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
Detroit Sustainability Action Agenda Framework
In June 2019, the City of Detroit’s Office of Sustainability published the city’s first Sustainability Action Agenda, a strategic roadmap to create a more sustainable city. In order to develop the agenda, a full year was spent engaging with 6,800 Detroiters to understand their vision for a more equitable, prosperous, and environmentally sustainable city. The city hired 14 sustainability ambassadors, created a Sustainability Advisory Commission, convened an interdepartmental working group of 29 city departments, distributed online and in-person surveys in five languages, and used the coUrbanize digital platform to reach Detroiters online. This engagement helped to define four desired outcomes: Healthy Thriving People Affordable Quality Homes Clean, Connected Neighborhoods An Equitable Green City Across these four outcomes, the city is committed to achieving ten goals and implementing 43 actions collectively called the Detroit Sustainability Action Agenda Framework outlined below. Teams have been working over the past two years toward these goals, and recently the city was listed as #31 of 50 of the greenest cities in the U.S. Amid several challenges and roadblocks, the city teams have worked diligently toward the action items and goals for the past two years. You can view a two-year progress update to read more about the work that’s been done and the success stories. DETROIT SUSTAINABILITY ACTION AGENDA FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTHY THRIVING PEOPLE: Goals & Actions: Increase access to healthy food, green spaces, and recreation opportunities 1. Provide nutrition and environmental education at recreation centers and parks 2. Create local food purchasing guidelines for city-funded programs 3. Improve access to high quality, healthy food at grocery stores 4. Renovate existing and create new parks throughout the city 5. Expand sports recreation opportunities for youth Improve air quality and reduce exposure to pollution 6. Expand local air quality monitoring system 7. Create citywide truck routing network 8. Increase tree plantings in vulnerable areas 9. Reduce emissions from city vehicles Advance equity in access to economic opportunity 10. Expand green jobs training and workforce development programs 11. Prepare Detroit residents for city employment opportunities 12. Launch a digital inclusion program 13. Expand wireless internet access on city buses 14. Launch a diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative AFFORDABLE QUALITY HOMES Goals & Actions: Reduce the total costs of housing, including utilities 15. Improve access to utility efficiency programs 16. Expand home plumbing repair programs 17. Implement and expand upon the Blue Ribbon Panel’s water affordability recommendations 18. Establish affordable housing preservation goals for building owners receiving city incentives 19. Increase access to information on existing affordable housing Improve the health and safety of existing and new housing 20. Expand lead poisoning prevention initiatives across the city 21. Create a residential lead abatement training pilot program 22. Develop green building guidelines for new developments receiving city incentives CLEAN CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOODS Transform vacant lots and structures into safe, productive, sustainable spaces 23. Improve processes to purchase city-owned vacant lots 24. Support neighborhood-based efforts to care for vacant lots and structures 25. Develop a fee structure and associated rules for irrigation-only water accounts Reduce waste sent to landfills 26. Launch a citywide recycling campaign 27. Expand curbside recycling to multifamily buildings 28. Expand recycling to public spaces and all city facilities 29. Develop a best practices framework for commercial-scale compost operations 30. Launch residential composting pilot program Make it easier and safer to get around Detroit without a personal vehicle 31. Improve mobility connections between neighborhoods and job centers 32. Implement safety measures to reduce crash severity 33. Expand Detroit’s protected bike lane network EQUITABLE GREEN CITY Enhance infrastructure and operations to improve resilience to climate impacts 34. Create neighborhood scale, distributed green infrastructure projects 35. Incorporate green stormwater infrastructure into street redesign and greenway projects 36. Integrate climate change impacts into hazard mitigation planning 37. Improve resident access to sustainability-related city services 38. Expand emergency preparedness and communication tools Reduce municipal and citywide greenhouse gas emissions 39. Develop a greenhouse gas assessment and climate action strategy 40. Increase the adoption of solar photovoltaic technologies 41. Enhance energy and water efficiency at city-owned facilities 42. Launch Mayors’ Challenge Program for commercial buildings 43. Develop an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on sustainable business practices in and around Detroit.
