1EPA Partners for the Environmen

Environmental Protection 

Agency

January 2000

www.epa.gov/reinvent

Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (1801)
PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Washington, D.C. 20460

202 260-6135

www.epa.gov/partners

2Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
Partners for the

Environment:

Boosting Your Bottom Line

Introduction 2

Drive Down Costs—and Boost Your Profits 5 

Gain Recognition—and Boost Your Image 8 

Take Action—and Boost Your Performance 11

Become a Partner—and Boost Your Bottom Line 14 

Contents
2

➤ Businesses just like yours are boosting their bottom lines

through improved environmental performance. They’re finding that protecting

the environment doesn’t have to come at the expense of profits. On the contrary, cleaner, leaner operations really pay off.

By making improvements that optimize performance, companies are cutting

costs, adding value, and increasing market share. That’s why many companies—perhaps your competitors—have come to view environmental management as a fundamental part of smart business strategy. They’re protecting the

environment and gaining competitive advantages as a result. 

You can do the same, and the good news is you don’t have to spend valuable

time or money learning how. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers

a variety of programs, known collectively as Partners for the Environment, that

help organizations make improvements that are good for business and the environment. They’re designed to help you apply ideas and practices that can produce environmental results more quickly and cost-effectively. 

Whether you’re in manufacturing, retail, transportation, agriculture, or a service

industry, at least one of EPA’s partnership programs should suit your needs. From

ENERGY STAR to AgStar, from WasteWise to Climate Wise, you can choose from

more than 20 partnership programs that address issues such as energy efficiency,

Introduc
air quality, waste reduction, or water conservation. In addition, EPA regional

offices offer partnership programs that address specific regional priorities. 

More than 7,000 organizations have stepped forward to become a Partner for

the Environment. Some participate in one program while others participate in

several. What does joining actually entail? For many programs, the process

works like this. A company contacts EPA to find out how a program works and

how it’s beneficial. Once they see the value and decide to join, the company

signs a partnership agreement. This agreement isn’t legally binding, but it does

lay out steps the company will take to pursue environmental improvements.

These actions might include conducting a self audit to assess water and energy

use, installing more efficient equipment, and reporting on progress. Other programs take a different tact. Rather than “signing up,” companies become partners by working with EPA on technical or policy issues. 

“Limited resources—technical, financial, and physical—are a fact of life

in business, industry, and government. [Voluntary programs help us]

make the best use of limited resources, to the benefit of our employees,

customers, community, and shareholders.”

T. Halliburton Wood, Environmental Manager 

Johnston Industries

ction
Exactly what can a company expect from becoming a Partner for the

Environment? Along with improving environmental performance, an opportunity to gain:

• Cost savings. Programs are designed to help companies cut waste and

increase efficiency and productivity. 

• Public recognition. Many partnership programs offer awards, logos, and

other distinctions that can be used for marketing purposes. 

• Technical assistance. Valuable tools, information, and peer networking

opportunities are available to help partners develop environmental strategies

that work best for them.

Isn’t it time you looked into these benefits, too? The following sections offer

more information about partnership programs and how they’re helping companies gain competitive advantages in an increasingly competitive business world.

Last year, our partners collectively saved $3.3 billion!

4
➤ You’re interested in cutting costs without sacrificing service or

quality. So are the companies that have become Partners for the Environment. How?

By making improvements that allowed them to reduce 7.8 million tons of solid

waste, conserve 1.8 billion gallons of water, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions

equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the road. 

For example, Herman Miller, an international manufacturer of office furniture,

found significant savings through the WasteWise program. This program helps

companies reduce solid waste and material use. The company reduced its use of

packaging material for finished goods by 50 percent and eliminated 500,000

pounds of wood pallets and close to 1 million pounds of corrugated boxes.

These improvements are saving $4 million a year. 

For small companies, savings on

a more modest scale can be just

as important. Vegetation

Managers, Inc., a business that

maintains right-of-way property

for utilities, saves close to

$2,000 annually based on a

simple change they made

after joining the Pesticide

Drive Down Costs—

and Boost Your Profits
6

Environmental Stewardship Program. The company began using returnablerefillable pesticide containers. Now, they have less waste to manage, and concerns about disposing contaminated packaging have all but disappeared. 

