MSU – Driving Future Sustainability Leaders into the Workforce and the World
With the tagline ‘A Better Tomorrow is Up to Us,’ Michigan State University is working to minimize its footprint while driving new generations of leaders and influencers in sustainability. As a pioneer land-grant university and Michigan’s first agricultural college, MSU works to be a change agent for communities to accelerate cross-sector climate response; serve as an important knowledge generator and convener; educate the next generation of leaders that are most likely to be disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change; and influence the lives of students, alumni, and stakeholders for many generations. Sustainability Program Coordinator Laura Young shares with SBN Detroit how the work that’s being done in East Lansing is designed to impact the campus, Southeast Michigan communities, and businesses now and forward. Q: When did sustainability practices at MSU begin? A: MSU’s history is rooted in sustainability as an agricultural school, and It’s been going strong for decades. But one thing I can point to as an example is our work and efforts around reuse recycling. In 1988, students petitioned the board of trustees to bring recycling on campus and two years later it was established. (Recycling) has grown tremendously and in 2010 we opened a LEED Gold Certified Surplus Store and Recycling Center. Today, the operation has greatly expanded. We’ve added a robotic sorter to our material recovery facility to enhance safety and efficiency. We’re able to divert more organic materials from the landfill thanks to expanded food waste programs and a vermicomposting facility at the center. Through all of these efforts, we’ve decreased the amount of trash per student by 66% since 1990. Our progress as a sustainable institution is a continual evolution. When we commit to something there is never an endpoint, we are always driving to do better and improve. Q: Your website states the following: Having the foundational understanding of nature’s complex relationships as a premier land grant institution, MSU is well-positioned to influence the lives of students, alumni, and stakeholders for many generations. Can you tell us more about that? A: When we think about our role as educators and knowledge generators, we are well-positioned to act as agents of change. We are educating our leaders of tomorrow. And we’d be doing a disservice if we didn’t teach them about climate change and sustainability. They need to deeply understand the impact these global challenges have and will have on the world and leave campus ready to do great work around this. We know businesses are going to need graduates who are ready to hit the ground running toward their sustainability goals, and we are prepping them. Q: What are your short-term sustainability goals? A: We are going through a transitional period in the Office of Sustainability. We lost a great leader, Amy Butler, who passed away earlier this year. We are in the process of hiring a new director of sustainability and will continue to build upon many great sustainability accomplishments. Like many businesses, MSU has experienced many hardships because of the pandemic. This is our first year with fully in-person operations. We are doing a lot of rebuilding and piloting new initiatives. MSU is strengthening our Student Organic Farm and bringing back our Green Office program and Eco Rep Program among many others. Q: What is the Eco Rep Program? A: This is a program that is run by Student Life and Engagement. (SLE) Students are responsible for helping to educate other students to become strong environmental stewards. These kids are passionate and have tremendous energy and we know that students are better messengers to communicate with other students. So, this is a peer program – a role model program – ensuring that we launch environmental stewards out into communities and businesses and the world when they graduate. Q: MSU’s sustainability focuses are campus, curriculum, community, and culture. How does that framework help MSU meet its sustainability goals? A: This is our 4-C Framework and it speaks to the holistic and comprehensive perspective that we apply to sustainability. First, “campus” encompasses our sustainable operations such as our nationally recognized solar carports that deliver 10.5 megawatts of peak power. But we also have incredibly impactful initiatives that aren’t as well known. One example is SLE’s Pack Up. Pitch In, a program that supports diverting waste during move-in and move-out on campus, which is in its 25th year. 17,000 students moving in each year can generate a lot of waste. This year we celebrated 25 years of the program and collected over 12,000 pounds of food at move out that we donated to local charities. During fall move-in we diverted over 60% of materials from landfills, including 1,200 pounds of polystyrene and 68,000 pounds of cardboard. Curriculum deals with how we are educating our students about sustainability and the innovative research happening at MSU around global challenges. We have over 800 courses and 20 undergraduate degrees that address sustainability. We have immersive living-learning programs like RISE that let students explore sustainability issues in applied contexts. Campus and Curriculum intersect – our campus is a living lab that gives students real-world experience in solving sustainability problems. They work alongside staff and faculty and use our infrastructure as a testbed for sustainable solutions. An example of this is our Green Walls. The club Sustainable Spartans wanted to create an indoor green wall in 2020, but then the pandemic hit, and they had to pivot. The project gave students problem-solving experience, experience working with multiple campus partners and vendors, experience managing a project, experience with budgets and fundraising, and more. Ultimately the project culminated in a beautiful legacy that they have left behind for students, employees, alumni and visitors to enjoy. In terms of Community, as an institution, we play a large role in engaging and working with community partners to advance sustainability. For example, MSU has played a large role in extending the regional trail system in Mid-Michigan including expansions of the Lansing River Trail and much more. And the fourth C
Rockford Construction – Focusing on the Full Life Cycle of Spaces