ROSSETTI Architecture Shares On its Sustainability Practices
SBN Detroit spoke with Paulina Reyes, a registered architect, and designer at ROSSETTI who leads the ROSSETTI Sustainability Lab. In addition to her current role at ROSSETTI, Reyes possesses a dedicated background in design-based research, community outreach, and the development of pedagogical efforts connecting cultural programming with the tools of architecture and urbanism. She acted as Project Designer-Manager for Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman, leading architectural and urban projects across the US-Mexico border, including fieldwork, and cross-border internship programming. Sustainability has remained a focus of her work as a previous Design Fellow with the University of Michigan and Fulbright recipient in which she developed research on water sustainability in the context of self-governance and low-income public housing in Mexico City. The ROSSETTI Sustainability Action Plan calls for embracing and integrating sustainability practices in every facet of their work, believing that prioritizing sustainability is not just a mantra; it offers a vision forward in a rapidly changing world as a means to educate, innovate, and push their work farther than ever before. Q: Please share the sustainability practices and work ROSSETTI has in place. A: Sustainability has been a feature of our work for some time. We have several past LEED projects that demonstrate the impact of sustainable design. Louis Armstrong Stadium, for example, is the world’s first naturally ventilated stadium, certified as LEED Silver, and it also won the AIA Detroit Building Award with recognition for sustainability. The UCLA Health Training Center, the training facility for the Los Angeles Lakers, achieved LEED Platinum through innovative use of solar mitigation strategies, including vertical shading that doubles as signage and a PV solar array that reduces energy consumption by 30%. The particular inflection of sustainability through sports work is an interesting one, as sports projects by nature are large civic projects that reach huge numbers of people, and hinge specifically on supporting the performance of elite athletes, their health, and well-being. At ROSSETTI, we are interested in furthering this connection with sports and sustainability in addition to our work at large. Q: What are your short-term and long-term goals when it comes to sustainability? A: One short-term goal is to simply shift awareness and culture around environmental impact. Even just being conversant in the basic tenets of sustainability can help designers and clients alike think differently about our approach and how we define value for a project. Like many others, we have long-term goals to address and reduce emissions in a big way. Most of our clients these days have ambitious goals and mission statements around reducing or even eliminating emissions within the next few decades. Given that this is easily within the lifespan of our projects, this requires that we address emissions (both operational and embodied) as drivers in our design process from the beginning. GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are the primary source of global climate change and present an easily quantifiable metric for benchmarking and evaluating success. I would like to see ROSSETTI’s projects take on the challenge of benchmarking, measuring, and reducing emissions in all of our projects moving forward. Q: What is the Sustainability Lab? A: Initially launched in March 2021, the ROSSETTI Sustainability Lab is represented by an interdisciplinary array of staff members from across our office, from design to marketing to project management. We meet on a biweekly basis to discuss ongoing initiatives, and outreach to others in the field. A core group of our members works on advancing various sustainability efforts in the office. We also have a lively Zoom group chat! Q: How do your sustainability practices come into play when choosing vendors? A: We prefer to work with vendors that prioritize sustainability in their products. We work with reps like Susan Hall (Eco Surroundings) who only represent sustainable materials like Plyboo, Durat, Baux, DuraPalm, and more. Luckily, a lot of industries, particularly for interior finishes like carpet or porcelain tile are already headed in that direction. We are consistently meeting with vendors to see what’s new and identify projects that can support our client’s sustainability goals, including LEED certification. Q: What about material choices? A: As a principle, we look to specify materials that are responsible, durable, and locally sourced. Some examples include Interface Carpet, Unika Vaev (acoustic materials), and Fireclay, which is made in the USA with zero waste and mindful manufacturing. We also work with Haworth, who does a lot of recycling/reuse of material and recently earned zero waste to landfill status and just launched a more rapidly biodegradable textile. We try to avoid materials that off-gas or contain harmful chemicals like VOCs (volatile organic compounds), including epoxy or vinyl. Specifying more sustainable materials can also support other goals for clients, for example, more durable finishes or furniture that don’t need replacement as often, or local materials which reduce lead time. Q: Beyond vendors and material choices – what else do you look at? A: When it comes to materials, whether interior finishes or building structure, embodied carbon is also an extremely important metric and one which we are looking more into. There currently exist many avenues for measuring embodied carbon, software like EC3 or Tally, or environmental product declarations (EPDs) for specific products or industries. Beyond that, water use, energy use, and waste production are also key metrics for evaluating the sustainability of our projects. Q: ROSSETTI believes that sustainability is key to client success – please elaborate. A: Sustainability, beyond being a social imperative, is quite simply put, good for business. Sustainable buildings offer a host of financial benefits to clients: operational savings, higher sale or rental value, lower asset risk, and insurance premiums. To give an example, the PV solar array installed on the LEED Platinum Los Angeles Lakers practice facility not only offsets 12.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually but saves the Lakers $38,000 a year in operational costs. There is also obviously a broader value proposition to sustainability that includes human health and well-being, community value, and experiential opportunities to
Pingree Detroit, a Small Business, Laser Focused on the Sustainable Well Being of All Living Things