Similarly, Centerplex, a small business located in Seattle, found that energy efficiency

helped cut its annual energy bill in half! By switching to more energy efficient products, the company is saving $23,000 and preventing more than 465,000 pounds of

greenhouse gas emissions a year. Centerplex estimates it was able to recover the cost

of this environmentally and economically sound investment in only 18 months.

Companies are also achieving cost-savings by fundamentally rethinking the

design and production of existing products. The Design for the Environment

(DfE) Program develops and provides businesses with information about more

environmentally preferable processes or technologies. For example, with tradiSee What You’ve Been Missing

When Boeing joined the Green Lights program to

improve their lighting efficiency, they were able to reduce

energy consumption by 200 million kilowatt hours a

year. This move cut their annual operating costs by $12

million, but it also provided another unexpected benefit—better quality products. The new lighting in one

building boosted the defect detection rate by 20 percent.

“Waste in any form is lost profits. Maximizing efficiency

through reducing our waste stream is not only good for

the environment—it’s good for our bottom line as well.”

Nancy Hirshberg, Director of Natural Resources

Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
tional methods, printed wiring board (PWB) manufacturers use toxic chemicals

that pose potential health and environmental risks, generate large volumes of

hazardous waste, and use substantial amounts of water and energy. The PWB

industry worked with EPA’s DfE Program to examine ways to reduce or eliminate these impacts. As a result, this industry achieved significant environmental

improvements, including the reduction of 240,000 pounds of formaldehyde

and savings of 400 million gallons of water and 4.4 million kilowatt hours a

year, as manufacturers switched to cleaner technologies. As one

partner said, “Participating...helps individual companies manage their environmental affairs, and it reduces the potential

health and environmental impacts of their businesses,

materials, regulatory compliance costs, and liabilities

—all of which serve to increase competitiveness.”

Consider New Alternatives

Lucent Technologies found it could save approximately $100,000 a year on fuel

bills at its Columbus, Ohio plant by using captured landfill gas instead of fossil fuels

to power boiler operations. This approach was developed through EPA’s Landfill

Methane Outreach Program. Along with saving the company money, Lucent’s new

fuel source is good for the environment, too—the reduction in green house gas

emissions is equivalent to taking more than 23,000 cars off the road each year.
8

➤ Are awards and other forms of public recognition for environmental performance valuable to companies? Recent surveys suggest they

are. According to the Conference Board, an international business membership

and research organization, almost 80 percent of senior environmental, health,

and safety (EH&S) executives predict that their companies’

global EH&S reputation among stakeholders will

become more crucial to their bottom line in the

next 5 years. Another survey, by marketing analysis firm Walker Research, found

that more than three out of four customers

avoid businesses that have an irresponsible corporate environmental attitude.

Gain Recognition—

and Boost Your Image

“Participating in EPA’s voluntary programs is good for us not only

because of the cost-savings, but also for the way it reflects 

positively on our corporate image.” 

Scott Seydel, Chief Executive Officer

The Seydel Companies
Recognizing its potential value, many partnership

programs offer recognition, such as national

awards for exceptional performance. These

awards typically generate positive press coverage for winners. And over the long term,

they’re often used as a basis for highlighting

environmental commitment and achievement in corporate communications. Past winners, such as IBM,

Dupont, and Dow, for example, feature their awards on their Web sites.

Logos that can help companies distinguish their products in the market place

provide another form of valuable recognition. The Energy Star program for

example, offers a logo for placement on computers and other appliances that

meet energy efficiency criteria. This distinction sends a signal to consumers

and can be influential in purchasing decisions. A survey conducted by the

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy showed that 80 percent of

consumers concerned about energy efficiency are familiar with EPA’s Energy Star

Enjoy Recognition

Brian Olson, owner of the 45th Avenue Cleaners in

Portland, Oregon, knows first hand how public recognition

for environmental achievements can have a positive impact

on business. Since his dry cleaning operation received EPA Region 10’s

Evergreen Award for Pollution Prevention, Olson has seen a tremendous

increase in the volume of customers he services. By adopting a “reduce, reuse,

and recycle” mindset, the company has reduced solvent use by 80 percent and

solvent waste by more than 60 percent and virtually eliminated wastewater discharges. Along with EPA, recognition has come from other sources; shortly after

EPA’s award, the National Waste Prevention Coalition named 45th Avenue

Cleaners to its list of the top 15 dry cleaning operations in the country.
10

logo, and 43 percent of consumers say they have looked for the Energy Star

logo when purchasing a product. 

