The group, the first of its kind in the region, is one of several similar networks across the country in cities such as Kansas City, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, said Heather Maley, senior manager of corporate communications for Cintas.
“The group allows us to focus on the triple bottom line,” she said. “People, profit and planet.”
Last year, Cintas identified a need and reached out to companies in their own backyard. The idea was received well, she said.
Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble was one of those companies.
“We are excited to participate in the Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council and find great value in working with companies who share our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Len Sauers, P&G’s vice president of global sustainability. “This council represents an excellent opportunity for us to collaborate and make sustainability improvements in the communities where we live and work.”
The group meets every six weeks, Maley said, to share best practices — such as water reuse, energy-efficient lighting and other green products and services — while attempting to spur development. The group has already piqued the interest of more than 70 companies in the Greater Cincinnati area, Maley said.
Another goal of the green council is to improve environmental efforts in the community, Maley said, a sentiment echoed by one of the group’s members, Macy’s.
“One of our core values is giving back to the communities in which we operate so advancing sustainability in the Greater Cincinnati Area through the GCGBC is a natural extension of these values,” said William Gates, director of paper, print media services at sustainability at Macy’s.
The group also examines the financial impact of their practices. Energy-efficient lighting instituted at Cintas, for instance, Maley said, led to a 65 percent reduction in energy consumption.
Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5226 or jsprague@coxohio.com.
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