Participants are encouraged to attend all three workshops but attendance at one or two is also welcome. To maximize your experience and executable takeaways, readings will be sent before and exercises will be assigned at the end of each meeting. See individual workshop descriptions below.

Coffee, tea & morning snacks will be served.

Dates & Locations:
Tuesday, June 22: Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco
Tuesday, July 13: Environmental Defense Fund, 123 Mission Street, 28th Floor, San Francisco
Tuesday, August 3: Hub SoMa, 901 Mission St (@ 5th), San Francisco
Time: 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Cost:
Green Chamber & SBA members: $125 for all three; $50 for individual workshops
Non-members: $175 for all three; $65 for individual workshops

Register for individual workshops after their descriptions.

Workshop One - June 22nd
Theme: Natural Capital.

We will start the workshop series by examining the nature of sustainable development through the ecological economics framework that assumes our progress is currently limited by our supply (and sustainable use) of natural capital.

Then focusing on natural capital metrics (or ‘eco-metrics’), we’ll address the power of using narrative, symbols and stories in capturing ecological data. We will use the case studies of Method and other progressive companies to experientially understand how to use sustainability metrics both to make decisions, and to reach/educate consumers.

Speaker: Drummond Lawson, Method

Workshop Two - July 13th
Theme: Human and Financial Capital.

In workshop two we will explore the various frameworks for capturing the growth of human capital/human development used in the world economies and examine the gaps of “ESG” (Environment, Social and Governance), so often used by the investing community. Paul Herman will dive deep into the way balance sheets and income statements impact the people in an enterprise.   We  will also practice the quantification of sustainability performance improvement in the human realm.

Speaker: Paul Herman, HIP Investor
He will have his book available for purchase at the event for $20 (sells for $29.95 in stores).

Coffee for this event provided by our friends at Bicycle Coffee Co. (Thank you!)

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Workshop Three - August 3rd
Theme:  Social Capital.

Impact Management: Measuring Social Intangibles

Well-formed and well-intentioned sustainability efforts not only work to maximize the three elements of the much-hyped triple bottom line, but also to manage to a single, integrated bottom line that includes social, environmental and financial returns. Social impacts, however, can be the hardest to measure. Though some results like ‘job creation’ are quite tangible, others such as ‘trust’ and ‘empowerment’ are much more difficult.

In this workshop we will address the large range of social impacts organizations might have, internally and externally. We will investigate means of deriving related metrics which are of highest value to track and discuss how to use that information in daily management and decision-making.

In this final workshop of the series, we will also be tying together the three forms of capital together for overall sustainability performance management.

Speaker: Brett Galimidi, Sustainability Consultant

Register for Workshop Three:

Additional Go Green Expo Dates:

Go Green Expo – Philadelphia
April 16-18, 2010
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Business-to-Business Expo: Friday April 16
Open to Public: Saturday April 17 & Sunday April 18

Go Green Expo – Atlanta
May 21-23, 2010
Cobb Galleria Centre
Business-to-Business Expo: Friday May 21st
Open to Public: Saturday May 22 & Sunday May 23

There is limited booth space available, and the events will sell out again. Please contact its CEO Bradford Rand at (212) 655-4505 ext. 223 to secure your space

Greenwash at your own risk. Greenwashing, a term used to describe the practice of companies deceptively promoting their products and policies as environmentally friendly, frustrates environmentally-conscious companies. Now, according to attorney Dan Myers, if the FTC catches a company at it, their phony attempt at being green could cause them to be red-faced with embarrassment – and maybe even pay a fine.

Myers, of Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean was a key panelist at the Green Chamber of Commerce’s event: ‘Green Media: Practical and Legal Considerations for Communicating Your Message’ on May 19 at the Environmental Defense Fund in San Francisco.

The FTC is in the process of drafting green guides that will prohibit unfair or deceptive advertising and marketing claims, Myers said. Although some ads may escape FTC notice, competitors may initiate litigation.

Emily Cowan of Ecofabulous added that new green products have to overcome consumer’s tendencies to gravitate to traditional and familiar brands. Melissa Mansfield of Green Gorilla Media pointed out that the increase in groups offering green certification has consumers confused. But some consumers are willing to pay more for products with green certification, Christina Weber of Sustainable Industries said.

Other advice for businesses from the panel:

• Tell an authentic story
• Don’t worry about being green, be amazing
• Live your brand
• Once you lose your green credibility, it is difficult to get it back

For more information, contact the Green Chamber of Commerce.