In addition to sharpening a company’s image externally, receiving recognition can

be helpful internally, too. In 1999, Carrier Corporation, a manufacturer of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, received an award from the

WasteWise program for its waste reduction efforts. Company spokesperson Angie

Scafidi commented that “the award helps me justify Carrier’s waste management

and recycling program to top management.” She also noted the award’s value in

helping to boost employees’ corporate pride and sense of accomplishment.

“Numerous case studies show that companies leading the

way in implementing changes that help protect the environment tend to gain disproportionate advantage, while

companies perceived as irresponsible lose their franchise,

their legitimacy, and their shirts.” 

Amory B. Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken,

Authors of “A Road Map for Natural Capitalism,” in

the May-June 1999 Harvard Business Review.
➤ Are you concerned that your environmental staff is already

overloaded? Or maybe that you don’t have an environmental staff? Don’t

worry. No matter how large or small your company, Partners for the

Environment provides products and services that can help you uncover cost

effective strategies for improving environmental performance.

Many programs offer reference documents that provide step-by-step guidance

for making improvements. If you’re in the natural gas industry, for example,

you can reach for the Natural Gas STAR

Program’s Implementation Road Map

to answer questions about reducing

greenhouse gas and methane emissions. This handy document

includes practical “Lessons Learned”

that highlight industry-specific best

management practices to assist participants in determining if these

practices could help them, too. 

Partners can also attend

forums to receive and share

information. These include

Take Action—and

Boost Your Performance
12

free workshops and technology demonstrations as well as networking opportunities among peers. After all, who better to learn from than colleagues who’ve

faced similar production and management challenges? Recently, more than 500

companies had a chance to network on the air when they tuned in to a national

WasteWise teleconference to learn about the value of buying recycled goods

and participating in the WasteWise program.

Some programs also provide specialized software for tracking environmental performance. The Climate Wise Program, for example, works with companies to turn

“With cooperative voluntary programs, EPA functions

as a true leader in assisting companies [like Radio

Flyer] to fulfill their mission and achieve a healthier

and safer environment for our children.”

Paul Pasin, Vice President of Manufacturing 

Radio Flyer

Find Hidden Costs

While environmental accounting methodologies can help

managers understand the cost of producing an existing product, they can also be helpful to managers making decisions

about new ones. Like many companies, Chrysler, Inc. is putting this tool to work to improve business decision-making.

They’ve performed analyses when selecting hundreds of components used in producing new vehicles. Should we choose

the mercury free light switch? the all-plastic oil filter? the lead

free electrocoating process? These decisions became easier

once Chrysler understood the true costs and benefits associated with their choices.
energy efficiency and environmental improvement into corporate assets.

The multimedia tracking software offered by the program allows companies to monitor and report on a variety of environmental factors, including energy and water use. One Climate Wise partner, Johnson and

Johnson, estimates its efforts to track and improve energy efficiency is

saving $2.6 million a year. They cut energy use by 8 percent during a

period when production soared by 330 percent!

Better accounting methods are offered by the Environmental

Accounting Project. This program was designed to help businesses understand the value of preventing pollution by first enabling

them to understand the true cost of providing a good or service.

For example, S.C. Johnson, a specialty chemical product manufacturer,

used environmental accounting methodologies to analyze the costs associated

with producing and selling one of its pesticide products. The analysis revealed

costs associated with product registration, research and development, safety

actions, and other activities that had never before factored into previous cost

estimates. Such revelations can help managers understand the importance of

prevention and begin to incorporate environmental considerations more fully

into decision-making.

Remember, these and other products and services are available to partners at no

cost. Isn’t it time you consider putting them to use in your organization? 

Set and Achieve Higher Goals

The American Portland Cement Alliance (APCA), whose members produce 60

percent of U.S. cement, has found Climate Wise to be an excellent partnership

for improving environmental management in their industry. APCA joined

Climate Wise to develop energy efficiency and pollution prevention goals as

part of a comprehensive environmental management strategy for their industry.

The industry received tools and assistance specific to their operations. As a

result of their members’ improvements, in the coming year they expect to save

$2.3 million and prevent 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
➤ What’s left to think about? Becoming a Partner for the

Environment can be a smart business decision. There are a variety of programs

and services available to help optimize performance, improve environmental

results, and meet customer expectations—which ones are right for you? 

