Going Green: How Environmental Sustainability Improves Your Bottom Line

Panelists:

• James Dodd, Operations Manager, SAP North America Headquarters
• Gerald Jones, President and Founder, Union Core America LLC
• Stephen G. Harvey, Esq., Owner, Steve Harvey Law LLC
• Michael Lang, Principal, Provident Energy Consulting
• Kristie Pappal, VP Human Resources, The Philadelphia Eagles

A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers of more than 600 business professionals shows that firms are putting greater emphasis on efforts to drive financial savings and build a competitive advantage in the market by being more ecologically efficient and reducing their environmental impact. According to the poll, more than half (52 percent) of businesses rank eco-efficiency as a high, or growing priority.  But the increasing trend of sustainability in business can often lead to confusion as to how to orchestrate and assess environmentally-conscious investments with regard to the bottom line.

The next Neumann University Center for Leadership program will examine how several local businesses are working to achieve greater sustainability in an effort to both reduce environmental impact and provide a positive return on investment.  The program will also explore the concept of the “triple bottom line,” a term used to describe the financial, social and environmental performance of a corporation over a period of time.  The triple bottom line considers the traditional profit margin of an environmentally conscious investment, coupled with the impact on employee health and the environment as a whole.  By examining these three distinct factors, a company can assess and quantify the full cost of doing business.

This module is designed for current and emerging public and private leaders, as well as those who are interested in envisioning the future of a sustainable world and understanding the importance environmental awareness and care, social responsibility, the need for a return on investment.  Participants will gain knowledge of concepts and language of environmental sustainability; learn the value of operating in an environmentally sustainable manner; and understand the challenges ethical leaders encounter in today’s world.