The 5e Elemental Standard was developed to help businesses and organizations achieve a meaningful level of sustainability and connect them with the growing legion of green consumers eager to buy from companies and interact with organizations that share their same values and principles.

Born from the concept of the 5 classical elements, each Elemental Standard describes how companies and organizations are conducting their activities and engaging their customers on a more responsible as well as profitable path.

Here are the 5 Elemental Standards of Sustainability for Business:

1)   The first element is Financial Sustainability.  Before immediately tackling things like corn cups, lighting retrofits, 100% post-consumer recycled products, and sugarcane copy paper, we need first and foremost to help our businesses thrive.  The focus in this first element is achieving efficiency across the supply chain, with a particular emphasis on the purchasing process.  Companies can save an extraordinary amount of time, effort and money streamlining procedures, freeing up needless hours wasted on expense generating tasks that can otherwise be spent on revenue generating ones.  We all want to buy our products at the best prices from the least amount of vendors.   However, this is not always an easy task, even for those that can find the time to examine what they’re purchasing and how they’re buying it.    The ill-kept secret of green purchasing is that buying eco-friendly is just as easy (and often cheaper) than buying ecologically unfriendly options.   More and more eco-friendly products and services that outperform their "eco-unfriendly” counterparts appear every day as the green economy continues to swell in the face of an overall economy that continues to sputter in virtually every other sector. 

2)  The remaining four elements fall comfortably into the pattern of the Greek Classical elements of earth, air, fire and water.   The 2nd step, which identifies easily with the element earth, is Recycling.   This is one of those simple solutions that takes a minimal investment of time and attention – and most of that is up front.  Everyone wants to recycle and usually does - as long as it’s easy and convenient.    All that’s required is investing a little time to identify the items in our business waste stream that can be diverted from the landfill, find the companies that can help us haul it away, and set up a system in the office that’s easy for everyone and doesn’t interfere.   Which takes care of the stuff we have going out.   As for the stuff we have coming in, we want to identify all the alternative products we have available to us that have been recycled, are renewable, and are recyclable again at the end of their life cycle.  Companies can do this themselves, but it's often more efficient to get their vendor(s) to do it for them.   Once the data is gathered, all that remains is to establish a sustainable procurement policy that states that the more earth friendly alternative will always be purchased if it’s 5% higher or less.   Many companies elect to set this watermark higher, especially if they've been effective in the 1st element in significantly reducing their overhead expenses.   Whatever the watermark, a center led procurement policy that incorporates a company's sustainability objectives is a great starting point in offsetting the ecological footprint our businesses leave on the planet.  Buying green also gives us the deep satisfaction that we're doing our part, and encourages the companies that manufacture the products we consume to develop more sustainable alternatives that fit within the price range we continue to support.

3)  The 3rd step associates with the element of fire as it relates to Energy. While certainly volatile, Energy prices have nonetheless continued to rise steadily over time.   Everyone knows that prices don't tend to decrease for things that are scarce and limited, which energy is and will be until we develop other ways to efficiently source it.   Focusing just a little time and attention on our energy bills can often lower costs surprisingly.  And sustainability doesn’t get much simpler than recognizing that lowering our energy usage lowers our energy costs.  Smart power strips, energy star rated appliances, and energy efficient lighting are just a few of the changes we can make that can produce immediate savings while lessening our impact on the planet.   And wherever feasible, it also makes sense to purchase our energy from renewable sources.   Many companies elect to take the ultimate step in offsetting their carbon emissions with investments that help further fuel sustainability and the growth of clean energy.  The sooner we collectively embrace alternative energy, the easier it will be for us to one day achieve and sustain lower, stable energy prices for generations to come.     

4)   The 4th step associated with the element water has to do with our Health and Well-Being, taking care of ourselves, our employees and ultimately our planet.   While the debate around methods for lowering our health care costs drags on as costs continue to skyrocket, we know for certain we can reduce our long term health care costs and increase our company’s overall efficiency by providing things like healthy drinking water (without using plastic bottles), clean air, non-toxic cleaning supplies (keeping toxic chemicals out of our streams) and more nutritious food and beverages at the workplace.   Companies who focus on in this segment of sustainability also tend to examine their HVAC systems, install low flow/efficient faucets and toilets, use ecofriendly landscaping and rain barrels, and adorn their offices inside with GreenGuard© certified furniture, flooring, and wall coverings.

5)   The 5th and final step of sustainability is identified by air.  Clean Air Campaigns all across the country provide staggering data on how much air pollution is reduced by telecommuting, using alternate forms of transportation, and teleconferencing rather than traveling.     Air also signifies airwaves, or Communication.   From building green teams to establishing company policies and procedures to promoting the type of company we are and leading by example are all crucially important factors in the ongoing progress of corporate sustainability.    To that end, Spokes Consulting has developed the "5e" elemental standard of sustainability to help companies identify and promote their actions as efficient and responsible stewards of the earth and our environment.  Our mission is to help businesses achieve a meaningful level of sustainability and connect them with the growing legion of green consumers looking to buy from companies who share their same values and principles.

Let's start with The 1e Element: Financial Sustainability.