EcoRise Youth Innovations was delighted to be approved as a Platinum Leader of Austin Green Business Leaders (AGBL) in spring, 2014. Joining the program was an important achievement for EcoRise, as AGBL is a flagship program that allows a diversity of entities to showcase their commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. We want the public to know we don’t just “talk,” we “walk the walk” in every aspect of our operations. Being a member also gives EcoRise another opportunity to network, share, and learn best management practices from other like-minded businesses in the program.
Spearheading our review and application was August Martin, a member of the Board of Directors of EcoRise Youth Innovations. August works at a design firm where he focuses on infrastructure oversight and development, but he is most proud of his role as Sustainability Manager for HNTB in Austin, Texas. August pioneered the effort to assist his company in becoming an AGBL member at the GOLD level in 2013, and he was excited to share his AGBL experience with EcoRise and to assist with the steps necessary to support EcoRise in joining.
“Given the unique vision of EcoRise and the impact that our organization has in educating students in green innovation, becoming a member of the AGBL was a no-brainer. ”
The Austin Green Business Leaders Program was created by the Office of Sustainability of the City of Austin to support businesses in their pursuit of sustainability. It is an excellent way to help local organizations become as “green” as possible. The program also provides a comparable platform for businesses to take action and make appropriate marketing claims to customers on their “green-ness,” and it creates a community of businesses that have embraced green operational activities that can grow profitable environmental protection in the City of Austin.
The process of joining involves the review of every aspect of a company’s business operations using the “Green Business Scorecard.” The scorecard helps identify what an organization is doing well and where it has room to improve. The scorecard includes helpful tips and resources that make it easy to take action, to update and improve operations, and to secure a higher level of membership in the program. August notes:
“We espouse and are aligned with the seven key areas of sustainability upon which the AGBL program is based. We’re always looking to improve our processes and programs at EcoRise, and the AGBL program has given us yet another opportunity to continuously improve what we are awesome at doing – empowering youth to be leaders in design, environmental literacy and social innovation.”
EcoRise joins some impressive Central Texas businesses at the Platinum Leader level, among them AMD, Balcones Resources, Dell, Enviromedia, Foundation Communities, Goodwill Industries, Green Host It, Green Mountain Energy, HM Risk Group, House+Earth, in.gredients, Intel, JK Commercial Cleaning, Office Depot, ProGraphix, Rackspace Hosting, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Snap Kitchen, St. David’s Episcopal Church, TreeHouse, W Austin, Whole Foods Market and Wyndam Garden Austin.
If you would like to enroll your business in Austin Green Business Leaders, follow this link for more information.
