When building your sustainability program, do not overlook government partnership programs for resources and support. RILA is an association partner/endorser of several government programs: ENERGY STAR, WasteWise and SmartWay Transport Partnership. All of these programs offer free resources to help retailers reduce their environmental impact.
ENERGY STAR: ENERGY STAR is best known to the public for lending its seal to products for the home including appliances, electronics, building materials, lighting and more. In addition to making it easier for the public to identify products that help protect the environment and save money, Energy Star promotes retail sales of environmentally preferred products. This raises the profile of retailers that carry qualifying products and promotes sales of related environmentally preferred items. Another great resource for retail is ENERGY STAR’s Building & Plants program. This program not only labels buildings that have achieved excellence in energy performance, but also provides a range of tools for companies to use in improving facility performance. These include guidelines to establish a comprehensive energy management program, building benchmarking through Portfolio Manager, online training and more. WasteWise: A free, voluntary program offered by EPA, WasteWise helps organizations reduce solid waste and track and report progress. WasteWise targets municipal solid waste (such as corrugated cardboard, office paper and wood pallets) as well as select industrial wastes (including non-hazardous batteries and oil filters). WasteWise also provides resources on a range of topics, including: industry sector resources, waste prevention, recycling, and a searchable database of information on designing, implementing, maintaining and assessing solid waste reduction programs. SmartWay Transport Partnership: SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight sector designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions and improve energy security. RILA is a member of the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership and also sits on its Shipper Stakeholder Committee. As a member of the SmartWay Shipper Stakeholder Committee, RILA is currently providing input to the development of the next generation of the SmartWay program, including future supply chain protocols, greenhouse gas quantification methods, data needs and requirements, Partner performance evaluations and program growth strategies.
ENERGY STAR: ENERGY STAR is best known to the public for lending its seal to products for the home including appliances, electronics, building materials, lighting and more. In addition to making it easier for the public to identify products that help protect the environment and save money, Energy Star promotes retail sales of environmentally preferred products. This raises the profile of retailers that carry qualifying products and promotes sales of related environmentally preferred items.
Another great resource for retail is ENERGY STAR’s Building & Plants program. This program not only labels buildings that have achieved excellence in energy performance, but also provides a range of tools for companies to use in improving facility performance. These include guidelines to establish a comprehensive energy management program, building benchmarking through Portfolio Manager, online training and more.
WasteWise: A free, voluntary program offered by EPA, WasteWise helps organizations reduce solid waste and track and report progress. WasteWise targets municipal solid waste (such as corrugated cardboard, office paper and wood pallets) as well as select industrial wastes (including non-hazardous batteries and oil filters).
WasteWise also provides resources on a range of topics, including: industry sector resources, waste prevention, recycling, and a searchable database of information on designing, implementing, maintaining and assessing solid waste reduction programs.
SmartWay Transport Partnership: SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight sector designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions and improve energy security. RILA is a member of the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership and also sits on its Shipper Stakeholder Committee.
As a member of the SmartWay Shipper Stakeholder Committee, RILA is currently providing input to the development of the next generation of the SmartWay program, including future supply chain protocols, greenhouse gas quantification methods, data needs and requirements, Partner performance evaluations and program growth strategies.
Look to these and other government programs for tools, resources and support. Remember, the EPA and other federal, state and local agencies are not just regulators – they can also be important partners and allies for sustainability.
Sarah Walczewski, Coordinator, Retail OperationsRetail Industry Leaders Association