SBN Detroit spoke with Jarret Alan Schlaff, Pingree Detroit & Pingree Mfg L3C co-founder and CEO. Since 2007, Schlaff has launched four separate nonprofit projects and organizations currently making an impact in the youth mentorship, environmental justice, and food access arenas across Metro Detroit. He has 10 years of experience in management and personal, professional, and organizational development. Schlaff was named a Global Leadership Fellow by the Hesselbein Leadership Institute in 2010, Campus 2 Congress Fellow with the Bard Center for Environmental Policy in 2012, was one of 90 leaders selected from across the U.S. as a 2015 Young American Leadership Fellow with Harvard Business School, named an Emerging Leader by the Detroit Regional Chamber in 2015, was a finalist at the 2016 Detroit Regional Chamber Entrepreneurship Pitch Detroit competition, and was named a WXYZ-TV 20/20 Detroit Person of the week in November 2017. Pingree Detroit was awarded the Social Impact award for Sustainability and Standards by Gingras Global in 2018 and 2019. Schlaff shares with us here Pingree’s sustainability mission and practices. Q: What is Pingree Detroit? A: Pingree Detroit, founded in 2015, is a worker-owned (there are nine of us), triple bottom line design and manufacturing cooperative that hand-makes footwear and home, pet, and fashion accessories in Detroit with leather, seat belts, airbags, and other materials upcycled from the auto industry. Our purpose is to bring forth solutions for footwear, accessories, and goods that maximize the well-being of our customers, team, community, and our environment. To accelerate the global shift towards a restorative, equitable, just economy, we move every day to create resilient products that are not derived from fossil fuels or that are carbon negative. All our processes are non-toxic. We upcycle leather and other materials otherwise destined for the landfill. The majority of our equipment and materials are sourced from the USA. All shipping materials we use are 100% recycled and compostable. Q: Please share what work is being done at Pingree toward sustainability. A: We are looking to reimagine what the future looks like in terms of maximizing the well-being really of all living things and to us, that includes seven generations from now. We pay a living wage to our makers, use quality materials otherwise destined for the landfill, and are working hard to eliminate all harmful chemicals and climate change-causing emissions from the entire life-cycle of our production and distribution processes. “ We look at the entire ecosystem input through output and beyond, asking ourselves, where does this material come from, what does it take to make this piece of steel that’s going into one of our bags, etc. By 2025 we are committed to Designing products so that we can source the majority of materials from the Great Lakes Region, have zero carbon emissions, and offer military-grade, fossil-free plant-based alternatives to leather and plastic. In short form, we’ve set the following goals to reach by 2025: Waste-free Toxic free Carbon negative Offer products made from plant-based alternatives to leather and plastic Source majority of materials from the Great Lakes Region Q: How will you reach these goals? A: Looking at the breakdown of these commitments we know it’s ambitious for our small team of nine. Conversely, being a small team allows us to be nimble. We can test out small runs of plant-based materials for our pet collars, etc. Sourcing materials from mainly the great lakes region is really difficult. For example, there are only a few companies that make zippers and Velcro. But we also see that as an opportunity to support Midwest businesses. We also urge our suppliers to push the curve for standards of measuring and offsetting. We’ve partnered with the auto industry to use reclaimed and underutilized materials from their production process. Now, with 3-D printing and 3-D knitting, we are hoping to be able to bring production and supply channels closer to home. When it comes to our carbon-neutral goals, we work to offset the footprint with renewable energy at our workshops. We participate in tree planting and reforesting efforts. Every product bought is offset in production and shipping. Q: What drives your passion? A: Humanity’s current addiction to growth-at-all-costs economic system is threatening our collective home and leaves too many people behind. We are called to do something about it. I truly believe that anything is possible, and I’m committed to being a part of bringing forth ideas whose time has come. I’m motivated and driven by the idea of a future that works for all. Q: What are your biggest challenges? A: Trying to equally balance profit with maximizing well-being and our multiple layers of commitment. We are small and we are self-funded so finances are always an issue. We literally started with $15,000 of my own money seven years ago. Sustainable materials can cost up to seven times the amount of materials made from plastics. Q: From your perspective, what is the role of businesses in Detroit in terms of sustainability overall for the city? A: There is amazing work happening where folks are prioritizing sustainable alternatives. I think businesses have a role to lead by example and offer alternatives for people to participate in. I think recognizing the people behind the products is important. Understanding how it’s made, why it’s made, and where it’s made gives people more of a context for the things they purchase. We also share the name of the maker of every product. From our $9.99 pet leash to our $21 coasters to our $330 leather sneakers that took 2.5 days for a person to single-handedly put together … connecting with the maker changes the way people think and use our products. Q: What businesses and partners can you point to that are doing it well? A: Detroit Denim, Rebel Nell, ISAIC (Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center), and Carhartt. Also, one example of a partner we are working with is AutoLiv seatbelts – they are diverting waste and offering sustainable alternatives. 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Tracy Reese Returns to Detroit to Train Local Craftsmen and Produce For a Global Sustainable Footprint
SBN Detroit spoke with Tracy Reese, an American fashion designer who has been featured in fashion publications that include Vogue, Elle, Glamour, InStyle, and O, The Oprah Magazine; and whose creations have been worn by Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Taylor Swift. In 2018, after 30 years in the industry, Reese moved back to her hometown of Detroit and in 2019 launched Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese. The collection is designed and produced following three guiding principles of sustainability: the health of people, the planet, and equity in profit. Reese serves on the board of directors of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), where she has been a member since 1990. Reese also serves on the board of trustees of Nest Artisan Guild and the advisory council of the College for Creative Studies Fashion Accessories Design Program. She is also part of Turnaround Arts, a Kennedy Center program that transforms schools through the strategic use of arts. She recently served as board president of ISAIC, the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center. She is working to build an artisan studio in Detroit creating economic opportunities for women in underserved communities. Q: Please share how Hope for Flowers and the sustainability aspect came about.A: In 2017, I had three labels and had been working in the industry for more than 30 years with my own brand, functioning as a typical manufacturing wholesaler. All of my production was overseas, and I sourced fabrics from all over the world. I started learning