets and inspiring new thinking. Companies that get this will rebound from the recession with better products, improved reputations, stronger performance — and great prospects for the long term.
Amit Chatterjee, CEO and Founder, Hara Software
To continue empowering companies and municipalities to turn their carbon liability into competitive advantage by enabling auditable visibility and control of their total energy and environmental footprint. Our mission for 2010 is to lead in helping companies increase operational efficiency, maximize shareholder value and mitigate risk, enabling them to grow and profit while optimizing natural resource and energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact.
Adam Lowry, Co-Founder and Chief Greenskeeper, Method
Integration. Most green businesses focus on the low-hanging fruit: dematerializing, getting more energy efficient. The real breakthroughs in sustainability will come not from efficiency, but rethinking and redesigning everything we do. Accomplishing this requires teaching every individual in a business how to think differently, how to design, and how to make sustainability part of what they do. It's a fascinating challenge, and I can't wait to tackle it.
Dennis Salazar, President, Salazar Packaging, Inc.
To become best friends with our banker. It is not easy funding a fast-growing green company when most bankers have deep pockets and short arms, but that is the reality most small to midsize businesses like us have to deal with. We anticipate 2010 to be a terrific year for us but developing relationships and educating the people we enjoy professional relationships with like our banker, are every bit as important as the relationships we develop with our prospective customers.
Brandi McManus, Vice President of Energy Solutions, Schneider Electric
My green business resolution for 2010 is to educate others on the realities of climate change, not only the overwhelming scientific evidence, but also the impacts that changing legislation will bring. Some impacts are positive and easy to predict; for example, energy-efficiency rebates for our homes and buildings and decreased energy bills through conservation. Other impacts will be more difficult to predict such as rising energy prices, renewable energy strategies and smart grid.
Albe Zakes, Vice President of Media Relations, TerraCycle, Inc.
I have two. One: To continue to find new ways to reuse materials others have long dismissed as waste or too “difficult to recycle.” Two: To continue to make sustainable, responsible products more affordable and more available in mass markets and lower economic classes. Organic, non-toxic, safe, sustainable, recycled — these attributes are the right of every consumer, not just those who are more well-off.