Green Masters Program
2021 Program opens at the beginning of March!
01 / ABOUT
The Green Masters Program is an assessment and recognition program for Wisconsin businesses interested in improving and being recognized for their sustainability initiatives. The Program provides companies with a benchmark to compare their sustainability performance to other companies in their sector.
The Green Masters Program logo is a credential that validates a companies sustainability programming. Additionally, the Green Masters Program is an invaluable tool for building sustainability strategy into any organization, large or small.
"The Green Masters Program provides a platform for cross-functional teams to meet, exchange ideas and continue to imbed and drive ESG programming throughout your organization"
Ryan Piedot - Sr. Manager of Sustainability & Environmental Compliance, Kohl's Inc.
Download a pdf of the complete application, or individual sections
02 / PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS
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The program opens every year at the beginning of March.
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The program is free to WSBC members and is open from March through October.
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The program is currently free to nonmembers and first-time applicants, however we encourage applicants to join WSBC’s membership program before applying. Applications are due September 1st.
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For returning nonmember participants that miss the September 1st deadline, but apply before October 1st, there will be a $100 charge.
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For returning nonmember participants that apply between October 1st and October 31st, there will be a $250 charge.
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The program closes annually on October 31st.
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Sector specific dashboards are free to all first-time applicants and will have a processing fee of $100 for returning applicants. However, if you refer another company to the program or to the membership you will receive a dashboard, free of charge. Please email Jessy once the referral application is in.
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Find more information on our FAQ page
03 / BENCHMARK WITH THE DASHBOARD
04 / USING THE GREEN MASTERS PROGRAM
WITH OVER 140 PARTICIPANTS IN 2018
THE GREEN MASTERS PROGRAM IS
WISCONSIN'S MOST TRUSTED
RECOGNITION & ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
05 / Success Stories
Click the logos to view!
06 / Mentorship Program
New to sustainability and/or the Green Masters Program? Would you find it useful to have some guidance on how to fill out the Green Masters application?
For the 2019 Program year, we will be continuing our mentorship program as a way to provide guidance and resources to any company that requests help or support. As you are sitting down to complete your 2019 Green Masters application, if you have any questions regarding the program, or sustainability in general, feel free to reach out to any of these leaders in sustainability! Click the button below to view a list of the 2018 Green Masters companies, along with contact information.
If you would like our help in finding a good match for a particular need or question, feel free to reach out to Jessy at jessy@wisconsinsustainability.com.
MEET THE BOARD
WHO WE ARE
OUR MISSION
The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council’s (WSBC) mission is to advance sustainable principles and practices forward through the power of business.
We support businesses and sustainability professionals through an array of programming, education, resources and tools and are a catalyst for businesses looking to integrate sustainability into the fabric of their organization. We are here to transform business into a force of good in Wisconsin and beyond.
WSBC is an affiliate of WMEP.
OUR STORY
The WI Sustainable Business Council is a network of Wisconsin businesses and organizations that are interested in, or actively responding to, the challenge of sustainability. Many businesses find themselves challenged by stakeholders to describe what they are doing in this field. The council is designed to bring businesses together and provide learning, support, tools and resources to help businesses on their path toward being more sustainable and resilient.
Interest in sustainability can be driven by crisis (i.e. the 2007 recession, a PR crisis, or a “crisis” created by regulatory pressure such as in the cap and trade area) or as a way to minimize risks. It is a need in the 21st Century Market and many businesses are unprepared to proactively respond with a plan on how to integrate sustainability into the business. Wisconsin is fortunate to have many businesses that have helped to blaze some of the sustainability trail and are leaders in Wisconsin, Nationally and some even internationally.
The Council seeks to create opportunities for businesses to learn from each other. By working together, the business climate is improved and the success of Wisconsin businesses is increased.
OUR VISION
We envision a sustainable business ecosystem that enables individuals, communities, business, the state and the environment to prosper now and in the future.
It is our goal that all businesses in the State of Wisconsin (and beyond) have integrated sustainability into all facets of their business. In order to get there, WSBC connects resources, tools and programs for businesses to cost effectively leverage and integrate sustainable solutions and strategies into their business. We do this through facilitating collaborations, events and trainings, consulting and through our programs.
Our goal is to establish Wisconsin not only as a destination for “sustainable businesses”, but as a home for businesses from all sectors with an interest in sustainability. The economic health of the state is partly a function of the adaptability and progressiveness of the businesses here. We hope to mentor, recognize and support any businesses as they grow on their sustainability journeys.
WSBC is a proud nonprofit partner with 1% For The Planet, a global organization that advises on giving strategies, certifies donations, and amplifies the impact of sustainable efforts across the world.
MEET THE BOARD
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THE CONFERENCE
The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council brings businesses from around the state together to learn from each other. The first conference was held in December of 2008 and has become an annual event. The conference has been held in Madison, Milwaukee, Neenah, Dodgeville, Oshkosh and Onalaska.
The conference features business practitioners sharing their strategies, their tools, and their experiences.
The conference has adopted a Sustainable Events policy and seeks to minimize the environmental footprint of the event. Stainless steel water bottles are provided in place of plastic water bottles, carbon offsets are purchased to offset the carbon footprint and vegetarian food is always served to demonstrate the ease of giving up meat for one meal a week.
The conference is held in December each year. Watch for information about this years conference on the About The Conference page.
Click here for more information on Sustainable Event Policy!
The WSBC 2020 conference will take place virtually on December 8 & 9.
Stop back for more info soon!
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 Sustainable Business Conference |  Green Masters Program |  Sustainable Business Awards |  Sustainability Resoures |
Sustainable Business Awards
The WSBC Board of Advisors has made the difficult decision to hold off on the WSBC Sustainable Business Awards for the 2020 calendar year. This year, our awards will focus on Green Master Program successes and case studies, which will be highlighted at our 2020 Virtual Conference December 8 & 9, 2020.
Check back for the 2021 Sustainable Business Award timeline.
Our awards ceremony, now in the 7th year, is widely recognized as the leading awards ceremony that benchmarks and rewards those businesses that are creating a more sustainable business. The awards will offer the prestige of being recognized by the Wisconsin business community, as well as a platform to share best practice techniques.
The Sustainable Business Awards celebrate recipients for challenging conventional business practices, and rewards them for being innovators in their industry and community. Offered for the first time in 2014, these awards honor businesses for their leadership in developing innovative products, processes, and business models while demonstrating that economic performance and environmental and social performance go hand-in-hand.
By recognizing WI companies with a demonstrated commitment to sustainability, the Sustainable Business Awards strengthen relationships with customers, employees, prospective employees and investors. Though environmental or sustainability managers may be the point person for these awards, marketing and public relations professionals will be great advocates for any company that chooses to apply.
Congratulations to our 2019 Awardees!
Sustainable Product:
N1 Critical Technologies
Sustainable Process:
Mercury Marine
Executive Leader:
Pam Mehnert of Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative
Sustainability Champion:
Dr. Peggy Murphy of Kimberly-Clark Corp.
What are we looking for?
We are looking to hear your story. Follow the links below to see the guidelines for each award. A company may apply for one, two, or all three of the awards. In addition, there will be small business and not small business recipients of each award, so that small businesses will only be competing against other small businesses. For additional information, please watch the educational video for instructions.
SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES
GET IN TOUCH
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Lindsey Trickey
Program Coordinator
Green Masters Program & Cool Choices
Greg Gasper
Alliance for Water Stewardship & Sustainability Services