more about sustainability, and around that time, the CFDA + Lexus Fashion* Initiative that focuses on sustainability launched. I missed the deadline to apply in 2017 and was determined to apply the following year, so I did, and I was selected. It was an eye-opener. It was nine months of learning about everything from textiles to carbon footprint to human rights issues within the supply chain to waste in pattern making and more. At the end of the program, we were required to present a blueprint to be judged, and then to follow through with the blueprint. During this time, I started feeling a pull back toward Detroit and bought a house. I was trying to determine how I could be back in the city more. As I created this blueprint, I realized that Detroit was the perfect place to launch a brand. I started changing my perspective on how I was working. Running parallel to this was an impending departure of ways with my partners. There were things we didn’t see eye to eye on that were nonnegotiables for me. They wanted to go for volume, and I wanted to do something smaller and more meaningful and work on giving back to the community. So, I took the blueprint and headed to Detroit. Part of my blueprint included localized production, so training Detroiters to be part of this industry in a meaningful way was a natural next step. I set up a business model with a social and sustainability-focused mission. I worked with Shayla Johnson from Scarlet Crane Creations and interns from Cass Tech, my alma mater. We manufactured in Flint. This set the groundwork for Hope for Flowers. Q: Do you have a set of short-term and longer-term goals you are working toward as you grow Hope for Flowers? A: My short-term goal was and is to address the low-hanging fruit – textiles. Every product we work with falls into the mild zone. We are using bast fibers like linen – a crop that doesn’t require lots of water and doesn’t deplete the earth of nutrients. We also use organic cotton and responsibly forested wood byproduct fibers like Tencel and are experimenting with recycled wool and other fabrics. The idea is to create garments that stand the test of time yet biodegrade over the long haul. We look at biodegradable materials for buttons like natural shells or wood and try to use natural things found on the planet versus man-made We also try to design clothes that are flexible, meaning two different sizes can wear the same garment. This reduces overproduction My long-term goal is to produce in Detroit. To that end, we are training and working with local craftspeople and sewers to develop them to a stage of mastery that’s competitive with what we can import. We are launching an apprenticeship program, and our goal is to start running small-batch production in-house. Q: What impact do you think Hope for Flowers and the vendors and partners you work with are having? A: Each one of us is proving it’s possible, and I think that makes an impression on anyone considering taking steps toward sustainability. When those in doubt see a successful business model that’s working and financially viable, that’s impactful. The more people who choose to work this way, the easier and less expensive it becomes, and we can speak collectively. We need everybody to get on board, so it’s about setting aside the competitive mindset and working as a unified industry. Q: What drives your passion when it comes to the brand and its deep commitment to sustainability? A: I don’t see that it’s a choice really – it’s a necessity. We need to work in a way that’s less harmful to the planet and people. It’s also about holding ourselves to a higher standard, accepting the challenge and being energized by it. The idea of trying to solve this is exciting and I want to be up for the challenge, continue to learn, and continue to grow. Q: From your perspective – what is the role of businesses in Detroit in terms of sustainability? A: Each business has its own role to play. Getting started doesn’t have to be complicated. There are simple internal things that – when built into the company philosophy – begin to embed new habits and practices in the employees. We started composting a few months ago, and we are all working on developing new habits. Understanding
Wildlife Habitat Council Hosts its First Conference in Detroit 2022
On June 14 and 15, 2022 business leaders from all over the world convened at the Westin Book Cadillac to celebrate each other’s successes in conservation and biodiversity. Hosted by the Wildlife Habitat Council, this 33rd annual conference took place in Detroit for the first time. Says WHC President Margaret O’Gorman, “We chose Detroit because we work with many businesses in and around the city that are not only innovative from a business sense, but from a corporate social responsibility standpoint. These companies engage in a meaningful way with conservation and are forward-thinking when it comes to biodiversity. We celebrate that.” What is the Wildlife Habitat Council? The WHC’s mission is to promote and certify habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education through customized comprehensive services that help companies align conservation efforts with their business needs. It works with private-sector businesses of all sizes and landscapes of all types… from buildings like the Renaissance Center to the Marathon Refinery to a quarry or copper mine. Its goal is to integrate nature into business operations to benefit community engagement and biodiversity. When we are asked how businesses can get started, our answer is simply ‘do something.’ Our philosophy is that every act of conservation matters,” O’Gorman said. “We don’t need large tracts of land to make a positive impact. What we need is for companies to simply act for nature. That’s where the difference starts. Says Neil Hawkins, president of the Erb Family Foundation, former chief sustainability officer of Dow, and friend of the WHC, “This organization does a fantastic job of coaching companies both big and small and also assisting in doing the work.” About the WHC Conservation Conference This ‘comeback’ event – having been on a pandemic hiatus the last two years – was designed to bring companies together to celebrate accomplishments in conservation, share ideas, and shape strategies that can make a positive difference for biodiversity and business around the world. Says O’Gorman, “There were two main goals of this event. The first was to simply highlight that there is a biodiversity crisis and that the private sector has a role to play in addressing it. The second was to provide recognition for corporate employees who are implementing high-quality projects on their land.” As such, General Motors received the 2022 WHC Corporation Conservation Leadership Award, which recognizes one company’s overall excellence in conservation and signifies its exemplary commitment to biodiversity, conservation education, and alignment with global conservation objectives. This year’s Employee Engagement Award was also given to General Motors. This award recognizes the exceptional contributions of a company’s employees to their habitat and conservation education activities. Several other prestigious awards were presented. You can see the full list here. A unique addition to this year’s conference was