From real estate development to construction and property management, Rockford Construction has been serving the commercial, multiunit, educational, industrial, healthcare, and retail markets throughout the Midwest for more than 30 years. How do they approach sustainability? Mike VanGessel, founder and CEO of Rockford Construction, shares that and more with SBN Detroit. Q: Please tell us about the sustainability practice you have in place. A: Rockford’s current sustainability efforts reflect a “triple bottom line” that is focused on people, the planet, and profit. We consider ourselves to be good stewards of all three of these finite resources. This is certainly a broader view than many people take, but one that is important to our clients and our communities. And we’re not just a construction company. We also develop, own, and manage properties, so our focus extends across the full life cycle of space – not just the initial resources during construction, but the total cost of ownership and the impact our buildings make into the future. As a result, our efforts are quite broad. But each building type brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, allowing us to customize our approach and maximize value to our clients. Q: When did your focus on sustainability come about? A: Decades ago. Rockford was an early adopter of sustainable construction practices. We knew that buildings were a major driver of energy consumption at that time. As a company committed to delivering value to our clients, we recognized that achieving greater energy efficiency would also decrease long-term costs. As the sustainability movement evolved and our knowledge of healthy buildings has grown, our efforts have expanded to include things like water conservation, low VOC (volatile organic compounds)-emitting materials, locally sourced and rapidly renewable materials, and more. Our more-recent triple bottom line approach recognizes that “people” and “profit” are also finite resources, as we’ve seen in our current economy. The shortage of workers – not just in construction but in most industries – has driven a focus on a construction process and end-user facilities that are highly efficient, productive, and attractive to people. The reduction of waste in time and money allows those resources to be deployed elsewhere. Q: What are some examples? A: Over the years, Rockford has completed hundreds of projects that are LEED certified or designed to meet certification requirements. But our approach is applied to all our projects, exploring the building design, systems, and materials to determine the right solution based on client needs, first costs, and long-term operational expenses. The most successful projects result from early involvement and clear goal-setting. One of the best examples can be found in Circuit West, a cutting-edge energy district that encompasses a 13-block area in Grand Rapids. As Rockford was developing and constructing buildings in the area, we partnered with Consumers Energy in their effort to pilot next-generation energy technology. Together, we installed 1,800 solar panels and battery storage capable of producing 500 kilowatts every hour. Power lines were buried, and solar arrays were installed in conjunction with other construction work, greatly reducing installation costs. The result is more reliable, renewable energy for the neighborhood. While Circuit West was a large-scale effort, early involvement allows us to explore all possibilities, uncovering those that make the greatest impact on our clients’ triple bottom Line. Q: What are the drivers behind these practices? A: The driver of sustainability is simple. We are creating healthier, more energy-efficient, and cost-effective buildings for our clients and the people who will live, work, play, and heal inside of them. In the early days, sustainable design and materials were thought to drive additional costs to buildings, and owners had to be deeply committed. Today, a better understanding of good design, appropriate systems, and more readily available sustainable and renewable materials are all driving cost savings. Why a client chooses sustainable solutions – cost savings, environmental responsibility, or healthy spaces – isn’t important. What matters is that the result helps us conserve resources and positively impact our world. Q: Rockford services so many different industries and types of construction – how do your sustainability practices differ between projects? A: Each project is unique, and clients have different goals and expectations. That said, best practices can vary based on different project types. For example, some industrial buildings are high users of energy and, at times, water. Energy-efficient systems, water conservation, and grey water options can provide good solutions. In healthcare facilities, research shows that healing environments include natural light, views, good ventilation, low VOC products, and easily cleaned materials. By focusing on what makes each building unique, the low-hanging fruit of sustainability becomes clear. Often, the most sustainable building is the one that is renovated, either for its existing use or for a new one. This is particularly true in an urban setting, where many building exteriors were built to last for decades. By reusing the walls and structure, not only are tons of waste materials diverted from landfills, but owners can capture the value of materials already in place. Warehouses can be converted into apartment buildings, churches become office buildings and schools are reimagined into senior living. Over the years, Rockford has developed expertise in the adaptive reuse of space. Q: Do you have a team of people set up to implement your sustainability practices? A: In the past, the Rockford team included a director of sustainability. However, we wanted to turn what could be described as a “program” into a “practice.” Our construction team and our property and facility managers are all well-versed in sustainable practices. But we have a variety of team members, from accountants to graphic designers, who want to be a part of our company-wide efforts. That’s why we are launching a company-wide Sustainability Committee to continue to expand our impact both internally and externally. Q: Beyond vendors and material choices – what else do you look at? A: Locally sourced talent, vendors, and materials are part of a strategy that is appealing to our clients, who strive to support
A Focus on Decreasing Food Waste in Detroit
Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry Speaks on the Design, Vision, and programming and how it will impact the city of Detroit.
How Does Consumers Energy Activate Around People, the Planet, and Prosperity?
