Guide to Green Pennsylvania Businesses and Industries
What is a "Green" Business?
In the PA Green Guide, we refer to a "Green" business as one that contributes towards the reduction of the environmental impact of its product(s) and/or service(s) by applying some or all of the basic principles of sustainable design.
Sustainable design begins with looking at the environmental impact of a product, over its entire "lifespan."
This product lifespan begins with the resources used in production, which include not only the raw materials it is made from, but also any water and/or energy that is used in manufacturing or growing it (referred to as embodied resources.) The "lifespan" continues with the environmental impact of transportation, storage and/or processing, the use and operation of a product, and then concludes with the resources required to assimilate its wastes from disposal. Any pollution generated as a result of any of the life stages is also considered. The sustainability metric used to assess and measure the impact of the lifespan of products is called Life Cycle Analysis.
Other sustainability metrics used to assess environmental impact include ecological footprint, a measure of the amount of the Earth’s productive surface required to supply our resources and assimilate our wastes. You can take a test to measure your own ecological footprint and find out just how many acres it takes to support your lifestyle.
Principles guiding sustainable design include The Hannover Principles. Based on the work of Bill McDonough & Michael Braungart, these sustainability principles are applied to the design of products and services in Cradle to Cradle Analysis, .a more compehensive life cycle assessment. To receive Cradle to Cradle Certification , the design criteria for a product mimics the design of natural systems, "using available solar income," and requires that "waste equal food," which eliminates the concept of waste, instead redefining this endproduct as either a biological or technical nutrient.
This new applied industrial ecology is beginning to reshape our industrial revolution, evident in the many new businesses taking advantage of opportunities in this new growing "green" eco-purchasing and green-design market. For example, the renewable energy, green building and certain organics markets experienced record growth in the US in 2006.
Eco- labeling and identification is growing worldwide:
To identify European green businesses and industries, the European Union has created its own Eco-Label Flower.
The Marine Stewardship Council has created a label for sustainable fisheries. .
Sustainably harvested wood products are certified by the The Forest Stewardship Council.
The US Building Council developed LEED, a system to certify "green" buildings.
Many industries are creating their own "green" labels, for example for carpets and rugs.
The Energy Star rating system was developed by the EPA and offers a product search online.
By making informed choices, we can better manage and preserve our resources without diminishing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Coupled with lifestyle and behavioral changes that reduce our overall consumption and impact, we can all make a big difference.
Characteristics of Pennsylvania "Green" products or services:
-Significantly reduce or eliminate fossil fuels and/or environmental toxins
-Maximize the use of renewable resources
-Make a significant contribution to the sustainable manufacturing, packaging, delivery and/or marketing of products
-Have a high recycled, recyclable content
-Are compostable and biodegradable and/or avoid “down-cycling,” retaining a useful end-product (technical nutrient)
-Use or create renewable energy and conservation technologies, green-design building materials, design and/or construction services
-Are highly energy-efficient
-Contain Certified Organic, regionally grown and produced food or food products
-Forest Stewardship Council Certified Products
-Promote or support green purchasing, sustainability education and/or training
Characteristics of non-sustainable products or services:
Contribute to the depletion of non-renewable resources
Generate non-biodegradable or toxic “byproducts, ”
Contribute to the loss of biodiversity and ecological health
Inclusive PA "Green" Guide
Understanding that there is a process involved in the transition towards a truly sustainable economy, the PA Green Guide listings are meant to be inclusive, but selective, so having some distinction from any product or service on the market. By identifying and supporting "green" businesses and industries, we can help support the growth of a local "green" eco-products market, contributing towards a more sustainable growth of the Pennsylvania economy.
List Your Pennsylvania Business in the Guide:
Online PA Business Listing Form; Basic Listing Free!
Why Purchase PA Green?
Benefits of green products and services includesaving you money, creating local jobs, protecting the environment, safeguarding your health and protecting our environment
PA Green Guide Categories
A listing of product categories and associated keywords that users will be able to search for in the database.
The Green Guide was generously funded through a TIF grant from Penn State Outreach Economic and Workforce Development.
Coming Soon!
Online database to search for Pennsylvania Green Businesses and Industries