the Makers’ Pavilion, sponsored by the Erb Family Foundation and Sustainable Business Network Detroit, in which ten Detroit-area socially and environmentally focused artisans displayed and sold their work. “This points to WHC’s focus on not only conservation projects, but social sustainability, inclusion, and equity,” said Hawkins. What it Represents for Detroit Many Detroit businesses are active with and involved in conservancy projects with the WHC. Detroit and its neighboring regions are home to 32% of WHC members. The event – typically on the East Coast – being held in Detroit this year was significant. I see this as such a great opportunity for Detroit. Hosting the WHC and companies across the globe in acknowledgment of the smart and hard conservation work being done toward biodiversity opens doors and eyes for other businesses in our area to follow suit, Hawkins shared. “Detroit city land has a long history of being taken over for industrial development and residential housing and conversely, decimating nature. Whatever we can bring back through corporate intervention is important.” WHC Work in Detroit Detroit, like most major U.S. cities, faces modern problems such as poor air and water quality, unemployment, and degraded environmental conditions resulting from rapid urbanization. Detroit companies, dedicated community groups, and the WHC are working together to combat these issues and find solutions. The local work highlighted at the conference richly illustrates this. Lionel Bradford, president of Greening Detroit, highlighted its Meyers Nursery Stormwater Retention Pond, installed at Rouge Park and designed to catch 11 acres of runoff from the site, plus hold back water equivalent to two back-to-back 100-year storms. Another substantial project featured was the Stellantis Community Environmental Engagement Program. With its $1.6 billion construction of the Mack Assembly Plant just east of the city, Stellantis committed to a multi-layer environmental program with assistance and certification from the WHC to improve air quality, reduce stormwater, support wildlife, provide educational opportunities and collaborate with community organizations. As part of this program, over 1,000 trees were planted as a green buffer; 100 rain barrels were provided to residents to save water and reduce water runoff; curriculum and programming through the WHC were delivered to local schools, and significant environmental installations were developed at nearby Chandler Park. A collaborative program between Friends of the River Rouge and The Sierra Club called the Rain Gardens to the Rescue Program was presented, whereby 80 rain gardens were installed in homes to reduce stormwater runoff. This organically led to residents becoming much more involved – to the extent of some purchasing nearby lots to create additional rain gardens and community gathering spots. Said O’Gorman, “The number of corporations intersecting with biodiversity shows that the spirit of conservation is alive and well in 2022. We celebrate the work being done because when nature is healthy and our ecosystem is restored, everything flows from there.” Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on sustainable business practices in and around Detroit.
Actionable Sustainability Initiatives for Businesses from Detroit’s First Director of Sustainability
Joel Howrani Heeres, Detroit’s former, first, sustainability director, shared his thoughts about tangible initiatives businesses can integrate to work toward a cleaner environment. In his role, Howrani Heeres provides strategic leadership, tactical guidance, and technical skills to drive triple bottom line (environment, equity, & economics) strategy and actions to help Detroiters improve their lives by creating a healthier, greener, more vibrant city for all. Under Howrani Heere’s leadership, the Office of Sustainability had over 6,800 interactions with Detroiters and fostered partnerships with neighborhoods, businesses, and philanthropic and non-governmental organizations working to make Detroit more equitable, economically thriving, and environmentally healthy. Before taking this position, Howrani Heeres led sustainability and climate action planning at EcoWorks and served as managing director of the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office for DTE Energy. We asked him to share some steps that businesses can take to reduce energy and water usage as well as ensure residents are not experiencing impacts from climate and climate change. Track energy and water usage You manage what you measure, so start measuring. Data shows that once you begin tracking usage you’ll begin saving 3% in energy costs. A good opportunity for businesses to begin measuring and reducing energy waste is to join the Detroit Energy Challenge. This was launched in collaboration with the Detroit 2030 District and Michigan Battle of the Buildings, and it’s a free and friendly competition. Conduct an energy audit Doing a walk-through with an expert to point out things that can be done to save energy is invaluable. Within the city, we’ve conducted these audits now on 155 buildings and identified conservation measures that we are implementing. There are several audit programs available, such as DTE’s Business Energy Consultation. Update lighting A low-hanging fruit initiative is to update to LED. The cost to do so is coming down, and the cost of electricity is rising, so this is a win/win. Integrate renewables Integrating renewable or solar energy is a great action to take, especially if the electrical load is high. Companies can get a 26% tax credit for investing in solar. Check out the Detroit Solar Toolkit to identify your building’s solar potential. Join the global Race to Zero campaign Race To Zero participants are committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. The city of Detroit has joined the campaign. Race to Zero’s intent is to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. Electrification To get to net zero we must also think about electrification. We know we can clean the grid and introduce renewables, but we cannot clean natural gas. When you consider the cost of maintenance, gas, and parts on a gas-run vehicle, the total cost of electric vehicle ownership makes sense economically as well as environmentally. DTE offers a Charging Forward rebate program, so it pays to be an early adopter. Make investments in climate resilience We all remember last year’s flood event, and climate projections tell us that we’ll continue to see more and more extreme storms. Installing things such as backflow preventers, sump pumps, and generators are great considerations. Engage with neighbors Being a good corporate citizen and good neighbor reaps great benefits. I think businesses should talk to their communities and ask what things would make the neighborhood better. Also, look around at the land you own. Plant trees. Invest in biodiversity. Interested in getting assistance in setting up a sustainability program? Howrani Heeres points to DTE as a resource and also B Corp certification, a designation that a business is meeting high standards of social and environmental performance. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on sustainable business practices in and around Detroit.
