CSR and The Triple Bottom Line
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SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

 

There are various ways to define sustainability in materials: local sourcing, labor practices and the inherent characteristics of a material. Below are four approaches to sourcing sustainable materials. 

 

Sustainable materials through purchasing  from companies aligned with the triple bottom line:

 

Below is a  list of sources for raw materials.  They are organized by industry. It is presented as suggestions and leads for starting the process of finding a suitable supplier for a business when sourcing materials.   This is list is an on-going project. Suggestions for material categories and sources? Please let us know.

 

Energy Construction Manufacturing Food Service Office Practices
NativeEnergy LEED Design Standards Synthetic Paper  Biodegradable Food Containers and Utensils Paper
Green Mountain Power Company Carpet Fleece from recycled PVC Bags Pens & Binders
Green Tags Green Roofs Organic Cotton Cutlery, etc. Kitchen & Bathroom Supplies
Carbon Emissions Tags Paints Electronics: Evaluation Tool EPEAT Cleaning solvents  Office Furniture
  Pervious Pavement   Refrigeration Fleet
  Recycled Plastic Lumber   Ovens & stoves Green Events
  Wheat Straw     Waterless Urinals
  Flooring     Food (region specific)

 

 

Sustainable materials through Local Sourcing and Carbon Emission Savings

The benefits of local sourcing can also be measured by calculating the economic benefit in reducing carbon emissions, thereby contributing to slowing global warming. A tool designed by Laura Musikanski  for measuring reductions is provided here.

 

This tool requires certain assumptions:

The following facts are build into the tool:

The tool (to be put in excel): 

 

Step One: Average miles traveled - Local miles traveled = total miles saved

Step Two: Total miles saved /8 = diesel gallons saved

Step Three: Diesel gallons saved x 22.2 = Total pounds of carbon emissions

Step Four: Total pounds of carbon emissions / 2,204.62262 = Tons of carbon emissions saved per trip

Step Five: Net Present Value {(Tons of carbon emissions saved per trip x number of trips taken year 1)....}

 

Sustainable material through Local Sourcing and the Local Multiplier Effect

 

The local multiplier effect helps local economies when a business buys locally sourced materials. The local multiplier effect was  identified by John Maynard Keynes  in his book The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936). 

 

Recent studies on the local multiplier effect indicate that for every 45% of every dollar spent on locally sourced goods and services positively impacts the local economy. However,  where for non-locally sourced goods and services, only 15% of every dollar resurfaces in the local economy.  By identifying  the portion of income customers are likely to spend on a business goods or services, a business can make a estimate on the return locally sourcing goods will yield.

 

Sustainable materials through Fair Labor Practices

 

Fair labor can be defined a number of ways.

 

One way is to have a neutral third party verify that working conditions are fair. The Fair Labor Association  (FLA) is an non-governmental organization that  acts as a monitoring agency. Like the SA8000, the FLA's code of conduct is based on the ILO's principles. A business communicate to stakeholders that  its products and goods follow fair labor practices  by becoming a licensee of the FLA.  Other  third party verification entity is the  Ethical Trade Initiative.

 

The Fair Trade organization offers labeling opportunities. Fair trade certification is based on prices paid, where Fair Labor organizations  focus on working conditions.

 

Another way is to pay a living wage. Living wage is defined in the context of the worker's community.

 

Yet another way is to source through a business that has an organizational structure that enhances social justice. Marjorie Kelly, in her book "The Devine Right of Capitalism," calls on business to redefine the income statements in terms of Capital Income + Employee Income = Revenue – Cost of Materials; to cap the disparity between the lowest paid worker and the CEO; and to shift the ownership structure to a partnership paradigm so that employees have voting power over major changes.

copyright Laura Musikanski laura.musikanski@gmail.com