A Lesson in Sustainable Development

Earlier today we had the privilege of hosting David Cook and Regina Hauser of the Natural Step Network at a special luncheon here at the Chamber. Both of these experts in sustainable development are in Indiana for The Next Step to Emerging Economies conference taking place tomorrow at the Grand Wayne Center.

Before the luncheon I had a chance to sit down with David Cook and ask him a few questions. Here are a few main points he made that I wanted to share with you: 

• Two easy, simple steps you can take to make your business more enviro-friendly while also cutting costs - reduce waste, and take a look at where your water is coming from (for example for manufacturing organizations). If you can eliminate waste, you can save costs immediately. 
• Before you starting taking those easy steps, be sure to take a look at the bigger picture and develop a long-term strategy. 
• Ultimately going green is the only way to stay competitive in this world and to save on costs. Along the way there will be some tricky decisions and certainly investments. 
• Plan with success in mind so you know what you want to see long-term. Don't plan to fix a problem, plan for the future you want to design. 

This luncheon and interaction time was very informative, and I hope you are able to attend tomorrow's conference. To learn more about the Natural Step Network click here, and if you want to begin the sustainable development process for your business but aren't sure where to start, let us know, and we'll help you find the resources you need to get started.