Walker-Miller Energy is Working to Achieve an Equitable Clean Energy Economy
SBN Detroit interviewed Dr. Brandy Brown, Chief Innovation Officer of Walker-Miller Energy Services, a Detroit-based energy efficiency company focused on equity in the clean energy economy, on her role in guiding the development of advanced energy projects, workforce development, and equitable mobility solutions. Prior to joining Walker-Miller, Dr. Brown served as Climate & Energy Advisor within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy. Additionally, Dr. Brown serves as part of the Environmental Justice faculty for the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability and as an appointee to Michigan’s National Resources Trust Fund Board. Q: You recently took on the position of Chief Innovation Officer at Walker-Miller, which is a new role for the company. What is involved in this? A: It’s so much fun I can’t believe I get paid to do it! Every day the work we are doing here is positively impacting the Walker-Miller team, the Detroit community, and beyond. Tangibly, this role comes with two main tenets; The first is thought leadership focused on the issues we need to overcome to achieve an equitable clean energy economy. This involves pushing topics and asking hard questions while coaching with love. It also involves asking folks to understand the impact of what they are doing so we don’t create the same inequalities that we’ve created for the last 100 years. It’s also about asking people to be cognizant of what structures exist now, what we are rolling out into the future, and thinking about the distribution, meaning will everyone benefit, and who’s going to bear any potential burdens? The second is talking to business leaders and people in the policy world to make sure that the new services being made available are inclusive and equitable for all. We constantly need to ask ourselves, does this product work in a home in a marginalized community? Also, are we talking to anyone in the communities themselves to share awareness of solutions coming down the pipeline? Often awareness is not being built at the time we are rolling out new solutions and technology, and that’s a misstep. I am actually a good example here. Fifteen years ago, I did not have the means to make changes to my home to increase its efficiency. But since I was working within the energy community I was aware of innovations and that awareness allowed me to plan and prepare my home for these changes. We need to intentionally communicate with all communities. Q: What immediate goals have you identified for Walker-Miller and what are you currently working on? A: I’m focused on the company internally and where I can provide support to the team and act as a bridge-builder to connect this team to my network. I’m following Carla Walker-Miller here, as she does this so naturally. I’m also working to identify impactful strategies we can roll out in the next year or two. To date, we’ve launched two. The first is Equitable Mobility Consulting. As electric vehicles become a more common mode of vehicular transportation, we are seeing more requests for EV infrastructure such as planning around where charging is going, and where vehicles may live. A lot of the work that follows falls in what I call prosperity zones where people can afford such things. We need to think about equity down the line. So, we’ve developed this consulting to point folks in the right direction when planning infrastructure. We are also involved in electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installations and supporting communities on how to be intentional and mindful as they are planning. Second, we’ve created an Equitable Research and Consulting area of our business. This is an internal group that is operationalizing equity with energy efficiency programs and helping companies think about how to track and measure it. A big aha moment for us was realizing that equity is context-dependent. Meaning that it’s constantly changing, therefore we can’t just measure once. We have to listen to the community and their needs on a continuum because it’s fluid. Q: What are your longer-term goals at Walker-Miller? A: A large focus for us now and in the future is the equitable distribution of wealth creation. When we think of equity and the benefits of clean energy and clean energy transformation, we have to recognize that this shift is opening doors to wealth creation. And it’s difficult to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth creation. Walker Miller is approaching this by identifying business creation. Meaning that we are recruiting small and diverse businesses and giving them opportunities to become powerful in this space. This is very much a forward-thinking view. The steps we take now will reap great benefits ten years down the road. Q: What are other challenges you face? A: There is not enough time in a day. From sun up to sun down, there is so much to do and so many conversations to have. But that’s what makes it exciting. I think we have an opportunity in front of us to make a more concerted effort in working together. We can no longer look at our communities and think, this person will handle HVAC and this program will handle windows and that person will handle EV. We all have to be working together and we also all have to understand the process – what needs to be done first. You can give a home clean energy but if it’s not weatherized it’s an exercise in futility. Ben Dueweke, Walker-Miller’s Director of Community Partnerships is a master at this. He excels at setting up programs and the pipeline, getting residents fully weatherized, and then getting them into more clean energy. We are focusing on a few houses and a few blocks at a time with the goal to ultimately transform the city. Q: What drives your passion here? A: When I had my first child, and then my second, and then became a single mother with limited income and was faced with getting my life
Dr. E’Lois Thomas, Working to Impact Lives that Have Been Underserved With Energy Solutions
