GreenLeaders Business Program
Approximately 48% of greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of water used in the City of Sydney is from the commercial sector including small-medium sized businesses.
Many businesses have identified the need to improve their environmental performance and at the same time reduce their operating costs and resource use.
The City of Sydney has recognised this need and in response has launched Greenleaders, a sustainability program for small-medium business.
By joining this program, these leading businesses have demonstrated their commitment to improving their environmental performance. Up to 150 businesses are being recruited from Glebe, Erskineville, Kings Cross, Crown St, Darlinghurst Rd and the CBD.
As a part of the program, each business will have its energy, water and waste consumption assessed with recommendations on where they can improve their operating costs and their bottom line.
Following this there are a series of workshops to help each business become more sustainable. At the completion of the workshop series, repeat assessments are carried out to identify improvements made and whether further action is needed.
The program aims to achieve:
- 15% reduction in waste going to landfill
- 21% reduction in water consumption
- 8% greenhouse gas reduction
- increased annual profitability of each business of at least $500
The program is free for these businesses through a grant received from the NSW Environment Trust. The program is presented by the Village Green, a sustainable consultancy company that won the Banksia Award in 2006 for its Sustainable Business Management model.
Council endorsed the program in June 2007 to help the City achieve the environmental goals in our Environmental Management Plan.
Congratulations to the businesses here today who have joined the GreenLeaders program and shown commitment to improving our local environmental and business sustainability.
The GreenLeaders program has now reached capacity with 150 businesses committed to improving their environmental performance. If you would like to register your interest in participating in future programs such as GreenLeaders, please contact Cara Peterie, Senior Environmental Development Officer, on 9246 7807 or email cpeterie@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
