Increasing Sustainability Efforts

Las Vegas, September 28, 2011

Sustainable Business Network of Washington

Founded 2003 Business networking, educational programs,

Green Business Certification 75 members and Growing

◦ Businesses◦ Embassies◦ Individuals

SBNOW

Facing an Image Problem

Consumers blame the industry for their own behavior!

Comfort Convenience Environment0

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Given a choice between your comfort, your convenience or the environment,

which do you most often choose?

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22.9

31.1

Influence Actions Expertise

Simplified Supply Chain

Companies that produce bottled water are criticized for the production and packaging of a life-sustaining commodity …”

“…we cannot forget that 1.1 billion people or 18 per cent of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water according to the United Nations. That’s almost one out of every five people.

And those bottled water companies that we love to hate may be the best way to provide these people with life-giving water free from bacteria, parasites and animal (including human) waste.

NASA Heads to Mars' Gale Crater in Search of Life and Water

The Bottled Water industry can, should and is well positioned to redefine stakeholder expectations

This includes environmental impact

As an industry, you set the parameters, and by reporting results against them, define ‘leadership’

Redefining Expectations

Some examples

License to Operate (speed to market) Cost Reduction or Avoidance Market Opportunity/Advantage Employee Engagement Seize the Innovation High Ground Access to Investment Capital

Business Benefits

Independent Credible Meaningful Understandable Based on Science Public/open process

Measurement/Reporting Must Be

It is in your best interest to do it yourselves, before someone – government, advocates, zealots – does it for (to?) you

You already have a tool ready and available that will ◦ allow you to report industry-wide impacts and

results ◦ measure your own contributions toward those

aggregate results

Define Your Standards