Last April, Net Impact launched a program to inspire members to drive environmental change within their companies...and it worked!
The 2016 Impact at Work: Climate Disruptors Challenge required teams consisting of three or more co-workers to identify a need for sustainable impact within their company, initiate a project, and collaboratively work toward a solution.
So who won?
- Annie’s, Inc
- Baxter International
- Aspen Global Change Institute
As a part of their final submission, teams were asked to summarize their project; describe how they engaged other stakeholders in the company; and discuss what team members learned about driving sustainability forward with their employer.
So let’s learn more about the impact these next generation intrapreneurs were able to have so we can all take inspiration from the example they set; that from any job title in any company, real impact can be achieved.
Annie’s, Inc - Winner: Existing Team Track
What is Annie’s Inc.?
An organic and natural foods company based in Berkeley, CA.
What was their project?
Tiffany Tran, Judea Eden, Molly Janis, and Shauna Sadowski worked to create the company's first Facilities Energy Management Plan after Tran noticed ceiling and HVAC systems were being left on during weekends.
Their impact?
The Annie’s Inc. team were able to decrease their building's electricity and gas usage, equating to a reduction of 13.8 metric tons of CO2.
“It takes time to encourage behavioral change, and communication regarding change is essential… It took some time for employees to understand the changes and the new process, however employees quickly caught on,” said the Annies, Inc. team.
Baxter International - Winner: New Team Track
What is Baxter International?
A leading company in the healthcare industry for more than 80 years, located in Deerfield, IL.
What was their project?
The Baxter team were inspired to take a grassroots approach to sustainability and employee engagement by launching a Reuse-A-Shoe-Drive pilot project to encourage employees to recycle old and worn out athletic shoes to be transported to NIKE store locations and transformed into playground surfaces throughout the nation.
Their impact?
They were able to save embedded energy in the shoe production process.
What’s next?
The Baxter team plans to establish a more formalized employee business resource group around sustainability with executive sponsorships and a governance structure.
Aspen Global Change Institute - Honorable Mention
What was their project?
After launching an energy table filled with data on energy sources in 2015, team members John Katzenberger, Emily Jack-Scott, Elise Osenga, Ellie Barber, James Arnott, and Alyson Wright found the Getting Near Zero Energy Tool allowing users to bring that data to life.
Their impact?
Users are now able to create their own global energy scenarios and create an energy future to see the impacts of their scenario on primary energy supply, carbon emissions, energy costs, and carbon budget.
Their inspiration?
“It’s important in the pursuit to combat climate change to channel energies towards productive solutions and opportunities rather than perpetual bad news and despair,” said the Aspen Global Change Institute team.
Winning teams received a donation to the environmental nonprofit of their choice, therefore driving sustainable impact from inside and beyond their office walls.
A special thanks to the Moxie Foundation and bobble for their support on this project.