How does Consumers Energy, which provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents, with 8,000+ staff members, approach sustainability? SBN Detroit spoke to Brandon Hofmeister, Senior Vice President of Governmental, Regulatory and Public Affairs for CMS Energy and Consumers Energy, about how the company executes its sustainability goals and about some of its current projects. Q: When did you begin sustainability efforts at Consumers Energy? A: From a very broad sense, the company has been focused on sustainability since it was founded. Our current intentional focus to prioritize sustainability specifically within our corporate strategy has been around for about a decade. Q: What is the organizational structure around executing your sustainability goals? A: Our corporate strategy is centered around a triple bottom line of people, planet, and prosperity with measurable goals that cascade down throughout the whole business and that are embedded in everything we do. We don’t necessarily source it to one department or team. We do have an Environment and Sustainability Council that includes top leaders and executives and officers who meet regularly to monitor progress toward key sustainability goals. We also have a Chief Diversity Officer and a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and this overlaps and encompasses our sustainability objectives. It’s very cross-functional – everyone owns it and it’s embedded within all roles and levels of the company. Q; Please give some examples of initiatives and priorities in place around people, planet and prosperity. A: Regarding the planet, I would say our biggest initiative is transforming our electricity generation mix. We will retire our remaining coal plants in 2025 and move completely to clean energy, reducing carbon emissions by 60% from 2005 levels. This is a very aggressive goal but as a company, we are excited about it. From a people perspective, we are focused on dramatically improving electric reliability by hardening systems to stand up to more intense storm activity and leveraging best practices in technology and management to reduce outages. We are also deeply focused on the affordability of our services. We’re doing a lot of work to create payment and assistance and energy efficiency programs. We are also dedicated to finding ways to take cost out of our processes and the cost we pass on to our customers, so they get the best value for the services provided. This is equally important for our business customers. We must make sure electricity is cost-effective so businesses can continue to thrive and create jobs here in Michigan. Regarding prosperity, part of the triple bottom line is keeping our own business healthy and profitable for our staff and also our investors. We are expected to deliver consistent and low-risk financial results and that affects our community and the economy overall. Q: Consumers Energy employs more than 8,000 people. How do you share the vision and facilitate action? A: How we approach the goals in itself is important and I think has been impactful. We set breakthrough goals and unleash the team to find new and innovative solutions. It is challenging to set goals that we don’t yet know how to achieve, but this can also be very inspiring, as long as you give the “why” behind the goal. Our team inherently works for our friends and neighbors, and we want to deliver for them. So, whether it’s decreasing carbon emissions or increasing electric reliability, we set goals, give the why, and then let the power of the people take it forward. The outcomes are often quite remarkable and solutions we never thought possible are unveiled. Q: What do you think is one of the most impactful sustainability practices you’ve put into place to date? A: Our clean energy program is a good example. We set an ambitious goal to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Within the framework of conventional wisdom, this originally appeared to be impossible. But the goal has opened up new ways of thinking. Retiring the coal plants was originally slated for 2040, but that’s been moved up to 2025 as I mentioned. We have a north star to reach and are working on this carbon goal every day. Q: What do you point to as an impactful project you are putting into place in the next three to five years? A: Electrification of vehicles is a big game changer for our industry. The company has a breakthrough goal to have a million EVs in service by 2030. This is great for the planet and great for our customers’ pocketbooks. The more electricity we all use, the more electric bills decrease. There are set costs for infrastructure, and if more people are using that infrastructure the cost per unit of electricity goes down. So, it’s a win-win. Q: How do you integrate the community and keep them informed? A: This is a huge part of our work. We spend a lot of time communicating what we are working on and why, but it’s a two-way street. We also want to understand the people and community we serve, so we conduct formal and informal stakeholder outreach. We do materiality assessments internally and externally. We engage customers and educate them on how they can save energy by considering an electric vehicle or participating in renewable energy programs. Most people don’t think about their utility service unless the power out goes out, but it’s important to continually communicate our broader mission. We spend time engaging in a variety of channels with customers to have two-way communication. Q: What advice would you give to SE Michigan businesses when it comes to laying out sustainability goals and achieving them? A: Start with what’s important to the business. Understand the impact the business is having and focus on a goal. Also engage stakeholders. Set ambitious goals and always communicate the why. It’s easier to bring people in when they are engaged versus being told. And finally, don’t have too many goals. Prioritize, set a few very ambitious and solid goals,
The Centrepolis Accelerator – Working to Grow Manufacturing and Bring Sustainable Opportunities to Michigan
On the campus of Lawrence Technological University, the Centrepolis Accelerator is focused on the growth of Southeast Michigan’s small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs, largely in the areas of climatech, cleantech, and the circular economy. Centrepolis, a uniquely positioned nonprofit business facilitator, provides access to key resources, a collaborative community, product development, and manufacturing experts with an impetus to keep manufacturing in Michigan and thus bring Michigan manufacturers and companies new opportunities. Executive Director Dan Radomski previously held COO and chief strategy officer positions with Optimal Inc.