Pittsburgh flexes its sustainability muscle

By: Mike Wallace and Jared Robbins

Back in 2011, one of the world’s largest certified Global Reporting Initiative trainings to date took place in Cleveland, drawing nearly 200 business students and college seniors from 14 colleges in Ohio.

The event, held at Cleveland State University and hosted by consultancy BrownFlynn, revolved around a theme that has grown in importance since then: Developing sustainability capacity within a geographic region.

Around the country, cohorts of cities and various regional allies are tackling sustainability through a variety of mechanisms.

The Pittsburgh region exemplifies one strategic approach to regionally tackling sustainability issues.

To read the full article, please visit our monthly column Shift Happens on GreenBiz.com.

My Experience at BrownFlynn

By Erin Murphy

My name is Erin Murphy. For my senior year internship for Aurora High School I worked with BrownFlynn and their Senior Design Consultant, Jennifer Griffith, in the area of graphic design. I learned many new concepts that reinforced and also changed my perception of a career in graphic design. During my time at BrownFlynn, I learned some key things that reinforced my desire to pursue a career in graphic design, including:

• Working with different Adobe software that I can have fun with
• Helping different people communicate in a more effective way
• Not everything in design is fun, but 99% of it is
• I can work at a place that would allow me to do all different types of design work
• Every day is different, but the projects will always be interesting and challenging

Also during my internship, I learned some new concepts that changed my perception of a career in graphic design. A couple of examples are:

• It can be long hours depending on how far away you live from work and how much work you have to do
• A graphic designer does not only do design, but also has to know the business side of the organization
• There is a front and back door to design (or the designer and the person who brings those designs to life through coding). It’s hard to do both and do them perfectly.
• Sometimes you might have a project that you do not necessarily want to do, but you have to do it anyway because it’s your job
• A lot of responsibility can fall on your shoulders and sometimes a client might want you to do something at the last minute, and you have to be able to adapt and deliver for them

While my internship helped me realized what a true job in graphic design could be, I also know that for now I can just focus on college and enjoy the next few years before entering the workforce myself. Thank you everyone at BrownFlynn for helping me understand what a career in graphic design can really be.

The Environmental Employee Engagement (EEE) Roadmap

Engaging employees in the environment is good for business and the environment. BrownFlynn collaborated with TD Bank and the Environmental Defense Fund to create an Environmental Employee Engagement (EEE) Roadmap, enabling others to benefit from the development and implementation of TD Bank’s successful EEE program. Read the whitepaper here!

How business can nurture sustainable cities

By: Jared Robbins

Inner-city vacancy, environmental degradation and social inequality are fundamental concerns for 21st century America. Post-Second World War America was a place of prosperity and rapid economic growth. Government investment, in the form of federal incentives — including the G.I. Bill and the Federal Aid Highway Act — allowed Americans to spread out from the city-center farther than before. Termed suburban sprawl, this land-use pattern had, and continues to have, disastrous effects on the environment.

A study by Edward Glaeser shows that suburban CO2 emissions in New York City are 14,127 pounds greater per average household than their central city counterpart. Additionally, as suburbs and exurbs flourish and tax dollars are funneled into these communities, central cities increasingly become economically, academically and physically stressed. Cities such as Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia are littered with the effects of urban decay. Philadelphia, for instance, has more than 40,000 parcels of vacant land, according to the nonprofit Take Back Vacant Land. These properties cost the city of Philadelphia $70 million in lost taxes, and $20 million is spent by the city, annually, for safety and upkeep.

To read the full article please visit GreenBiz.com.

2014 Staff Retreat and Community Service

Another year, another staff retreat come and gone this week with time for reflection and energizing momentum. We shared good conversation, good ideas, good food and good fun as we planned for the future and took part in some community service – not too shabby for two days! Here are some of the highlights through photos…

You & Downtown Cleveland

An awesome video from the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, with a couple glimpses of the BrownFlynn team in our Terminal Tower digs!

 

 

Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio Spreads Good Will, Makes Positive Difference in Community

By: Emily Bryant, Analyst

I joined Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio (SHTKIO) in February 2013. I learned about the group through Brian Chulik, my eighth grade science teacher at Rocky River High School, and one of SHTKIO’s founding members. Members of our organization suit up as Marvel, DC, and Disney characters to bring cheer to children who are facing adversity, most often in the form of illness, disabilities, and bullying.

Our group’s mission is as follows:
As “SUPER HEROES TO KIDS IN OHIO”, it is our goal to spread good will by (1) simple acts of kindness, (2) the recognition of individuals who have battled through adversity (3) and to encourage the involvement of ‘community’ to make a positive difference in the lives of others; especially children. We continue to make costumed visits to children’s hospitals, special needs centers, and various charitable events whenever we are needed, all in an attempt to bring a few smiles to kids and people.

