Sustainable companies are always looking to get better

There are sustainable building materials and products. Think “100% recycled content” labels.

And there are sustainable energy sources like wind and sunlight.

But can a company be sustainable?

Yes – but it takes a lot of work.

Companies that do the best job of being sustainable focus on five key areas, says Craig Riley, sustainability guru for URS Corp.:

Lots of ways to go green in 5 key areas

• Operations: There’s no telling how many opportunities for minimizing or eliminating waste you have. Companies like Toyota cut materials from their supply chain year after year, decade after decade. Also: Watch for waste-reducing ideas in your services too.

• Supply chain: Your vendors’ practices affect your bottom line. Partnering with responsible vendors is worth bragging about.

• Transportation/logistics: How are you moving products and people? Where are your facilities located? Is there a way of getting vehicles off the road?

• Products and services: Get Quality Control’s input. Longer-lasting, higher-quality products reduce landfill waste and overproduction.

• Employees: Riley says the most groundbreaking ideas always come from workers. Are yours engaged? Without their help, sustainability is more of an uphill battle.

(Riley presented at the Northwest Environmental Conference in Portland, Dec. 8-9.)