What happened?

• Part 1: Train the Trainers

New Ventures and E+Co trained trainers from 10 countries around the world on the “TIMe” methodology as well as how to teach SBGs to effectively measure and report on relevant environmental information about their companies – as well as the business case for doing so.

• Part 2: SGB Training

New Ventures and E+Co brought SGBs from 10 countries around the world to learn how to effectively identify, measure, and inform key stakeholders about their environmental performance. The 2-day pilot training focused on the business’ operating footprint and efficiencies with a particular spotlight on GHG emissions, water resources, and energy efficiency.
The training included homework, course work in a classroom, speakers that discussed topics such as experience with measuring, improving and communicating their environmental performance and global investment trends related to impact metrics. The training also included a field trip to a best-in-class example of a sustainable coffee cooperative where the owner discussed his experience with measuring, improving and informing key stakeholders about the environmental performance of the coop. He shared the challenges as well as the financial benefits to measuring, managing, and communicating environmental impacts.
On the last day, the SGBs were asked to make a formal commitment to reduce GHG emissions, improve water management, or energy efficiency in their operations – thus increasing their positive impact on the environment and the competitiveness of their business.

What are the benefits to the SGBs? The SGBs learned from real-world examples that measuring, managing, and informing key stakeholders of environmental performance makes business sense. They learned about the cost-savings of making energy-efficiency improvements, they learned about license to operate and supply chain and community business risks with regards to water management and GHG emissions. They learned how environmental performance information could help them get investment or a contract with an international MNC supply chain. They also learned about their ability to use their performance information to influence key stakeholders to make decisions that will create a more favorable business environment (e.g., tax incentives) for environmentally focused businesses.

What are the Next Steps?

• Improve Materials There still is much work to be done to make the toolkit, impact calculators, and lesson-plan for the training more user-friendly. Also, there was an enormous request for a resource that showed environmental performance benchmarks by sector. Finally, an addendum for specific products and services should be included in version 2 of the toolkit and training.

• Go “Live” in Key Countries In order to maximize the impact, it’s important that this training is brought to key countries, translated in local languages, and brought to many more SGBs and trainers from other organizations.

• Walk the Talk New Ventures and E+Co committed to telling our beneficiaries about our environmental performance. We understand that whatever we ask of our investees we must be able to demonstrate and hold ourselves accountable as well.

• Create a “Global Green Entrepreneur Network” There was an overwhelming request by the entrepreneurs to continue to grow the community of like-minded entrepreneurs. Already at the seminar partnerships were forming and deals were being done. We already have the “Global Green Groupsite” – but now we must grow the community and continue the momentum.