Spiderman and Supergirl run the circuit with children at the Murray Ridge Center 500

I had been searching for a non-profit organization that I could be excited about contributing to—one where I could really make a positive difference through active involvement. I feel lucky that BrownFlynn has supported me and my colleagues in our desire to give back to the community by providing us with 40 hours of volunteer paid time off (PTO) each year. This time has enabled me to participate in many special events at schools and hospitals during work hours that I would not have been able to otherwise. While I can’t turn invisible, fly, or breathe underwater, I’ve learned that I can make a difference in the lives of others simply by wearing a costume and being present at an event or in a hospital room.

Through personal experience, I know that it can be very easy to feel alone when you are suffering. Because of this, it can be natural to want to hide pain from others, but one of the greatest things we can do as human beings is to share our experiences and how we’ve persevered over our suffering to bring comfort to others. It can give purpose to the adversity we personally have faced in that we may have felt alone in our experience, but we can help ensure that others never have to. In this way, our suffering can become a source of strength. Through helping to heal others, we ourselves heal. Every day, we influence the lives of those around us. We have the opportunity to tip the scales one way or another and be part of something bigger than ourselves. Because of this, anyone can be a hero.

The Wonder Twins biked 75 miles to raise money for individuals living in Northeast Ohio with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) during the 2014 Pedal to the Point ride.

The relationships our members have formed with one another and the families we visit have been life changing. We celebrate together and we grieve together. It’s an incredible privilege to be part of the lives and journeys of the families we work with, and while the ending isn’t always happy, the impacts the children have on everyone they touch are profound, lasting, and inspirational. Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio is honored to recognize these outstanding children as true heroes. Seeing the children’s faces light up when they see us in costume is one of the best feelings in the world. When we walk into a hospital room, we don’t always know the circumstances, but we can help make kids smile, hold their hand, and give them some encouragement and well-deserved recognition.

Since joining Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio, I’ve participated in over 30 events as Valkyrie, Wonder Twin Jayna, Super Girl, Mrs. Fantastic, Aquawoman, and Tinkerbell with the goal of bringing joy and temporary reprieve to children struggling with adversity. My brother has since joined the group as Wonder Twin Zan, my boyfriend as Mr. Fantastic, and my mom as the Fairy Godmother. Participation in Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio has been very transformative in my life. I used to think of myself as just a person in costume, but the insignia we wear and the characters we become have strength that has permeated my life out of costume. I find myself judging behavior on whether or not it is something a hero would do. I know that it is important to be accountable for my actions because to many children I visit, there is no costume. I am an actual super hero. And while it’s a big responsibility, it’s also the coolest thing in the world.

“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulder to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.” – Bruce Wayne (The Dark Knight Rises)

The Fairy Godmother and Tinkerbell celebrate children who have graduated from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at MetroHealth in Cleveland.

(Re)Purposeful Thinking

What drives sustainable businesses today? Purpose. What will drive sustainable businesses tomorrow? Repurpose.

Repurpose means to reuse or alter something to make it more suitable for a different purpose. In a business sense, it means to think of resources that already exist in an alternate state. Repurposing broadens your perspective, provides new opportunities, and like the old saying, turns “one man’s trash into another man’s treasure.”

BrownFlynn took (re)purposeful thinking to heart in our recent office move to Terminal Tower in Downtown Cleveland. We converted a historic space from the Van Sweringen brothers into a modern office that fosters collaboration, innovation and “walking the talk” of sustainability. Our new location enables several employees and clients to travel sustainably, as we are located at the heart of the city with public transportation to the airport and local amenities.

“Clearly, we’re committed to the city and want to be part of its vibrancy,” says Principal Margie Flynn. “We’re committed to sustainability and want to make sure we’re walking the talk in what we’re doing. And the essence of sustainability is really historic preservation.” Learn more about our office move in our GreenBiz Shift Happens article, “A sustainable work environment breeds a healthy, happy culture.”

Throughout the move process, we gave old office furniture to employees to repurpose in their homes. We also donated office supplies to local charities, such as Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio and local schools. By repurposing our office items, we helped eliminate waste and gave back to our community.