– a Plymouth, Mich., based firm focused on product development, competitive benchmarking, and vehicle engineering. In a prior role as VP of industry and venture development at NextEnergy, Radomski led incubator services and market and technology analytic efforts to support the growth of early-stage and mature energy technology firms in areas such as wind, solar, advanced batteries, power electronics, vehicle electrification, smart grid, microgrid, natural gas, and energy efficiency. SBND spoke to him about the work Centrepolis is doing toward cleantech, climatech, and the circular economy as well as keeping development and manufacturing in Michigan. Q: What exactly is Centrepolis? A: The Centrepolis Accelerator is accelerating the growth of Southeast Michigan’s small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs with an emphasis on the circular economy. It’s the only incubator I’m aware of that offers in-house design, engineering, and prototype capabilities, plus access to funding, experts, customers, and strategic partnerships. If an inventor, start-up, small business, or manufacturer has an idea for a product, we are the place to come to get help in design, engineering, prototyping, testing, and prepping to manufacture. We work with many different individuals and entities. Some have engineering backgrounds and many do not. Designing out cost while ensuring durability and reliability in products are common challenges faced when bringing a new product to market. We harness the manufacturing expertise that’s so prevalent in Michigan and connect corporations and individuals to get more products developed and manufactured in Michigan. Q: How did Centrepolis come to be and what’s the impetus behind it? A: I grew up as a machinist working in my Dad’s machine shop. He and his friends made solid careers and good lives for their families as machinists. I’ve worked for small, midsized, and international product development firms and manufacturers throughout my career. Over the years I’ve seen a significant increase in outsourcing to China and started thinking about the future of my family and of other Michiganders. I felt like we needed a program to keep manufacturing in Southeast Michigan and help people who don’t have the engineering know-how. So, in 2017 we launched Centrepolis – the state’s only hardware accelerator program – with Lawrence Tech, the City of Southfield, and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC). I also had some experience working with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy(EGLE) so I took the idea to them. They said if the accelerator focused on cleantech hardware they would be interested in helping to fund it. I said we will focus not only on cleantech but also climatech and circular economy products, which came to be our C3 Accelerator program. Q: With whom do you work? A: This is another way we differ greatly from other incubator programs. Most incubators focus on helping start-ups only, but we offer services for all entrepreneurs whether they are an individual, a start-up, or established small businesses. Many would be surprised to know that 40% of our clients are established small businesses. We offer support on three levels essentially. First, we assist with customer discovery, competitive landscape research, and the securing of patents and trademarks. We also offer tactical support such as business strategy, and connections to customers, strategic partners, suppliers, and manufacturers. With some clients, we engage more deeply in the entire process, from investment to design to engineering to prototype to product launch. As we all know, there are solutions around sustainability globally, so we crowdsource and hunt down the best innovations in sustainable materials and recycling technologies and bring them into Michigan to partner with companies such as Whirlpool and Steelcase, among others. We have brought several companies with really interesting technologies focused on waste removal into Michigan to partner with manufacturers here. Q: What are some examples? A: Savormetrics is a great company in Canada. They are an award-winning AI-sensor company that provides Quality Assurance/Quality Controls systems to the food and agriculture industries to prevent food waste in food production, processing, and distribution. They have partnered with vertical farms and food processors here in Michigan and built solutions for vertical farms that increase yields by at least 30% and decrease operating costs by over 50%. Glacier is a very compelling recycling automation start-up in San Francisco that is developing a new robotic sorter for material recovery facilities that performs just as effectively as other robots, at a much lower cost and smaller footprint. We have facilitated funding for them through EGLE and partnerships with local material recovery facilities. Centrepolis also gained funding for local companies like Detect-It in Oak Park, which offers software that now helps to sort textiles such as end-of-life waste clothing and separate materials cotton from synthetic materials to improve recycling. Q: How are LTU students involved? A: We have five interns who are student workers. They help with business strategy as well as product design, engineering, and prototyping I can point to the Glacier recycling automation here. We are activating students now to help engineer and design a new end effector for robotic arms to help sort plastics for improved rates of recycling. Q: What does the future look like for Centrepolis? A: To continue getting more and more products made in Michigan. We currently have over three dozen products that have come out of Centrepolis that are completely made in Michigan. I’m also very proud of the fact that 366 of our clients now provide contracts with Michigan suppliers equating to over $24 million in business to the local supply chain. That’s an amazing amount of business and illustrates the economic multiplier of
The Role of Southeast Michigan Colleges and Universities in Sustainability
When it comes to sustainability, colleges and universities are in a unique position in that they must approach it from an implementation standpoint, but they also have the opportunity to deeply educate and affect the next generation in carrying sustainability actions forward. According to Rose Spickler, director of statewide engagement at the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (WMSBF), which runs the Campus Sustainability Collective, colleges and universities across the state are in various stages of their sustainability journeys. The WMSBF Campus Sustainability Collective is a collaboration between staff and faculty from campuses across Michigan that share resources to improve their respective sustainability goals. The group consists of representatives from over 20 Michigan campuses, including Eastern Michigan University, Siena Heights University, and Wayne State University. Eastern Michigan University began formal efforts around sustainability practices ten years ago and has seen continued passion and involvement from students. Five years ago, one student championed the goal of starting a President’s Commission on Sustainability on campus and four years ago, the commission was formed. Wayne State University established an Office of Sustainability in 2011 and has a five-year sustainability action plan in place. Siena Heights University, in Adrian, formed a Sustainability Committee in 2012 and has made progress in recycling, food choices, and the execution of a campus-wide energy audit. The institution is also incorporating sustainability into its curriculum. SBND spoke to all three institutions about their challenges, gains, and plans. Q: What are your main areas of focus and achievements to date when it comes to sustainability? Thomas Kovacs, Professor, Department of Geography and Geology, Eastern Michigan University Our President’s Sustainability Commission identified Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as governing bodies to help us determine our framework, and we have been working within these guidelines toward