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Does Your Company Recycle Electronics? 

10/13/2015

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If so, your customers may soon start asking whether it is R2:2013 certified.  While this certification is fairly new, many industry leaders have adopted it which may influence your ability to re-sell or recycle their electronics.  As a key component of the standard, downstream vendors that process electronics from other, upstream companies that are R2 certified will be expected to meet certain standards for product quality and responsible recycling practices.

Even if R2:2013 certification looks like a distant possibility for your company right now, get ahead of the curve by setting up your ISO 14001 environmental management system and OHSAS 18001 health and safety systems now.  The R2 Standard requires accreditation to both of these standards or to RIOS in order to receive certification, and these certs also have their own benefits.  Having an internationally-recognized certification proving you have systems to manage your environmental, health, and safety issues can only benefit your company in the long run whether or not you choose to pursue additional certifications to increase your ability to do business.  

For more information on the R2:2013 Standard, view SERI's website here:  https://sustainableelectronics.org/

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Laundry Poster Giveaway!

4/30/2015

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As a special web exclusive, here is a free laundry poster download containing a variety of helpful sustainability tips.  Post it up in any common laundry room to make sure users save you water and energy, and minimize pollution impacts with their laundry habits.  Enjoy!

Having trouble seeing the preview below?  Click here to download this free PDF file.  Be sure to contact Sundowner for a quote if you have additional custom sustainability signage needs!
sundowner_laundry_signage.pdf
File Size: 272 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Ramada Santa Barbara Designated Gold Certified Green Lodging Property

1/22/2015

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Ramada Santa Barbara was recently designated a Gold Certified Green Lodging Property by environmental nonprofit Audubon International.

The hotel is the first in Santa Barbara and the sixth in California to receive certification from Audubon International.

The hotel’s environmental highlights include a pool heated by solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, LED lighting, permeable pavers, water-conserving fixtures and plates made from sugarcane.

"Because we care about our local community, we're constantly looking for new ways to reduce our environmental footprint," Ramada Santa Barbara general manager Tom Patton said. "Earning a gold-level certification through Audubon International allows us to further communicate this environmental commitment to our guests, and provides great encouragement to our staff to keep up the great work."

Sundowner Sustainability Consulting, a Santa Barbara-based company, is also thrilled with Ramada Santa Barbara's latest environmental achievement. As the hotel's consultants during Ramada Santa Barbara's successful bid to achieve Green Business Certification through Santa Barbara County last year, Sundowner continued to partner with Ramada to ensure its best practices were highlighted throughout the Audubon International review process.

"Ramada's willingness to adopt green practices whenever feasible has really helped solidify their position as a local environmental leader in the hospitality industry," Sundowner Sustainability managing partner Ellie Perry said. "It's been a pleasure to see how quickly they continue to evolve and innovate with each environmental certification they pursue."

Ramada Santa Barbara is one of 64 Audubon International Certified Green Lodging Properties around the United States and the Caribbean. Certified properties are rated in the categories of Communication and Education; Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling; Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, and Indoor Air Quality. To earn certification, all properties receive a site visit by an Audubon International staff member and undergo a recertification process every three years.

“Ramada Santa Barbara demonstrates a clear passion for adopting measures to lower their environmental impact,” said Katie Hopkins, director of communications at Audubon International. “From the installation of electric vehicle charging stations to incentivizing staff to use alternative transportation, Ramada Santa Barbara is setting a great example in the Santa Barbara community.”

For the full press release, see Noozhawk's article here. 

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ISO14001 is Changing in 2015!

11/5/2014

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ISO 14001 is changing in 2015!  ISO 14001 is an international standard for creating an environmental management system.  If your company manufactures products, deals with suppliers/vendors or customers that are certified, or simply wants to improve its corporate image, an environmental management system may be a good fit for you.  But act quickly!  The standard will be changing in 2015, so this is your last opportunity to lock in your certification for the next three years under the current revision.  


Read on for more information on the ISO 14001 certification or click here to see how Sundowner's coaching services can help
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Green Certification Coaching Pays Off!

8/19/2014

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There are a lot of different attitudes in the commercial sector when it comes to green certifications.  Some nay say the whole idea, thinking:  "It's just greenwashing"...  "My customers won't care"... "It's too expensive"... "It's too much work".  But here at Sundowner, we believe that the right type of certifications can lead to better environmental performance, and that working with us can save time AND money!  Here's how:
  • "It's just greenwashing"...  to ensure certifications actually reward environmental performance, the best programs have independent (3rd party) auditors and/or systems to verify practices and make additional recommendations.  Organizations that are industry-recognized and/or are sponsored by government/non-profit entities usually have the most incentive to ensure sound environmental practices.  Make sure the certification body is reputable!
  • "My customers won't care"... if the boom in "eco-friendly" and "green" products and companies in the market today isn't enough to convince you that consumers pay a premium for environmentally responsible goods and services, then you may be interested to hear there can also be penalties for NOT being "green."  Consumer suspicion about green claims is at an all time high, as is the expectation that companies will hold to higher environmental standards (e.g. BP is still suffering from the negative PR resulting from their oil spill disaster).  
  • "It's too expensive"... it's hard to see the immediate economic benefits from some environmental measures like buying eco-friendly products, or installing a bike rack on your property.  However, those benefits can often emerge later in the form of that allergen-sensitive customer enjoying your paraben free soap, or the reduced health insurance claims from healthier employees that started biking to work.  As sustainability experts, Sundowner can help you see the bigger picture and identify environmental measures that work for you.  Combine that with our rebate application service, and you may actually see an immediate impact on your utility bills as well money right back in your pocket!
  • "It's too much work"... then hire a professional!  With Sundowner's green certification coaching, we handle the auditors, the paperwork, and the work of actually identifying and implementing green measures.  Instead of counting light bulbs, toilets, and bins or trying to write an environmental purchasing policy yourself, be smart like our client Ramada Santa Barbara and hire an expert to save you staff time and hassle.   (Click here for an article announcing the Green Business Certification they achieved with the help of our coaching services).    As long as you have the desire to do better for the environment, we can get you the rest of the way- just contact us today!          

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    Sundowner offers a full range of sustainability ("green") consulting services to help organizations improve their environmental performance while saving time and money in the process.  Read on for more tips and case studies on how to make our mission part of your mission! 

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