Press Release: Seal of Sustainability Presented at US Capitol Cermony

WASHINGTON, DC -- Members of Congress joined the Sustainable Business Institute today for presentations of the Seal of Sustainability to three organizations during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The Seal is quickly becoming the “good housekeeping seal” for public and private organizations committed to sustainable business practices.

Jessica Fullmer, the founder and chief executive officer of the Sustainable Business Institute said, “Sustainability is a very crucial issue at this moment. It impacts the triple bottom-line of profit, planet and people. Corporate sustainability makes us more profitable and efficient. It’s just good business.”

“Just imagine the impact of 2,000 organizations making a commitment to the goals of sustainability,” said Fullmer. “The result would be incredible.”

The three newest Seal recipients are: Clover Stornetta Farms from Petaluma, California; Shaw Floors from Dalton, Georgia; and the Sonoma County Water Agency from Sonoma County, California. Highlighting the event were Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey from California’s Sixth Congressional District and Congressman Nathan Deal from Georgia’s 9th Congressional District. The representatives joined in the Seal presentations and underscored the fact that focus on sustainability is not a Democrat or Republican issue but one of that makes good business sense.

The Seal of Sustainability is a form of recognition given to businesses and business leaders throughout the world for implementing sustainability practices. The purpose of the Seal is to honor those businesses which are committed to sustainable business practices. The Seal is also designed for marketing purposes to raise consumer awareness of sustainable products and technologies and to influence their purchasing decisions.

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, who reminded the audience that “two” of her constituents were receiving a Seal said, “It costs more in the long run if we don’t start with these sustainable practices. People with good business practices know it.”

Congressman Nathan Deal who represents the headquarters of Shaw Floors in Dalton, said “What they are doing has ramifications that everyone should understand. People want to do the right thing and be part of it. The Seal is great.”

Clover Stornetta Farms, a family-owned organic dairy operation that has revolutionized the industry, was represented by President Dan Benedetti. In accepting the award on behalf of the company, Dan said, “The Seal gives the individual consumer the ability to see that certain companies are doing it differently than others. It starts with an organization that reaches out to do better things.”

Jeff West accepted the Seal on behalf of Shaw. He said that his company’s commitment to sustainability is showing real results. “We’ve been able to design products with the end in mind. Next year the Shaw facility in Augusta will recycle 100 million pounds of carpet.”

Michael Thompson of the Sonoma County Water Agency and City of Santa Rosa Mayor Bob Blanchard joined Congresswoman Woolsey as Sonoma County Water Agency accepted its Seal of Sustainability. Thompson said that “The Seal will be invaluable to business.”

All three Seal applications were reviewed and approved by a peer committee with the assistance of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (P2). P2’s Executive Director Jeffrey Burke also participated in the Congressional event.

Creative approaches to sustainability that go beyond business operations were also showcased at the Capitol event. Local Washington artist Patterson Clark removes invasive plants from the Washington area to support the restoration of native plant communities. He uses the harvested weeds as an abundant material, from which he isolates fibers and pigments. He reassembles the handmade paper, inks and wood into portraits of the weeds. Several works of art using this process were displayed at the SBI event.

About 200 companies are now under consideration for the Seal of Sustainability. Past recipients of the Seal include General Motors, Puroast Coffee Company, STMicroelectronics, Inc., Hot Lips Pizza and Novozymes Biotech.

Photographs and video highlights from the event can be viewed on SBI’s Web site at www.SustainableBusiness.org

SBI will next take their campaign of sustainability across the country with plans already underway for events in California, the south and the mid-west.

SBI’s mission is to motivate private enterprise to initiate, institutionalize and, communicate sustainable business practices, thereby increasing profitability and shareholder value.