Sustainability initiatives

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Sustainability initiatives

Comparing the different programs and initiatives that organizations can take as part of a sustainability program. The cross-reference table outlines each initiative and the environmental elements and impacts that are included. This table can help an organization determine which program or programs would be the right fit for their operations, based on the type of reduction and positive impacts they hope to achieve.

Federal regulatory citations:

None

	Lean manufacturing	Green building standards	ENERGY STAR®	Waste minimization program	Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
Description	Lean manufacturing is a business model and assembly of planned methods that highlights the eradication of non-value-added activities (waste) while delivering superior products on time at the least cost with higher efficiency.	Green building is the general concept of creating structures that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the life-cycle of the structure. This includes building citing, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction.	This is a program in which private companies partner with the EPA to promote energy efficient products and processes. ENERGY STAR is fairly narrow in scope, focusing only on efficiency energy consumption.	Waste minimization is a general term used to refer to source reduction and/or environmentally sound recycling methods as a way to reduce the amount waste or byproduct produced. Waste minimization takes place prior to energy recovery, treatment, or disposal of wastes.	A series of rating systems aimed at increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings, sites and structures and of neighborhoods. LEED® covers the design, construction, and operation of all types of buildings.
Water reduction	Lean manufacturing can lead to reductions in water use by making manufacturing processes more efficient. This can include through use of closed loop systems, reducing rework, etc.	These standards address water discharges in multiple ways, including reducing water use, storm water management, landscaping water demand, etc.	None	None	LEED design standards do take into account water reduction and reuse practices. These can include water in production activities as well as facility maintenance (landscaping, plumbing fixtures, etc.)
Air emission reduction	Lean manufacturing can lead to reductions in air emissions through manufacturing efficiency improvements. This can include through reduction in movement and therefore mobile source emissions, decreasing cure times, and much more.	Green building standards do take into account and minimize air pollutant emissions as well as noise and building heat impacts.	Indirect emission reductions through reduced power demand	Waste minimization would result in scope 3 greenhouse gas reductions as there would be a reduction in the number of waste disposal trips being taken from the place of business.	LEED design standards do take into account air emissions from building design and operation. Including the VOC emissions from coatings and adhesives, greenhouse gas emissions from energy sources, and other equipment emissions.
Indoor air quality improvements	Lean manufacturing can lead to improvements in indoor air emissions. This can include through reduction of VOC chemical use, sourcing less toxic materials, and more.	Reducing indoor air quality is commonly a part of green building. This includes consideration of indoor air quality impacts from operation and maintenance as well as from initial construction (i.e., flooring adhesives and structural paint)	None	None	Similar to ambient air emission reduction, LEED design standards do address indoor air quality from building design and operation.
Waste reduction	Lean manufacturing often leads to reduction in waste (in the physical meaning) by eliminating rework, over-production, etc.	Waste reduction, recycling, and use of recycled materials are all incorporated into green buildings.	Indirect waste reductions can be seen through reduction in replacement of ENERGY STAR certified products (i.e., light bulbs)	As the name implies, waste minimization has significant direct impacts on the reduced production of waste. This can be waste of all sorts - hazardous and non-hazardous. By eliminating the production of waste before it ever occurs, means true reduction in this area.	LEED design does indirectly address many areas of waste reduction, mostly
Renewable energy	None	Renewable energy is a main part of green building design and operation. The installation of alternative energy systems (i.e., solar panels or wind turbines) is common.	None	None	LEED programs encourage sourcing or producing renewable energies such as solar and wind.
Chemical use and storage reduction	Lean manufacturing often leads to reducing chemicals used in manufacturing processes by eliminating excessive inventory, rework, over-production, etc.	Green design addresses chemical use through the encouragement of using building and maintenance materials with lower toxicity.	None	None	LEED design incorporates reduced chemical use and through the use of more environmentally friendly materials.
Reporting obligations	Internal reporting is common in organizations that implement lean manufacturing practices.	Depending on the green building standards being followed, there may be reporting obligations.	None	There are very specific reporting obligations for required waste minimization required by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Facilities that generate or manage hazardous waste must certify that they have a waste minimization program in place that reduces the quantity and toxicity of hazardous waste generated to the extent economically practicable. However, many companies that implement waste minimization programs do so voluntarily to reduce their environmental impacts, and in these cases may not have specific reporting obligations.	Depending on the LEED certification being obtained, there can be initial or ongoing scoring and reporting requirements.
Other	Lean production techniques typically develop a culture of system-wide continuous improvement and employee-involvement.	There are a several different green building programs, including government sponsored and third-party certified systems, each with small variations in standards. There is overlap with other sustainability programs in the cross reference table, such as LEED, which can stand alone of be one element in a larger green building program.	Often a component to other, more inclusive programs. For example, ENERY STAR programs are common in application of green building standards.	Because waste minimization is a more easily quantifiable value, it is a common area that companies set environmental objectives.	Often a component to other, more inclusive sustainability programs. Such as, green building standards.

