Initiatives


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Our 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.

GSI Partners

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is a nature-based approach to stormwater management. SBN’s GSI Partners is a network of local businesses in the region in the GSI industry, including firms in design, construction, and maintenance, as well as material supply. SBN, via the GSI Partners is working to advance the local industry and innovation, thereby amplifying the environmental, social, and economic impact in the region.

We are the only business organization working to ensure that the greenest approaches to stormwater management are facilitated and incentivized as much as possible, and that the public and private investments in the industry are spent with local firms.

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Advocacy

As Greater Philadelphia’s leading advocacy and membership organization that supports thousands of diverse local independent businesses, we regularly convene with elected officials and policymakers to advance policy initiatives for local businesses to start, grow, and thrive.

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Local Food Systems

Philadelphia is committed to diverting 90% or more of the city’s waste from landfills by 2035. Since food waste makes up about 20% of our waste stream, it continues to be a pressing problem for our communities. It’s also estimated that around 250,000 people in Philadelphia lack access to nutritious food to live a healthy life.

Because of this, SBN is launching a Food Saver Challenge to address these issues and encourage local businesses to adopt sustainable practices and become leaders in reducing food waste.

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Prior Initiatives

We value our storied history of demonstrating our mission to build a just, green, and thriving economy in the Greater Philadelphia region through numerous campaigns, programs, and initiatives.

Buy Local Philly and The Buy Local ChallengeThe Emerging Industries ProjectThe Green Economy Task ForceBusiness United for ConservationSocial Venture Institute

Buy Local Philly and The Buy Local Challenge

Fall 2011-Fall 2014

An information campaign and call to action about the importance of buying “local first” and services: “Every time you spend with a locally-owned business, you are voting with your pocketbook for a vibrant economy, a healthy environment, and community empowerment. You are preserving the unique flavor that distinguishes Philadelphia from any other American town and encouraging local ownership of our economy. For every $100 you spend at a locally-owned business (as opposed to a non-locally owned retailer), $25 more dollars are circulated throughout the Philadelphia economy. If each of Philadelphia’s 1 million adult residents diverted just $100 of their holiday spending to buying locally, we’d have an influx of over $25 million dollars that would otherwise be lost to outside suppliers, services, and investments.”

The Emerging Industries Project

Spring 2009-Spring 2010

The Emerging Industries Project was SBN’s methodology for collecting data directly from regional businesses, building productive relationships between job trainers and employers, and informing our collective work to grow the green economy. The project released a report comprised of four chapters: “Redeveloping Local Sustainable Manufacturing,” “Developing Construction & Demolition Waste Recovery,” “Energy, Efficiency, and Retrofit,” and “Gray to Green: Jumpstarting Private Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure.”

The Green Economy Task Force

Winter 2008-March 2010

The Green Economy Task Force was a coalition of concerned citizens, businesses, government officials, organized labor, non-profits, and communities of faith that is working to build an inclusive green economy in the Philadelphia region that benefits our neighborhoods, our working families, and our planet. Convened by SBN in February of 2008, the Task Force grew to include more than 650 Stakeholders and over 300 organizations.

Business United for Conservation

Spring 2010

The Business United for Conservation (BUC) Industry Partnership was an industry-led voice for the advancement of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). The BUC Industry Partnership was formed to address barriers to industry growth and to keep businesses involved in GSI ahead of changes in the marketplace. The BUC Industry Partnership is coordinated by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) of Greater Philadelphia.

Social Venture Institute

Fall 2002-Fall 2013

The Social Venture Institute (SVI) was a powerful experience that connects emerging and established entrepreneurs to resources while creating a supportive peer environment and provides a nationally-tested opportunity for successful business people to share their knowledge, experience, and insights with emerging entrepreneurs in our region.