sustainability. As such, our focus is academics, engagement, operations, and administration. On campus, a co-generation heat and power system has been installed to create an annual reduction of 21,305 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the preservation of 260 acres of forests. The campus also has a bioswale designed to remove debris and pollution out of surface runoff water. It also serves as a living laboratory for students and staff. In 2020, Eastern Michigan University was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as 123 in the nation among 389 national universities, and among the top three national universities in Michigan in the social mobility category. We are very proud of this. Donna Kashian, Director of Environmental Science, and Professor of Biology, Wayne State University We established our Office of Sustainability in 2011 and it is a collaboration between groups. We have just submitted a new five-year plan that is very robust, and includes these subdivisions: Environmental justice Carbon reduction Built environment Water quality and quantity Energy Transportation/mobility Urban biodiversity Sustainable food practices Waste reduction We are more intentional now than ever before. Internally we focus on teaching, research, and facilities, and externally we are committed to doing a better job recognizing our place in the community with a larger focus on the greater Detroit area. We also network with leaders at other universities across the world to learn best practices in sustainability. Thomas Wassmer, Professor of Biology, Siena Heights University One of the areas we’ve been successful in is our curriculum. Recently we audited all course descriptions and found that 31% cover at least one of the 17 Sustainability Development Goals of the UN. That is a solid start, and we are working to increase this. One thing we are proud of is our William Issa Endowment Speaker Series where we invite extraordinary speakers in to educate on the environment and sustainability. We also feature an environmental documentary series that’s in its 14th season and is open to the students, staff, and public. What are your main goals going forward? Thomas Kovacs, Professor in the Department of Geography and Geology, Eastern Michigan University Our focus is to improve our STARS score and to work on communicating to the university how we plan to move ahead. I envision in the next two to three years we will greatly improve on our STARS scores. Donna Kashian, Director of Environmental Sciences, and Professor of Biology, Wayne State University We are excited about our new five-year plan and expect to move a lot of efforts forward in the upcoming months and years. For this plan, we called on specific people and groups and outlined action items – things they need to do. I expect to see a lot of visible changes on campus. We are also anticipating a big announcement in October regarding our carbon commitment. Thomas Wassmer, Associate Professor of Biology, Siena Heights University Using more renewable energy sources to reduce our carbon footprint, working toward a pesticide-free and chemical-free campus, and increasing its biodiversity. I’m a big advocate of maintaining our vegetative structures differently. We need to overcome the idea that to look inviting and well taken care of, the campus has to be perfectly manicured and blacktopped. We are working to get there. What has been most rewarding to you in your journey toward sustainability? Thomas Kovacs, Professor in the Department of Geography and Geology, Eastern Michigan University When I dug in, I saw so many people quietly working on campus trying to make things better who nobody knew about. Learning how much individuals care has been the most rewarding thing. For example, we had one person who was taking care of the grounds and working on recycling efforts and creating composting opportunities. Another person put boxes out at the end of the semesters during move-out times to collect electronics and such to avoid them going into landfills. These grassroots efforts matter and we are working to formalize plans and gain strength in collaborating. Donna Kashian, Director of Environmental Sciences, and Professor of Biology, Wayne, State University It’s been most rewarding seeing the passion of the students and faculty, many of which are
Dan Carmody, Eastern Market Partnership CEO, Talks About Building Opportunity, Economy and a Stronger Regional Food System
Dan Carmody, Eastern Market Partnership CEO since 2007, spoke with SBN Detroit on the market’s positioning towards sustainable practices. Carmody is responsible for shepherding the 127-year-old, public market to nourish a healthier, wealthier, and happier Detroit. EMP operates one of the largest public markets in the United States, oversees a program of capital investments to rebuild the market, serves as the economic development organization to nurture and expand the Eastern Market District, manages a host of food access programs to improve Detroit diets, and builds an ecosystem to support Detroit food entrepreneurs. Carmody has led Eastern Market to become a national thought leader in developing new templates for how to repurpose urban vacant land and resurrect regional food systems. We talked to Carmody about EMP’s sustainability strategies. Q: Where do EMP’S strengths lie in terms of sustainability? A: Put quite simply, we work to help build a stronger regional food system to make us less reliant on large industrial food systems. There are not enough public markets in the U.S. that serve to support independent small businesses. Public markets are the original “pop up.” Small startups and entrepreneurs can pay the fee to rent a stall or tent and get moving on their business. We need more places like that around the country to help small businesses and not be so dependent on big companies. Q: What does sustainability mean to the market? A: It means that farmers are being compensated for crops in a fashion that allows financial success. It means farmers and growers embracing business practices that help us steward the earth in better ways than we are now. How do you approach partnering with sustainable companies in the food and agriculture industries? A: Two things I can point to that we work on are first, helping to make solar options more viable, and second, helping businesses work stormwater management into their practices to reduce the cost of operation and decrease the amount of stormwater run-off into the Detroit River. Q: How does the addition of these new entities move sustainability forward in Eastern Market? A: The new Mosaic food hall will be located at 3500 Riopelle St. in the former Detroit Water Department building. This building hasn’t been occupied since 1999, so the mere act of utilizing an existing building versus tearing it down and starting over is in itself a very significant sustainable practice. EW Grobbel, who’s been selling corned beef and other foods since the 1970s, will open a new grocery store and deli, creating 300 new jobs and offering local farmers a great venue to sell. These are two great examples of growth occurring now that help move sustainability forward. Q: Looking back eight to ten years, what was your selling point then to bring businesses into the market and also to approach sustainability with them? How has that changed? A: It has not changed much. We look for partners in the food sector and