PORTLAND, OR "“ July 20, 2009 "“ The Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI), a leading sustainability education nonprofit organization, today announced the availability of Sustainable Systems at Work, a new discussion course designed to help corporate leaders and their employees address pressing environmental challenges through companywide best practices.

Sustainable Systems at Work is a five-week course that uses information, education and discourse to encourage participants to take more sustainable action. The course complements NWEI's existing family of guided workshops and action materials, offering companies custom-tailored content to inspire their employees to become more engaged in sustainable business practices. To date, more than 110,000 people have completed NWEI curriculum, including participants in leading organizations such as Starbucks, Standard Insurance Company and Intel.

The unique group process laid out within Sustainable Systems at Work is designed to bolster employee engagement and increase sustainable actions within a company. NWEI has shown, through its research, a clear link between course participation and an increased sense of responsibility and sustainable actions on a personal level. Using NWEI discussion guides and process, organizations may experience:

• Cost savings due to reductions in energy, water and material use;
  
• Lower waste generation;
  
• Improved company morale and greater employee loyalty; and
  
• Increased alignment between employee performance and organizational sustainability objectives.

"This discussion course is all about engaging employees from the ground up," said Mike Mercer, executive director of NWEI. "Most organizations are launching sustainability initiatives from the top down, which they should. However, for culture and practices to change within an organization, employee commitment is a must. We believe innovation at its best occurs at all levels, and is driven by shifts in thinking. Our programs drive just that."

Companies can use Sustainable Systems at Work to engage their employees in constructive, collaborative, non-judgmental conversations and behavior change strategies regarding the interdependence between healthy economies, citizens and ecosystems. The NWEI team-facilitated process, which has been refined over the past 16 years, encourages employees to meet for one to one and a half hours per week, for five weeks. Course materials for meetings include articles and book excerpts from leading authors in the field of sustainability.

"We used NWEI courses to successfully complement Starbucks commitment to sustainability," said Ben Packard, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Starbucks. "We have found that NWEI gives participants a clear understanding of their direct role in the conservation of natural resources. As a result, individuals are better equipped to assess environmental issues and embrace innovative solutions in the workplace and in their personal lives."

Sustainable Systems at Work will be available starting July 24, 2009. To order or discuss organizational needs, contact NWEI by e-mail at contact@nwei.org or by phone at 503-227-2807.

About Northwest Earth Institute
The Northwest Earth Institute is a recognized nonprofit leader in the development and delivery of educational programming designed to inspire sustainable behaviors at the individual and organizational levels. NWEI offers a total of eight discussion courses that have been adopted by more than 110,000 people in a variety of settings including business, higher education, government, neighborhoods and communities of faith. Learn more at www.nwei.org.

Northwest Earth Institute, The (NWEI)

Northwest Earth Institute, The (NWEI)

The Northwest Earth Institute is recognized as a national leader in developing innovative programs that empower individuals and organizations to protect Earth. These programs emphasize individual responsibility, the importance of a supportive community, and the dual need to walk lightly on and to take action for the earth. By reaching out to people in their workplace, home, faith center, neighborhood, and community, NWEI provides easy access to tools for individual and cultural change.

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