Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia
We are building a just, green, and thriving economy in the region.
Our Vision
We envision a future where businesses are investors in the quality of life for all citizens. We challenge and support the business community to build profitable enterprises that serve community needs, share wealth, and protect the environment.
‘Participatory design is sustainable design’: On landscape architecture and community engagement
How can landscape architects engage the community with more empathy (and to greater effect)? Hint: leave the ego at the door. This article first appeared in Generocity, a local social impact news and events group with a mission of building better communities through...
Why PA’s Economic Potential and Clean Energy Future Go Hand in Hand
"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As...
Growing Together
Filmmaker Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) said, “I love to take actors to a place where they open a vein. That’s the job. The key is that I make it safe for them to open the vein.” Setting aside the gory imagery, this wisdom cannot be...
Entrepreneurs’ Roundtable: Clean Water is Good for Business
The Entrepreneurs’ Roundtable is an intentionally intimate monthly members-only issue-based breakfast conversation created to connect local independent businesses, elected officials and other key decision makers in the city, region, and state. For August's...
BIRT Focus Group with Councilman Taubenberger
Since 2011, SBN has advocated for the elimination of Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) pre-payment as part of our continued advocacy work to create an environment conducive for local businesses to start, grow, and thrive. On August 16th, SBN welcomes members to...
Best Practice Forum: Clean Energy Business Pioneers
Best Practice Forums are a series of workshops from SBN that use member case studies to create meaningful opportunities to learn, connect, and build a better business. This unique evening Best Practice Forum will offer time for networking and socializing over...
What We Do
Government Relations
We are the region’s only advocacy and membership organization for businesses committed to improving their environmental and social impact as well as their profitability.
Events
We bring together like-minded business owners to celebrate the localism movement and impact economy at our Annual Members Meeting, Holiday Party, and signature events, SustainaBall and Excellence in GSI Awards Ceremony.
Initiatives
We amplify the impact of a triple bottom line economy (people, planet, profit) by empowering local businesses to ignite systemic change in specific industries and the region’s economy. This is our mission in practice.
Programs
We connect members with each other, as well as decision makers, to exchange learnings and best practices, and share solutions for how policies and processes could better support businesses to grow and thrive.
Membership
We are a community of local independent businesses that demonstrates the degree to which businesses can build profitable enterprises while serving community needs, sharing wealth, and protecting the environment.
About Membership
We are a diverse group of local independent businesses in the Greater Philadelphia region joined by a common perspective that success is measured on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.
“We have been a member for 7 years. SBN is reaching out to us on so many levels--for policy input, business opportunities, funding suggestions--and every event feels unique and important.”
Allegra Derengowski, Birchtree Catering
We are a community of local independent businesses that demonstrates the degree to which businesses can build profitable enterprises while serving community needs, sharing wealth, and protecting the environment.
Member Connections
We share the myriad ways members collaborate with each other to grow their business and overcome obstacles.
“When we attend SBN events, we always find good conversation and worthwhile relationships. Being a member has been beneficial. We connected several years ago with a member who carries our products at their cafe.”
Rebecca Goldschmidt, The Random Tea Room
We are a community of local independent businesses that demonstrates the degree to which businesses can build profitable enterprises while serving community needs, sharing wealth, and protecting the environment.
Member Stories
We promote the strengths of a local economy and the triple bottom line by highlighting members’ stories of impact, impetus, and inspiration.
“When I first joined as a new business I found a network of business-owners who thought similarly and wanted to do work with the community and with the world beyond just profit. SBN was the answer I had been looking for.”
Peicha Chang, Vault + Vine
