The U.S. EPA has contracted with ESE Solutions to enhance and publicize its Retail Industry Portal. As part of that effort, we will be providing regular updates beginning next month via this newsletter including:

• New and proposed regulations
• Enforcement actions
• Voluntary program updates on new retail partners, success stories, awards, etc.
• Green Retail Decisions column by ESE Solutions’ President, Jesse LaRose, with practical advice on how retailers can partner with the EPA to drive environmental programs (recycling, product donation, energy management, green merchandising, transportation and supply chain) within their organizations

View the newsletter and subscribe here

Editor’s Note: Last week’s column outlined the various free resources available to retailers to effectively develop world-class waste reduction programs. This article focuses on how to conduct waste audits, procure vendors and implement the program.

So by now, you’ve tapped all the available resources and have sketched out a preliminary plan for your waste management program, but don’t blast out an email to your vice president and field leadership quite yet. There are some additional steps you need to take before implementation, starting with a waste audit. Continue Reading at Green Retail Decisions»

Save Money, Save Energy:

Making Your Business More Efficient

The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) and Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA 10) are offering an Energy Efficiency Panel Discussion Event. The event is designed to inform companies of the various opportunities available to manage energy costs.

As part of his Sustainable Communities Week, Congressman Bill Keating is hosting a series of workshop for local business owners on energy efficiency.

Join us on July 19th to learn more about saving money while saving energy.

Improving energy efficiency in our businesses and industries reduces energy costs, creates jobs and improves the environment.

MassMEP is bringing together leading experts from a broad spectrum of energy industry stakeholders for best practices and a panel discussion on energy efficiency. This workshop will highlight various opportunities available to manage energy costs, as well as best practices to promote environmentally responsible actions.

Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Time: 8:00 am – Registration and networking

8:30 – 11:30 am – program

Location: Radisson Hotel, 180 Water Street, Plymouth, MA

The program will include keynote remarks by State Senator Dan Wolf, who recently converted his business, CapeAir, to be more energy efficient, followed by an overview presentation and panel discussion with representatives from the US EPA, Constellation Energy, Clean Energy Center, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, MA Small Business Development Center, ESE Solutions, and US DOER Green Communities Program.

This event is free and open to the public; however, pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Congressman Keating’s Quincy District Office at 617-770-3700.

About MassMEP

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a nationwide program supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to help small- and medium-size manufacturers identify and implement advanced manufacturing and management technologies by linking client firms with local and national resources to address specific problems as they grow their manufacturing companies.

MassMEP offers programs and services to manufacturers across the Commonwealth. Its offerings address the key strategies of Next Generation Manufacturing that will drive competitiveness, growth and profitability in the 21st century: customer-focused innovation, advanced talent management, systemic continuous improvement, global supply chain management, sustainable product and process development and global engagement. For more information, please visit the MassMEP web site or phone 508-831-7020.

Editor’s Note: This is the first of an article series by expert guest columnist Jesse LaRose, which will direct retailers to a variety of free resources to help execute waste management, energy management, as well as green merchandising and logistics programs. This article and an one next week will focus on waste management. Next week’s column will focus on how to conduct waste audits, procure vendors and implement the program.

The secret to developing a world-class waste reduction program, similar to Limited Brands, is effectively utilizing all the free local, state and federal resources and support available. Continue Reading at Green Retail Decisions»

• We are focused on developing, implementing and managing programs that reduce expenses AND have a positive environmental impact
• We take the time to understand your company’s culture and operations allowing:
  • Us to seamlessly execute our programs
  • You to stay focused on your core responsibilities

• Operate more as a member of your organization than an outside vendor with compensation based on savings vs. salary/benefits
• Understand the complexity of rolling out new initiatives in a variety of environments
• Engage relevant stakeholders to ensure there is organizational support
• Coordinate rollouts and field communications in a manner consistent with you culture

• Our incentive is to reduce our clients’  expenses over the long-term
• Mutually developed baseline process ensures our goals are 100% aligned with yours

About Carter’s, Inc.

Carter’s, Inc. is a leading provider of apparel and related products exclusively for babies and young children. The Company owns the Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. These brands are sold in leading department stores, national chains, and specialty retailers domestically and internationally and through more than 500 Company-operated stores and on-line at carters.com and oshkoshbgosh.com. The Company’s Child of Mine brand is available at Walmart, and its Genuine Kids, Just One You, and Precious Firsts brands are available at Target. Carter’s is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, please visit http://www.carters.com/.

EPA created the Retail Industry Portal to support the specific needs of the retail industry in collaboration with RILA, NRF and FMI. The Retail Industry Portal provides one-stop access to the many programs and resources available to help prevent and resolve environmental issues at retail establishments. To better meet retailers’ needs, EPA contracted with ESE Solutions to solicit feedback from retailers to improve the Portal.

For more information and to view a recording of the webinar courtesy of RILA, click here.