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ENVIRONMENTAL EDGE
InstituteAnalysisLean ManufacturingWaste/HazWasteEnvironmental EdgeSustainabilityChartsGreen BuildingsEnvironmentalWaste MinimizationEnglishSustainabilityGreen ManufacturingFocus AreaUSA

        Sustainability initiatives
    InstituteAnalysisLean ManufacturingWaste/HazWasteEnvironmental EdgeSustainabilityChartsGreen BuildingsEnvironmentalWaste MinimizationEnglishSustainabilityGreen ManufacturingFocus AreaUSA
Comparing the different programs and initiatives that organizations can take as part of a sustainability program. The cross-reference table outlines each initiative and the environmental elements and impacts that are included. This table can help an organization determine which program or programs would be the right fit for their operations, based on the type of reduction and positive impacts they hope to achieve.
Federal regulatory citations:None
Lean manufacturingGreen building standardsENERGY STAR®Waste minimization programLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
DescriptionLean manufacturing is a business model and assembly of planned methods that highlights the eradication of non-value-added activities (waste) while delivering superior products on time at the least cost with higher efficiency. Green building is the general concept of creating structures that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the life-cycle of the structure. This includes building citing, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction. This is a program in which private companies partner with the EPA to promote energy efficient products and processes. ENERGY STAR is fairly narrow in scope, focusing only on efficiency energy consumption.Waste minimization is a general term used to refer to source reduction and/or environmentally sound recycling methods as a way to reduce the amount waste or byproduct produced. Waste minimization takes place prior to energy recovery, treatment, or disposal of wastes. A series of rating systems aimed at increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings, sites and structures and of neighborhoods. LEED® covers the design, construction, and operation of all types of buildings.
Water reductionLean manufacturing can lead to reductions in water use by making  manufacturing processes more efficient. This can include through use of closed loop systems, reducing rework, etc.These standards address water discharges in multiple ways, including reducing water use, storm water management, landscaping water demand, etc. NoneNoneLEED design standards do take into account water reduction and reuse practices. These can include water in production activities as well as facility maintenance (landscaping, plumbing fixtures, etc.)
Air emission reductionLean manufacturing can lead to reductions in air emissions through manufacturing efficiency improvements. This can include through reduction in movement and therefore mobile source emissions, decreasing cure times, and much more. Green building standards do take into account and minimize air pollutant emissions as well as noise and building heat impacts. Indirect emission reductions through reduced power demandWaste minimization would result in scope 3 greenhouse gas reductions as there would be a reduction in the number of waste disposal trips being taken from the place of business. LEED design standards do take into account air emissions from building design and operation. Including the VOC emissions from coatings and adhesives, greenhouse gas emissions from energy sources, and other equipment emissions. 
Indoor air quality improvementsLean manufacturing can lead to improvements in indoor air emissions. This can include through reduction of VOC chemical use, sourcing less toxic materials, and more. Reducing indoor air quality is commonly a part of green building. This includes consideration of indoor air quality impacts from operation and maintenance as well as from initial construction (i.e., flooring adhesives and structural paint)NoneNoneSimilar to ambient air emission reduction, LEED design standards do  address indoor air quality from building design and operation. 
Waste reductionLean manufacturing often leads to reduction in waste (in the physical meaning) by eliminating rework, over-production, etc.Waste reduction, recycling, and use of recycled materials are all incorporated into green buildings. Indirect waste reductions can be seen through reduction in replacement of ENERGY STAR certified products (i.e., light bulbs)As the name implies, waste minimization has significant direct impacts on the reduced production of waste. This can be waste of all sorts - hazardous and non-hazardous. By eliminating the production of waste before it ever occurs, means true reduction in this area. LEED design does indirectly address many areas of waste reduction, mostly 
Renewable energyNoneRenewable energy is a main part of green building design and operation. The installation of alternative energy systems (i.e., solar panels or wind turbines) is common. NoneNoneLEED programs encourage sourcing or producing renewable energies such as solar and wind. 
Chemical use and storage reductionLean manufacturing often leads to reducing chemicals used in manufacturing processes by eliminating excessive inventory, rework, over-production, etc.Green design addresses chemical use through the encouragement of using building and maintenance materials with lower toxicity. NoneNoneLEED design incorporates reduced chemical use and through the use of more environmentally friendly materials. 
Reporting obligationsInternal reporting is common in organizations that implement lean manufacturing practices. Depending on the green building standards being followed, there may be reporting obligations. NoneThere are very specific reporting obligations for required waste minimization required by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Facilities that generate or manage hazardous waste must certify that they have a waste minimization program in place that reduces the quantity and toxicity of hazardous waste generated to the extent economically practicable.   
However, many companies that implement waste minimization programs do so voluntarily to  reduce their environmental impacts, and in these cases may not have specific reporting obligations.Depending on the LEED certification being obtained, there can be initial or ongoing scoring and reporting requirements.
Other Lean production techniques typically develop a culture of system-wide continuous improvement and employee-involvement.There are a several different green building programs, including government sponsored and third-party certified systems, each with small variations in standards.   
There is overlap with other sustainability programs in the cross reference table, such as LEED, which can stand alone of be one element in a larger green building program.Often a component to other, more inclusive programs. For example, ENERY STAR  programs are common in application of green building standards.Because waste minimization is a more easily quantifiable value, it is a common area that companies set environmental objectives. Often a component to other, more inclusive sustainability programs. Such as, green building standards.
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