SBN Detroit interviews Dr. E’Lois Thomas, President of SEEL LLC (Solutions for Energy Efficient Logistics), a nationally certified MBE energy program implementation company that serves major utilities throughout the Midwest, South, and Northeast with expansion plans. Here, Thomas shares her thoughts on the correlation between energy resource development and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged minorities. Her leadership has helped SEEL to become one of the largest African American-owned implementation contractors working toward growth in sustainability, energy justice, and equality for all. Thomas is vice chair of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance board, treasurer with Advancing Women in Energy, a member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy board, and a mentor for the Council of Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership. She is a big advocate of youth advancement and volunteers as a board member for RESULTS Mentoring, Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL), and Franklin Wright Settlements. Q: Can you tell me briefly about what work you are doing exactly with SEEL? A: I’ve been with SEEL for 11 years now and with the parent company for more than 20 years, and as president, I guide and oversee all aspects of the company’s operations and growth. Since joining the company, I have worked toward the company’s growth in an industry that is committed to combat the climate crisis. We’ve had to navigate an industry that is rapidly changing from gas and fossil fuels to electrification, renewable, and clean energy. Also, as a leading minority-owned disabled-veteran-owned company, energy access and equity are important to us. We’re intentional about including minorities and underrepresented groups in the conversation. Q: You are involved with the growth trajectory of SEEL – as such what is your vision for the future? A: We’ve been involved in the energy industry since the beginning of broad energy efficiency programs being implemented in communities. The goal then was to reduce the carbon footprint by educating utility customers about energy efficiency and retrofit their homes with energy efficiency products and services. Fast forward to today, the industry is rapidly adopting renewable and clean energy intending to become carbon neutral in the next 25 – 30 years. This provides a great opportunity to grow the company in diverse ways. In addition to offering services related to renewable and clean energy, services like weatherization, building performance, and workforce development all provide rewarding opportunities right now. Q: How will you reach these goals/this vision? A: By continuing to train the workforce of tomorrow, while making an impact on the quality of life of our current employees and the communities we serve. Training is critical, whether it’s training for skilled trades, continuous improvement, building science, energy justice, HVAC, solar, or the training of being an energy-efficiency professional with key attributes like customer service, etc. SEEL is committed to this education. Q: What are some examples of what some local programs SEEL has implemented? A: We are training up our team in renewable energy options like solar and completing pilot projects for community-based organizations and local churches. We are speaking in the community to ensure that electric vehicles include diverse communities by petitioning for inclusion and more charging stations in urban areas. We are collaborating with Detroit 2030 District which continues great work to reduce the environmental impact of buildings and operating costs for building owners/managers in Detroit. In Detroit, we were the first minority-owned corporation to join DTE’s MIGreenPower 100% clean energy at its headquarters. DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program is among the top three voluntary renewable energy programs in the United States. Notably, MIGreenPower offers simple and affordable renewable energy programs to eligible electric customers, thereby supporting the company’s wind and solar projects. In addition, we are currently reviewing our fleet for fleet emissions reductions with a plan in place to transfer all assets by the end of 2023 to efficiency grade to reduce our carbon footprint. In the state, we also collaborate with Consumers Energy toward their clean energy goals by managing programs with their Clean Energy Plan poised to meet Michigan’s energy needs and to continue the journey to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, and we implement the entire energy efficiency portfolio for the Upper Peninsula Power Co. (UPPCO), powering through together in one of the most rural, weather-challenged areas in America, and for Indiana Michigan Power as well. Q: What drives your passion? A: I know first-hand the disparities that exist in energy burden. I grew up on the east side of Detroit and graduated from Pershing High School in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. As a young African American student, I always aspired to help others, so what fuels me today is that every customer deserves a path to energy justice, and I have a quest to ensure that this path occurs for everyone, independent of their financial, social or economic status. Not only is energy equity a passion of mine personally and professionally with SEEL, but there is such an opportunity for our industry to impact lives and communities while reaching those that have been underserved for too long. Simply put, access to clean air is a human right, yet so many of us don’t have it. Change is overdue, so the priority is critical now. Q: Outside of SEEL you are involved in many organizations. One is the American Association of Blacks in Energy board. From your perspective, what is the correlation between energy resource development, economic growth, and minorities? A: The correlation between energy resource development, economic growth, and minorities has clearly shown a gap in the representation of minorities that organizations like AABE work to resolve. AABE is a resource for providing information and educating energy consumers from all sectors of society, with emphasis on marginalized communities ensuring that the public and private sectors are responsive to the problems, goals, and aspirations of African Americans. AABE recognizes that access to reliable and affordable energy is essential to everyone so from an inclusion standpoint, we make sure that African Americans are represented in the conversations politically, socially,
