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Green Masters Program
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MEET THE BOARD
WHO WE ARE
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 journies.
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 11th annual Wisconsin Sustainable Business Conference was held on December 13, 2018 at the Monona Terrace in Madison, WI. The event was hosted by WMEP, and brought speakers together to discuss sustainability ideas and strategies moving companies forward in Wisconsin. The conference highlighted the transition of the Council from Founding Director, Tom Eggert to WMEP and the new Managing Director Jessy Servi Ortiz. The Conference was designed to maximize interaction with the audience and continues to strive to be zero waste.
Sustainable Business Awards
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.
Applications Open
August 1 - October 1
Winners Notified
Week of November 4
Awards Ceremony
Week of December 9
Where?
Milwaukee, WI
Click here to view past winners
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.