others that build the market as a regional food hub and also improve the business mix for the retail consumer supply and demand. There is an authenticity to the market that has always been there and is still today. Its focus is on independent businesses and if anything, we are becoming more vocal to make sure it remains this way as property values increase. Q What partnerships do you value when it comes to sustainability? A: One that comes to mind is our partnership with The Nature Conservancy in helping businesses design and implement stormwater management systems. This has been going on for several years. We piloted a conversion of a parking lot to retain stormwater at Sacred Heart Church in the Market District that resulted in the reduction of stormwater runoff and reduced their water bills greatly. Throughout our expansion, The Conservancy is helping us as we identify future buildout plans and repurpose urban land for industrial and commercial use to build in stormwater management systems as we go. Q: What can you tell us about the new expansion of the market? A: The expansion involves 25 to 30 acres and a $1 million food processing and distribution space. Again, this will bring new jobs to the Market District, more healthy food options for people in nearby neighborhoods, and vitality and growth to the whole district. Eastern Market has one of the largest footprints of any public market in the country – and we have the space and the means to go bigger. We’ve worked over time to bring in more value-added makers, and now the market is a viable market on Saturday all year and the expansion will strengthen that. From an economic standpoint, we work to offer more opportunities to entrepreneurs to help them grow, and we will continue to do so. We’ve received funding from the state to build what we are referring to as Shed X – a new wholesale distribution facility for regional farmers. Since 1891 farmers have come to the market between midnight and 6 am to sell to independent grocers. This has shrunk over the years and we are down to about 40 million pounds per year. This is not small, but it’s also not big in terms of food distribution. We hope to grow this by building a new, modern facility with refrigeration and docks that the farmers can more efficiently use. We’ll utilize solar lighting and stormwater management within this facility. All of this will serve to help the local economy, and the diversification creates and keeps jobs in the city. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on sustainable business practices in and around Detroit.
Detroit Greenways Coalition’s Todd Scott Talks Greenways and Sustainability
The Detroit Greenways Coalition (DGC) works to promote and build a network of greenways, Complete Streets, and bike lanes that will connect people and places, improve the quality of life, beautify neighborhoods, and stimulate neighborhood-level economic development in Detroit. Its mission is to create, conserve and promote greenways and green spaces to connect people, places, and nature. Its vision is a strong, healthy, vibrant City of Detroit and a region where a seamless network of greenways, green spaces, blueways, and Complete Streets are an integral part of people’s active lifestyles including day-to-day transportation and recreation. SBN Detroit spoke to DGC Executive Director Todd Scott to gain insights about their work. Q: How big of a driver was sustainability for the city of Detroit in the forming of the Greenways Coalition? A: In the beginning, we had to tackle more basic issues about how to build and maintain greenways across the entire city and how to make green transportation easier and safer. Our vision was certainly supporting sustainable transportation and green space, but we were focused initially on more basic issues. Some examples here are developing a citywide greenway network vision, advocating for redesigned city streets that better accommodate green transportation, and finding the resources to make this all a reality. Over time we’ve been able to move beyond these issues and push sustainability more, especially in light of the need for Climate Action – reducing transportation carbon emissions and providing green stormwater management. Q: The vision of the Greenways Coalition is ultimately to connect every neighborhood over time. Please speak to how this impacts the city in terms of sustainability from these aspects: Environmental: Greenways and Complete Streets (i.e. streets designed to safely accommodate all users) can do more than provide green transportation. They can help manage stormwater through green stormwater infrastructure, street trees, and even de-paving roads. They can also reduce urban heat island effects. Flooding and extreme heat are big issues in Detroit that our work can help address. Transportation/Mobility: The most important impact is how these connections help Detroiters use green transportation. That’s not just walking and biking, but public transit as well. They provide safe and convenient routes that connect schools, jobs, parks, retail areas, and more. Economic: There are many examples of greenways and Complete Streets driving economic urban revitalization around the world. Locally, there may be no better example than the Livernois Avenue of Fashion. The streetscape project reduced vehicle travel lanes (and speeding), widened sidewalks, and added bike lanes. Businesses along the route have flourished. There is a tremendous opportunity for additional retail revitalization along the 27-mile Joe Louis Greenway. It will be interesting to see how places like the Oakman/Grand River strip and even Downtown Hamtramck increase business activity as a result of the greenway and the bike and pedestrian traffic that it brings. Social/Inclusivity: Biking and walking can be very social. We’ve seen this with the numerous biking and walking clubs that have formed across the city over recent years, but especially during COVID. Greenways and Complete Streets support these club events that are open to everyone. Q: Does the Greenways Coalition have a set of sustainability goals? A: What we largely do is advocate for institutions to have sustainability goals. We’ve done that with the City of Detroit through their Sustainability Action Agenda. We’ve been heavily involved in the carbon neutrality discussion at the state level through the MI Healthy Climate Plan. We’ve even weighed in on federal issues, such as the recently proposed U.S. DOT Greenhouse Gas Emissions rule. You could say our agenda is to get sustainability incorporated at the institutional level so that it leverages the benefits of our vision. Q: From a sustainability standpoint what are the direct benefits the Greenways offer to Detroit residents? A: The largest direct sustainability benefit is transportation. Greenways provide “green ways” to get to destinations around the city and to connect with public transportation. The “green” in greenways has multiple meanings. It’s more than just landscaping, it’s about sustainable transportation. It’s also about saving some “green,” e.g. money. Sustainability can benefit Detroiters, but that benefit must also improve the financial sustainability of the household budget. Vehicle transportation can eat up a large portion of that budget. Greenways can benefit many and reduce that burden. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on sustainable business practices in and around Detroit.
