Twenty-three Boston companies recently joined in a graduation ceremony hosted by the Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP)

Twenty-three Boston companies were certified as "Sustainable Business Leaders", having completed the Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) -- a program of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) that provides guidance, support and technical assistance to facilitate the "greening" of small and medium-sized businesses.

Galen Nelson, Green Tech Business Manager, Boston Re-Development Authority, Greg Cooper, Deputy Division Director Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Susan Labandibar, President of SBN, Laury Hammel, Director of the SBLP, and James Hunt, Boston Chief of Environmental and Energy Services all shared comments about the significance of the SBLP and offered congratulations to the "Sustainable Business Leaders". Mr. Hunt presented the certificates to representatives of the twenty-three graduating companies that included a diverse mix of business sectors and Boston neighborhoods.

All of the companies earning the SBLP certification completed the rigorous six-step SBLP process and reduced their collective carbon footprint. Measurable and significant changes were identified and implemented in areas including Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Waste Reduction, Transportation Management, Pollution Prevention, and Sustainability Management.

"The SBLP Boston Graduation today is a major milestone in our partnership with the BRA, the DEP and the City of Boston," said Laury Hammel, Director of SBLP. "It feels fantastic to see 23 companies complete this innovative and robust program -- it's a big day for all of us!"

Participating companies saw both tangible and intangible benefits of the program. Many companies saw financial savings as a result of lowering consumption of energy and water and diverting their waste stream into recycling and compost. "We have made an investment in sustainability, and it's already paying off for the environment," said Bill Goade, CEO, CresaPartners LLC . "Our participation in the SBLP has deepened our commitment to sustainability as a company."

"The SBLP has expanded the network of small business leaders working to become sustainable," said James Hunt. "It has also raised the bar for sustainable business practices in Boston." With over sixty participating companies, the SBLP continues to grow and assist small to medium-sized businesses "green" their operations, collectively reducing their carbon footprint in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.

The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston (SBN) launched the Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) in 2008 through a partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). The objective of the SBLP is to provide guidance, support, and technical assistance to facilitate the 'greening' of small and medium-sized locally owned businesses in Massachusetts. Through a six-step process the SBLP identifies and helps implement affordable and actionable changes in six areas including Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Recycling and Waste Reduction, Transportation, Pollution Prevention, and Sustainability Management.
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Sustainable Business Leader Program

Sustainable Business Leader Program

The objective of the Sustainable Business Leader Program is to provide guidance, support, and technical assistance to facilitate the 'greening' of small and medium‐sized locally owned businesses in Massachusetts. Through a six-step process the SBLP identifies and helps implement affordable and actionable changes in six areas including Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Recycling and Waste Reduction, Transportation, Pollution Prevention, and Sustainability Management.

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