Earthenterprise Tool Kit - International Institute for Sustainable ...

EarthEnterprise Tool Kit
Many of the changes at Ecoprint required new technologies and most called for
new supplier relationships.All required Ecoprint employees to alter their work
habits. The company’s customers and employees couldn’t be happier, and give
Roger the credit.
This profile was adapted, with permission, from an article written by Roger
Telschow for the January 1993 issue of Nation’s Business, published by the U.S.
Chamber of Commerc e . For more information, contact Roger Te l s c h o w,
President, Ecoprint, 9335 Fraser Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Telephone:
(301) 585-7077, Fax: (301) 585-4899.
TOOL
External Credibility
Customer loyalty, public credibility, and investor confidence are gained by
companies perceived to be doing things right. Perfection is an unachievable
goal, but definable progress and effective communications are essential.
Annual Sustainable Development Report
An annual report highlighting progress made toward reducing emissions,
improving environmental performance, and enhancing workplace and societal
well-being may be the best possible advertisement for your company. Read by
corporate stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, employees, investors,
regulators, members of the local community, and environmental groups, the
reports can go a long way toward demonstrating your company’s commitment
to environmental protection and social responsibility.
A clearly articulated set of internal goals, a method for measuring achievement,
and candour about current failings make companies look responsible and
human. It takes a brave firm to adopt the warts-and-all approach in its reports,
but the gains are usually worth it.
Ben and Jerry’s Homemade Inc., the Vermont producer of exotically flavoured
premium ice creams, is committed to promoting a variety of causes, including
rainforest protection, world peace, and community economic development.The
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation established by the company channels 7.5 percent of
p re-tax profits to charities around the wo r l d . Ice cream ingredients are
purchased from companies that employ formerly homeless people, recovering
alcoholics, and drug addicts, as well as from indigenous harvesting collectives
in developing countries.
To make sure its programs are on track, Ben and Jerry’s courageously asks an
outsider to write its annual social audit, part of each year’s annual report, and
promises not to make changes. Paul Hawken, co-founder of the gardening
company Smith and Hawken, wrote the 1992 review, in which he criticized the
company for the environmental damage it causes by transporting ice-cream in
ADOPTING NEW BUSINESS PRACTICES AND RELATIONSHIPS
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