2030 Districts Network International Summit Held in Detroit
During Oct. 4-6, 2030 District directors and building owners, and members will convene for the 2030 Districts Network International Summit, which is being held for the first time in Detroit. The event focuses on sharing best practices in sustainability and the greening of buildings across the country and will also shine a bright spotlight on Detroit buildings and the many efforts in place to enhance sustainability in the city. “I’m really excited not only to meet with other District directors in person and get fresh perspectives and ideas but also to show off and share the work we’ve been doing to the world,” says Connie Lilley, director of the Detroit 2030 District. “I think there will be a level of pleasant surprise among our cohorts from around the country.” In addition to roundtables, presentations, and meetings to be held at Huntington Place, the largest LEED-certified venue in Michigan. The group will attend events and tours encompassing several key buildings, including the Renaissance Center, which is heavily involved in reducing carbon emissions; the Guardian Building, which is taking steps to reduce energy; the Central Mobility District and more. A welcome reception – which is open to the public – is being held at the Zero Net Energy Center to kick off the summit. The reception is expected to draw up to 250 people. The reception’s keynote speaker is Liesl Eichler Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). We spoke to Liesl to get her insights on the summit, the 2030 Districts, and the work that’s being done in Detroit. Q: From your perspective, what is the importance of the 2030 Districts Network International Summit and the impact on the city of Detroit? A: The 2030 Districts network is a powerful catalyst across the globe in bringing local community and business leaders together to achieve ambitious climate and sustainability goals. Michigan is lucky to have three 2030 Districts in our state—Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and, of course, Detroit. Hosting the 2030 Districts Network International Summit in our state’s biggest city will increase awareness of the network and engage more Michiganders in this vital movement. It is also an opportunity to showcase the leadership and creative problem solving that has blossomed in Detroit and other Michigan cities and learn from peers from across the country and the world so we can put best practices into action here. The solutions being pioneered in Detroit and in other 2030 Districts, can serve as roadmaps for other communities to reduce their carbon pollution while providing good jobs and more vibrant, resilient neighborhoods. Q: What is the relevance of having it held in Detroit for the first time? A: Detroit has a proud and unique history. As home to the global auto industry, it boasts a strong manufacturing heritage. It is located in the heart of both the industrial Midwest and the Great Lakes Basin, which is home to roughly 20% of the Earth’s fresh surface water. Among U.S. cities with populations over 100,000, Detroit has one of the highest percentages of Black residents. It also has a large geographic footprint relative to its total population. For all these reasons, Detroit’s success as 2030 District can provide a powerful demonstration and proving ground for transitioning to carbon-free economy in a way that creates good jobs, advances justice and equity, improve air quality and public health, protects our water and other environmental assets, and builds vibrant places to live. Q: What are you looking forward getting out of the conference? A: I am looking forward to connecting with businesses and community leaders who are ready to double down on helping Michigan reach ambitious climate goals, namely, to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition, we are always looking to beg, borrow, and steal good ideas from other states and places—particularly innovative solutions that others have already tested, refined, and perfected. So, in my networking at the summit, I will look for new partners and fresh approaches to our climate and sustainability work. Q: Overall how does the work of the 2030 Districts tie into your work? A: The work of 2030 Districts intersects with EGLE’s mission to protect Michigan’s environment and public health in too many ways to mention here. The most direct and obvious connection point is our climate and energy work. Shortly after taking office in 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer created the State of Michigan’s first Office of Climate and Energy. The following fall she directed our department to develop the MI Healthy Climate Plan—our state’s plan to fulfill her commitment to transition the entire Michigan economy to carbon neutrality by 2050. As with 2030 Districts, the MI Healthy Climate Plan shines a spotlight on the ambitious interim targets we must hit this decade to reach our mid-century goals. And it, too, focuses on our built environment with “Repair and Decarbonize Homes and Businesses” serving as one of its six core pillars. More specifically, it calls for a 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment by 2030 (as well as an increase in clean electricity generation to 60% in that timeframe). As director of EGLE and the chair of the Council on Climate Solutions, which helped us draft the plan, I know that action at the community level and in the private sector will drive decarbonization, alongside policy change and funding from the state and federal governments. That’s why EGLE has worked closely to support 2030 Districts through our State Energy Office grant programs and event sponsorships. Additionally, through EGLE’s Catalyst Communities program, we’ve engaged directly with Michigan’s 2030 Districts and seen firsthand the innovative solutions they have developed and the unique challenges they face. Q: What excites you the most regarding the work the 2030 Districts-Detroit is doing? A: To reach our climate goals we need to prioritize near-term progress and we need to leverage the resources of the private sector to create real action at the local level. The 2030 Districts-Detroit is doing all
How Does Meijer, One of the U.S.’s Largest Private Companies, Approach Sustainability?
