"The sky is still blue, the grass is still green and I've been doing things this way for years." This phrase, and its variations, signal one of the biggest challenges a sustainability professional will encounter. Before you can develop programs, train individuals or create a business plan to implement sustainability goals, you have to get to the root of an issue: culture.

The 10-county region of Northeast Indiana is a picture of classic America, full of great people with strong values and solid work ethics. Its population is nearly 700,000 and covers a wide range of economic and social backgrounds. Electricity and utility costs are below the national average. We experience all four seasons, each of a reasonable length.

The second largest city in the state, Fort Wayne, is in our region; so are three large rivers. Fort Wayne has received numerous awards such as Tree City USA, Green Community, All-America City and others that give its citizens a deserved and well-earned sense of pride.

Old-fashioned values meet new situations

When no problems are witnessed firsthand and citizens are full of pride, it's harder to involve the population in sustainability programs. More important, how do you relate to a business that integrating sustainability practices into its operations is beneficial to its bottom line? In 2010, the Northeast Indiana Sustainable Business Council was created to run a program called Bright Green Business, originally started under the City of Fort Wayne under a different title.

The NISBC trains businesses on sustainability concepts and provides them with ideas on specific action steps and projects that will enable them to use the program in their business. NISBC members are not only businesses, but also nonprofits, faith-based organizations and government entities. The NISBC comes by this diversity naturally: It was created by government, nonprofit, education and for-profit organizations. Founders include the City of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Metals, Hagerman Construction, A. Hattersley & Sons, Indiana Tech, Lincoln Financial, Rothberg Logan & Warsco, Parkview Hospital, Transformations Furniture and the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne.

The BGB program provides businesses with tools and resources to aid them in reducing costs and sustaining an eco-friendly business. The NISBC also helps connect members to each other through share sessions, tours, trainings and networking events held in the various counties. Members are instructed to focus on seven key areas: pollution prevention, solid waste reduction, water conservation, energy conservation, life cycle analysis, community outreach and employee wellness.

"Changing the culture of Northeast Indiana is still a work in progress, as the NISBC continues to reach out to other businesses and share information we are hopeful others will begin their journey into sustainability," said Paul Eggelston, Lincoln Financial Group facilities director and president of the NISBC.

The NISBC runs into cultural roadblocks all the time due to lack of awareness and perceived call to action. Businesses and individuals don't see the need to do anything or help, and no one is asking them to step up. Unsure how one person or business can make an impact, they just keep doing things the same way until they're made aware that there are better ways.

The benefits of cultural change

Pointing out the benefits of others' actions and highlighting how the actions positively affected their bottom line helps the NISBC build interest for sustainability. After NISBC certified member Summit Brands/Pro Products calculated the costs and benefits of its sustainability initiative, the cleaning product manufacturer discovered a significant savings over four years.

The company uses a program called AIM (All Ideas Matter) to generate new solutions or processes from its employees to address issues regarding waste: air, water, solids, toxics and energy.

"Our sustainability initiatives have been recognized by our main customers, helping us stay competitive. We have expanded our sustainability down through our Tier I supply chain — our hopes are for them to cut costs and pass this on to us — which also helps us stay competitive. We have reduced packaging (concentrating products and displays) that have in turn reduced costs," said Kristin Eby, regulatory and sustainability specialist for Summit Brands/Pro Products.

According to Eby, if Summit Brands included non-value added work as waste (streamlining processes for better efficiency), the company has generated very substantial savings through employee-generated ideas.

In addition to integrating sustainability into its operations, Summit Brands soon will experience more savings by consolidating its distribution center and production center into one location, an energy-efficient building, and seeking LEED certification.

Cultural change starts at the top and Summit Brands is a good example, thanks to its owner and CEO, Joel Harter. Harter is leading the sustainability effort of the company, helping to drive significant cultural change. Since 2010, the company has obtained ISO 14001 EMS Certification, developed and implemented sustainability goals and achieved Design for the Environment Certification for some of its cleaning products. "Joel encourages us to be innovative with our products through the use of green chemistry, which is safer for consumers and the environment," said Eby.

Harter said, "Not only is this the right thing to do by taking a responsible business approach, but we are experiencing real cost savings and marketing opportunities to help stay competitive."

Collaboration for — and recognition of — regional success

Eby and other NISBC members share their stories at NISBC events and through articles found in the NISBC's quarterly newsletter. Having a network of business-to-business interactions on a specific area helps increase knowledge on the subject and provides a system of reliable resources to help businesses along the way. Collaboration is also key to successful integration and cultural shifts. This is why the NISBC has partnered with its local USGBC chapter and other businesses for events and trainings.

Most recently, the NISBC joined forces with The Nature Conservancy and The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership to offer The Northeast Indiana Sustainable Business of the Year award. This award demonstrates the NISBC's commitment to creating a culture in Northeast Indiana supportive of businesses that are doing right by our communities, our environment and their own operations.

The NISBC may be only four years old, but its membership remains committed to the values and mission of the organization. Those who started off with the NISBC have stayed a part of the network and are sharing their message with others in Northeast Indiana, changing the cultural landscape. It is our hope that one day Northeast Indiana will be known as a leader in sustainability.

Top image of Fort Wayne by Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership via Flickr.