Why Zero Waste?Why Zero Waste?Stephanie Barger

Founder and Executive Director Earth Resource Foundation

Stephanie BargerFounder and Executive Director

Earth Resource Foundation

Why Zero Waste?• The environment

• Economic & legal

• Business’s internal benefits

• Social trends

The EnvironmentThe Environment

Economic & LegalEconomic & Legal

WastebergWasteberg

Municipal Waste is the

tip of the “Wasteberg”

Upstream Manufacturing

Waste is 71 times greater

Source: Kevin Drew, San Francisco

Provide Incentives Before Ban or Mandate

Eliminate Waste by Designing Out of

Products and Processes

Foster Sustainable and Green Businesses

Retailers Take Back Difficult to

Recycle Materials

Resource Recovery Park

Producer Responsibility

Expand City Outreach & Technical Assistance and

Lead by Example

Jobs from Design & Discards

Empowered Consumer

The Zero Waste EconomyDesigning a Full-Cycle system – Upstream and Downstream

Legislative MandatesLegislative Mandates

Legislative Mandates• AB 939 (need names of bills or man

component)

• AB32

• Mandatory Recycling

Business Internal Benefits

Business Internal Benefits

Zero Waste saves money• Toyota

- $1 million recycling

- $13 million from switch to reusable containers

Zero Waste saves money• Albertson’s (261 SoCal locations)

- $965K in 12 months from OCC recycling alone

Zero Waste saves money• Ricoh (Orange County only)

- $2 million first year of reaching 90% - $4 million in 4th year

Social TrendsSocial Trends

Consumer Intentions

Write letters, email or phone government officials to urge them to take action to reduce global warmingBuy the products of companions that are taking steps to reduce global warming

Punish companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming by NOT buying their products

More frequently than now

Activism intentions over the next 12 months

“Climate Change in the American Mind” Study – 2008. Yale Project on Climate Change and the George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication

13%13%

40%40%40%40%

Social trends toward Zero Waste• Municipalities are moving to Zero

Waste

- To date, 35 cities have adopted Zero Waste Policies

• Employee Recruitment

- ????????????????

Why Zero Waste Certification?

Why Zero Waste Certification?

Why Zero Waste Certification?• Credible point of differentiation

• Establish Best Practices

• Setting the Highest Bar for Zero Waste

• No reinventing the wheel

Recognized Eco-Labels

•Examples of inappropriate use of Zero Waste term

•Protecting the Brand

•Highest and best use

•Waste to energy

Why Earth Resource

Foundation?

Why Earth Resource

Foundation?

To create a solid foundation that

advances the integrity and credibility of Zero

Waste

The Plan• Develop a new Zero Waste

Certification nonprofit

Develop a new Zero Waste Certification nonprofit• Certify businesses as Zero Waste

• Conference continuation

• Professional Accreditation

The Plan• Develop a new Zero Waste

Certification nonprofit

• Follow US Green Building Council Model

Follow US Green Building Council Model

• Proven model

- Membership (Corporate & Individual)

- Certified Professionals

- Certified Buildings/Businesses

- Conferences

The Plan• Develop a new Zero Waste

Certification nonprofit

• Follow US Green Building Council Model

• Become the Zero Waste standard

Become the Zero Waste standard• Zero Waste International Alliance

• 10 Zero Waste Business Principles

The Plan• Develop a new Zero Waste

Certification nonprofit

• Follow US Green Building Council Model

• Become the Zero Waste standard

• Build an exceptional Advisory Board

Build an exceptional Advisory Board• Zero Waste Industry Leaders

Strengths• Organizational

Partners/Collaborators

• Proven track record

• A leader in setting innovative policies

• A century of experience

Opportunities• No break out standard

• Tap into an existing demand

• Huge market potential

Huge Market PotentialMedium sized firms in the US

NO. OF EMPLOYEES FIRMS ESTABLISHMENTS

20 – 99 employees 526,355 692,677

100 – 499 employees 86,538 330,447October 1, 2008 U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Huge Market Potential

71% of firms want to improve brand strength and

goodwill through Environmental Sustainability

Source: 2008 study conducted for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce by Deloitte and The Cambridge Group

Plan Details• Milestones

• Revenue projections/Streams

• ROI

MilestonesMonth 0: Program Development Begins

Month 6: Begin Business CertificationLaunch Membership Program

Year 1: Secure additional funding from Industry Partners00 Corporate Members – 00 Individual Member

Year 2: Begin Professional Accreditation00 Corporate Members – 00 Individual Member

Year 3: Begin Conferences00 Corporate Members – 00 Individual Member

Revenue Projections

YEAR CERTIFICATION ACCREDITATION CONFERENCE TOTAL

1 $100,000 $0 $0 $100,000

2 $200,000 $100,000 $0 $300,000

3 $300,000 $300,000 $250,000 $850,000

ROI• ??????

Meeting ScheduleNov. 00, 2010 Kickoff Scope and Parameters

Jan. 00, 2011 Industry Specifications

Feb. 00. 2011 Development of Program

Mar. 00, 2011 Program Branding

Apr. 00, 2011 Final Review

May. 00, 2011 Launch

Next StepsNext Steps