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Oekom research's annual Corporate Responsibility Overview indicates that companies are not doing enough in terms of sustainability.  Only one in six (16.7 per cent) of the companies from the global MSCI World equity index which have been rated by oekom research currently demonstrates a good level of commitment to sustainable development. Not a single company has qualified for the ?very good? category.  The report contains numerous specific examples of what measures companies from various sectors are taking in the individual areas for action.  413

As The SRI Conference organizers, we have been strongly motivated to reduce the overall footprint of the conference and increase its sustainability for many years. And, each year, we take another step in the right direction.

Venue Selection

“When it comes to green meetings, George Gay wrote the book”, so said Alison Hall in Financial & Insurance Meetings magazine. The SRI Conference venue proposal guidelines include an extensive set of questions used to evaluate the venue’s commitment and actions in the area of Green Building and Sustainable Operations. Some of the questions on which properties are evaluated include:

• Green Hotel Initiative: Is the facility compliant with the Green Hotel Initiative?
• Carbon Footprint: Has the property evaluated its carbon footprint, and, if so, what are the results?
• LEED certified: Is the property LEED certified and/or have any other Green Building standards been implemented?
• Local, Organic Food: Does the venue use locally grown and/or organic food products? If so, what is the approximate ratio of such food to the total amount of food served?
• Food Donation: Consistent with local health regulations, is the facility willing to donate all unused, but paid for, food to a local homeless shelter or other such facility?
• Public Transportation: Is there access to public transportation from the hotel?

Carbon Offsets

The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing began purchasing carbon offsets in 2003.

In 2012, The SRI Conference participated in the Indiana School Wind Project.

 

Reeling from the recession and increased energy costs, school administrators in Indiana have sought ways to stretch budgets and keep classrooms vibrant. Luckily, they have one bountiful asset: the wind.  Wind is a backdrop to life in northern Indiana. "We have a huge wind resource," said Brian Smith, superintendent of the North Newton school district. "If you go to a ball game, it's windy. If you are outside at all, it's windy."  Now, through the Indiana School Wind Project, North Newton and two other districts are using this natural resource to save money and keep students engaged. They have installed wind turbines that power school buildings and provide hands-on renewable energy training for young people.   "Every dollar we save on energy costs and earn from carbon offsets is a dollar we can spend in the classroom," said Harold Seamon, assistant superintendent of Northwestern School Corporation.

Appreciation Gifts Sponsor

Our Appreciation Gift Sponsorship supports us in providing sustainable gifts to our speakers, the Agenda Committee, and staff members of the First Affirmative Financial Network. Some of the criteria we consider during the selection process include whether the product is fair trade, organic, made from recycled materials, and locally produced.