Whether your company is creating a waste management plan, moving, or looking for new sustainability projects, below we have highlighted creative ideas to help you repurpose:

• Create a corporate office supply recycle store, where employees recycle and reuse office supplies and your sustainability department can track savings for not purchasing new office supplies.
• Consider legacy office furniture or family “hand-me-downs” as a hip new way to style your office or home! Furniture lasts for generations—why not repurpose antique furniture from your previous colleagues or relatives that carries traditions and decades of memories?
• House Logic provides tips to repurpose take-out containers, utensils and chopsticks.
• The CHIC Home provides tips to create functional storage out of items you already have: old doors, shoe boxes, egg cartons, and more!

We encourage you to think purposefully and (re)purposefully both at your company and in your personal life, as this mindset empowers you to live sustainably.

By Brittany VanderBeek, Analyst

 

 

Transparency Is A Virtue

The European Parliament’s adoption of the directive for disclosure of non-financial information and diversity information marks the most recent example of how governments are valuing corporate transparency. Deputy Chief Executive of the Global Reporting Initiative, Teresa Fogelberg, said:

“This agreement demonstrates the EU’s strong commitment to corporate transparency and sustainability – supporting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and paving the way for a sustainable global economy.”

In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a new version of the Report on Environment (the Report), outlining indicators that help the EPA monitor trends in the condition of the United States’ air, water, land, human exposure and health, ecological systems and sustainability. It is interesting to note that the EPA added sustainability as a new theme in 2014, responding to growing international concerns.  The sustainability theme only has one indicator as of now, but the EPA plans to develop this theme by collaborating with a variety of stakeholders and considering three important aspects of sustainability- intensity of energy use, water use and materials use.

Source: EPA Website

The new version of the Report provides new features: a conceptual framework to show how indicators relate to EPA concerns, interactive graphing, statistical information, trends related to where you live, and information about what you can do to help. All of these tools and the Report itself demonstrate how the EPA values disclosure of sustainability information in order to manage environmental and human health concerns and to inform the public. The EPA invites public commentary on the new version of the Report until April 27, 2014.

What do these government initiatives for transparency mean for your company and its sustainability efforts?

1. In general, government expectations for transparency will likely advance the sustainability reporting spectrum; newcomers will join the sustainability reporting bandwagon and advanced reporters will disclose more sustainability data and management approaches. Stakeholder engagement will likely incorporate government agencies and representatives as more regulations enforce transparency.
2. In the United States, proactive involvement with the EPA through public commentary on the Report on Environment and other initiatives may become a source of competitive advantage. Companies can collaborate with government agencies to determine the trajectory of government sustainability initiatives going forward.
3. For current sustainability reporters following the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework, the Report on Environment may help inform materiality assessments, including:

• Prioritizing material topics, considering United States trends in environmental and human health issues.
• Measuring influence on stakeholders: Companies may want to interview more stakeholders affiliated with the government.
• Determing significance to companies: The role of government will become more significant to companies both in terms of risk and compliance to regulations and in terms of opportunities for government collaboration.

BrownFlynn is glad to see the international government support for and progression of sustainability reporting.  Join several United States government agencies at our next GRI-Certified G4 Training Course: GRI Sustainability Reporting Process April 23-24, 2014 at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Washington, D.C.

 

By Brittany VanderBeek, Analyst

 

BrownFlynn Honored with Irish Walks of Life Award

The Luck of the Irish rang true this St. Patrick’s Day at BrownFlynn!  Principals and Co-Founders Barb O’Brien Brown and Margie Pigott Flynn received the Walks of Life Award from the Irish American Archives Society in honor of their contributions to Northeast Ohio through sustainability consulting and community engagement.

Since 1997, the Irish American Archives Society (IAAS) has honored Irish Americans in Northeast Ohio for their extraordinary community contributions with the Irish Walks of Life Award. Honorees are recognized for distinguishing themselves in their chosen “walk of life,” whether judge, educator, business leader, health care professional, journalist or philanthropist.

Barb and Margie represent business leadership for their significant community contributions as founders and principals of BrownFlynn since 1996.  Being green is part of Barb and Margie’s nature, both in terms of their heritage (they are of 100% Irish decent) and their daily lifestyle.  As Principals and Co-Founders at BrownFlynn, they advise companies on improving their social and environmental impacts and provide thought leadership on sustainability through conferences and articles.  Outside of work, they are actively involved in the community through university boards, advisory councils and committees. As Tom Corrigan, IAAS Acting President, said, “Because of what BrownFlynn does everyday, I dare say it would be difficult to find two women who are doing more to keep the world ‘green.'”

Photo Credit: Marianne Mangan

Barb and Margie joined other nominees at the IAAS Walks of Life Award Dinner in February and were honored to march upfront in the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They said, “We’re honored to celebrate our Irish heritage and congratulate our fellow honorees.  Go Raibh Maith Agat!”

By Brittany VanderBeek, Analyst