SBN Detroit interviews Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability for Meijer, the Michigan-based retailer with more than 250 stores and 70,000 employees in six states throughout the Midwest. The company ranks 13th on Forbes’ 2021 Largest Private Companies list. Petrovskis leads environmental management across Meijer, including remediation, due diligence, and multimedia compliance programs, and represents the company’s position on regulatory matters. Here he shares some of the efforts, challenges, and goals that are in place, and the opening of the Q: Meijer has a goal of reducing 50% of absolute carbon emissions by 2025 – Can you elaborate and share what actionable items you are working on toward that? A: Meijer set a goal to reduce our absolute carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2025. This reduction represents the emissions over which Meijer has operational control and includes things like our fuel, electricity, natural gas, and refrigerant usage. We have many ongoing projects to reach the reduction goal, including energy efficiency improvements, refrigerant leak detection systems, and fuel efficiency strategies for our fleet. Our virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for two renewable energy fields will also support reaching a 50 percent reduction. Q: Tell us about Meijer’s investment in the Texas-based Lacy Creek Wind Energy Center and how it pertains to Meijer’s carbon emission reduction goals. A: Our investment is structured as a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). In this agreement, Meijer commits to purchasing much of the energy generated from the wind farm and receives renewable energy credits (RECs). This project is coupled with the Pisgah Ridge Solar project, which utilizes the same type of agreement. The RECs certify our purchase of renewable energy and therefore represent a reduction in overall carbon emissions from the energy we purchase. Q: When did Meijer initiate sustainability practices? A: Meijer was an early adopter of green initiatives. Fred Meijer, who led the company for more than 40 years, vowed to “Leave the world in a little better shape than when I entered it.” In fact, Fred Meijer spoke at the first Grand Rapids Earth Day celebration in 1970, and company-wide recycling, energy, and waste reduction programs were in place by 1973. Since then, we’ve undertaken many sustainability-related projects, like our plastic bag recycling drop-off, installing EV chargers at select stores, and sourcing responsible seafood. Among others, these efforts became formalized when Meijer established its first sustainability plan in 2014. At Meijer, we understand that to be a good company, we must be a good neighbor. We integrate environmental sustainability into our daily operations, not only because it makes good business sense, but because it aligns with our values and mission of enriching lives in the communities we serve. Our sustainability program has evolved to prioritize four pillars: carbon emissions reduction, food waste reduction, circular economy, and Great Lakes Stewardship. Q: Regarding the Detroit Rivertown location in Lafayette Park, what community partnerships have been put in place since opening? A: Since the store opened in 2021, Meijer has supported more than 20 community organizations, including Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan, Bees in the D, The Better Detroit Youth Movement, Pure Heart Foundation, and Greening of Detroit. Q: Are there any other sustainability efforts that are unique to the Rivertown location? A: The Rivertown Market includes electric vehicle charging as an amenity to our customers. This is part of our greater network of EV chargers, which includes more than 70 stores in our footprint. Rivertown Market will also participate in our Gutter Bin pilot program, which is part of our Great Lakes Stewardship efforts. The Gutter Bins will catch garbage and other debris from our parking lots before it enters the waterways. The Council for the Great Lakes Region will coordinate metric tracking and evaluation of the initiative, which is occurring across nine Meijer stores. Q: How does this location and Meijer overall deal with food waste? A: Meijer aims to keep food waste out of landfills. This begins with our ordering process, in which we optimize the quantities ordered to reduce overstock. However, we also have partnered with several organizations to find other solutions. For example, we work with Feeding America, and their network of food banks across our footprint, on our Food Rescue program to provide food nearing its sell-by date to those in need. In 2021, we donated 13.7 million pounds of food through this program. We also rolled out Flashfood program, which acts as a virtual clearance rack for food nearing its sell-by date. This program is not currently available at Rivertown Market but has already diverted more than 1 million pounds of food from potentially entering landfills. Also, any food that can no longer be consumed, including things like food scraps and rotten produce, is picked up from our stores, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities by third-party vendors, who process the waste into animal feed and compost. Q: What are your biggest challenges when it comes to reaching your sustainability goals? A: We’re lucky to have had strong support both internally and externally regarding our sustainability goals. However, one initial challenge with ours was leading a cohesive path forward. The formation of our Sustainability Council united the company and allowed sustainability to move out across all functions of the business. The Sustainability Council, which is made up of representatives from across the company’s business areas, has served as a powerful mechanism in moving our efforts forward and achieving goals with strong cross-functional collaboration. Q: From your perspective, what is the role of businesses in Detroit in terms of sustainability overall for the city? A: Business plays a key role in sustainability on a global scale. Specifically in Detroit, a focus on business sustainability is essential for the city’s renaissance to be successful and enduring. Meijer is grateful to have the opportunity to support the city’s revival, taking both environmental and social sustainability into account. Q: What businesses and partners and vendors are you working with in Detroit who are doing it well? A: Meijer features