To find out more, visit the Partners for the Environment Web site at

www.epa.gov/partners, call Partners for the

Environment at 202 260-6135, 

or contact one of the individual

partnership programs listed in this

brochure. There’s nothing to lose

but, as current partners already

know, a whole lot to gain!

14

Become a Partner—and

Boost Your Bottom Line

“It is encouraging to see what can be accomplished when both EPA and

the private sector come together on a voluntary basis.”

Tracy L. Pope, Environmental Safety Officer

Schlegel Corporation
Indoor Air Quality

Promotes simple, low-cost methods for

reducing indoor air quality risks. 

202 564-9733. www.epa.gov/iaq

Landfill Methane Outreach Program

Reduces methane emissions from landfills

by installing products to capture gases and

produce electricity, steam, or boiler fuel.

202 564-9797. www.epa.gov/lmop

Natural Gas STAR

Encourages natural gas industry to reduce

methane emissions through the implementation of cost-effective technologies and

best management practices. 202 564-9736.

www.epa.gov/gasstar

Pesticide Environmental Stewardship

Program

Promotes integrated pest management and

pesticide risk reduction in agricultural and

nonagricultural settings. 800 972-7717.

www.pesp.org

Ruminant Livestock Efficiency

Reduces methane emissions from ruminant

livestock operations. 202-564-9043.

www.epa.gov/rlep

State and Local Outreach

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from

states and local communities by empowering officials with information and technical

assistance. 202 260-4314.

www.epa.gov/globalwarming

Voluntary Aluminum Industrial

Partnership

Reduces perflouorocarbon gas emissions

from aluminum smelting. 202 564-9044.

www.epa.gov/vaip

Waste Minimization National Plan

Reduces persistent, bioaccumulative, and

toxic chemicals in hazardous waste. 

703 308-8489. www.epa.gov/wastemin

WasteWise

Encourages business, government, and institutional partners to reduce municipal solid

waste through waste prevention, recycling,

and buying/manufacturing products with

recycled content. 703 308-8755 (800 EPAWISE). www.epa.gov/wastewise

WAVE (Water Alliances for Voluntary

Efficiency)

Promotes water efficiency in hotels, schools,

universities, and office buildings. 202 260-

7288. www.epa.gov/owm/genwave

Adopt Your Watershed

Encourages and facilitates citizen involvement

in local watershed protection activities. 

202 260-1956 (800 832-7828)

www.epa.gov/adopt

AgStar

Promotes cost-effective methods for reducing

methane emissions at dairy and swine operations through improved manure management. 800-95AGSTAR (800 952-4782).

www.epa.gov/agstar

Climate Wise

Reduces industrial greenhouse gas emissions

and energy costs through comprehensive pollution prevention and energy efficiency programs. 202 260-4407 (800 459-WISE).

ww.epa.gov/climatewise

Coalbed Methane Outreach

Encourages profitable recovery and use of

methane liberated from coal mines by helping identify viable technologies, markets, and

finance sources. 202 564-9468.

www.epa.gov/coalbed

Consumer Labeling Initiative 

Makes health, safety, and environmental

information on household product labels

easier for people to find, read, understand,

and use, and encourages people to “Read the

label first!” before buying, using, or disposing of products. 202 260-7768.

www.epa.gov/oppintr/labeling

Design for the Environment

Helps business incorporate environmental

considerations into the design of products,

processes, and technical management systems. 202 260-1678. www.epa.gov/dfe

Energy Star

Maximizes energy efficiency in commercial,

industrial, and residential settings by promoting new building and product design and

practices. 888 STAR-YES (782-7937).

www.epa.gov/energystar

Environmental Accounting

Increases business understanding of environmental costs and incorporation of these costs

into routine operations. 202 260-3844.

www.epa.gov/oppintr/acctr

Environmental Technology Verification

Verifies the performance of innovative technologies to accelerate entrance into the marketplace. 202 564-3212. www.epa.gov/etv

Green Chemistry

Promotes the design of chemical products

and processes that reduce or eliminate the

use and generation of hazardous substances.

202 260-3960.www.epa.gov/dfe/greenchem

Partners for the Environment: Current Programs

Information about regional programs is available on the Partners for the Environment Web site.

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