Our Next Energy is Decarbonizing the Starting With Detroit
SBN Detroit talked to Dr. Deeana Ahmed, VP of Strategy & Government Relations at Our Next Energy (ONE). Ahmed holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience and nutrition from Columbia University, an MSc and MPH in policy from Tufts University, and a BS from the University of Michigan. She is also a published researcher and policy analyst who has conducted large policy evaluations for the NYC Department of Education, managed grants for a Silicon Valley non-profit, and owns and operates a start-up education technology firm. Ahmed is an alumnus of the University of Michigan Solar Car Team, where she led the development of the nationally and globally ranked solar car, InfiniUM’s battery pack. Here she shares ONE’s visions and accomplishments toward decarbonizing the grid, the importance of workforce development, and the role it plays in the future of clean energy. Q: What is involved in your role as Vice President of Strategy & Government Relations at Our Next Energy? A: I oversee corporate strategy and government relations. I’m at the front end of the business and my team works to incubate partnerships to help grow our footprint. Currently, we are focused on securing raw material vendors to enhance our supply chain and identify partners there. In tandem, my team leads site selection for future factories and seeks additional federal and state funding dollars to scale our manufacturing capacity. I am also involved in thinking about new verticals and conducting market analysis and business case development around potential partnerships. The government relations side is engaged in local and state-level advocacy, working toward net-zero goals to facilitate the transition to electrification. The government and strategy teams at ONE act as our internal think tank and consultants for the business. We wrestle with perspective business ideas and drill deeper to qualify them. Q: What are your immediate goals? A: In the very short term we are working to establish new factories and achieve federal funding for that. Overall, we are looking at and working to help operationalize decarbonization goals for cell manufacturing. Another focus is the facilitation of a circular economy for ONE where we are integrating ground-up refinement of materials used in our cell manufacturing to the deployment to second-life applications and recycling at the end of life of our products. Q: What are your longer-term goals? A: We are thinking about how we can deploy resources in a way that reaches people in measurable terms of impact. We are planning to scale up our factories, bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and move toward a “green industrial revolution.” By doing so we hope to create up to 2,000 jobs and build an upward trajectory of employment to create an impact on the communities we are in. To that end, we realize we have an impact on the lives of the people who will one day work for this company and help to grow a cleantech industry in the U.S. In parallel, we’re excited about participating in an energy transition in the U.S. in concert with other companies and innovators to reestablish our country’s position as leaders in technology. At the end of the day, I have a two-year-old, and I want her to have a beautiful planet to call home. Q: What are the biggest challenges? A: Workforce development. ONE is growing at a breakneck pace, having gone from 12 to 160 employees in the past 1½ years. Working to recruit the right people while scaling has been a strength and a challenge. There is also a challenge in transitioning the workforce from combustion engines to electric. If it’s done well and with the right stakeholder engagement there are a lot of upsides. And as with everyone in manufacturing, the supply chain is a challenge. Sourcing raw materials requires a lot of industry collaboration and engagement of the right people and investments across the country. Q: In January, ONE demonstrated a prototype battery in an EV that traveled 752 miles in December at 55mph without recharging. Please elaborate on this success story and the next steps? A: This accomplishment represents to me true engineering grit. We were working toward an arguably unachievable goal and the team came together to show that the seemingly impossible can be possible. This surrogate pack represents our Gemini battery. We recently announced a partnership with BMW and will demonstrate the range extender battery in their iX platform this year. We are working to be able to demonstrate 600 miles on a single charge in the platform by year’s end. Doubling the current range of EVs is a paradigm required to move the market, and that is what we are working toward. Q: What drives your passion? A: I like to wrestle with big problems, and the energy business now represents generational investments moving toward solving the biggest problems. As a mom working on one of the hardest problems right now, I have an opportunity to impact generations to come. Launching a new manufacturing facility means we can help decarbonize the grid and deliver clean energy globally. That’s a huge undertaking and the world is paying attention. I’m so lucky to be part of that and bring a lens of public health and impact on kids to this equation – and their future. Q: You also own and operate a start-up education technology firm – please elaborate. A: Yes, Ivy Admissions. I founded this a little over 10 years ago. While tutoring 8th and 9th graders, I realized that at this stage in their life, if these kids receive the right “input” the output could be amazing. Meaning that if their interests and skills are realized and cultivated there is so much upside to be had for the trajectory of their abilities and seeking opportunities. Ivy Admissions now has over 30 consultants and over 60 active students. We have seen these kids publish research, start their own companies, seek grants… It has taught me a lot of lessons and skills that apply to my work today. Q:
