Internet Resources for Environmentally Friendly Business Owners

Following is a list of 28 Internet sites which may provide useful information to business owners, professionals, and workers who would like either to sustain an environmentally focused business (involving natural resources) or to run a business that follows environmental standards. In addition, some sites provide links to employment opportunities, investment opportunities, and consumer opportunities that are supportive of the environment.

General :

This organization is a global, nonprofit organization that helps member companies become commercially successful in ways that respect ethical values, people, communities, and the environment. This site provides resources about issues in corporate social responsibility, BSR conferences, advisory services (that help evaluate and engineer CSR strategies), and membership. It also provides news and white papers from several sources.

An invaluable resource for how to use consumer and investor power for social change. This site includes information about shopping, personal investing, and starting a green business. It also provides links to various programs that it sponsors.

This organization is a consulting service that specializes in providing research on the market for environmental services and technology. The site provides a website search, news & newswire services, environmental databases, and market research.

Network for Change is a collaboration between the EnviroLink Network, the Animal Concerns Community, the Sustainable Business Network, and GreenMarketplace.com, who are working together to develop a comprehensive resource for individuals, organizations and businesses working for social and environmental change. They provide links to organizations involved, educational resources, progressive career resources, governmental resources, potential actions to take, related topics, events, news headlines, some in depth articles, links to relevant products and services, and links to a community dialogue where you can join discussions about relevant topics.

This organization offers strategic market and business information to the environmental industry. They link to their cornerstone publication Environmental Business Journal, which has been the leading business publication in the environmental industry since 1988. They also offer comprehensive reports and data products on all segments of the environmental industry.

GNET is an environmental technology, news and business center that promotes the use of innovative and environmental technologies. This site provides news, a tech portal, and a resource guide. Plus, a news center, a market center, a Department of Energy center, a government center, a directory of links, and a directory of businesses.

The resource center on business, the environment, and the bottom line. This site provides a news center, hands on help for companies, links to green jobs and careers, and a reference desk for business and the environment, as well as information about the organization and upcoming events.

This is private non-profit organization plays a unique role in the field of environmental education and training. They develop and support environmental learning programs to meet social goals, such as improved health, better education, and "greener", more profitable business. They work to build partnerships between government and the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

This site provides links to business and environment resources worldwide, including educational resources from business school professors in universities around the country, plus links to sites about business and the environment, education and the environment, global organizations and resources, environmental performance measurement, links with information pertaining to Latin America, and links to the private sector.

This organization claims to be the Internet community for businesses that integrate economic, and social and environmental concerns into their core strategy. They provide businesspeople direct access to the information and tools they need, as well as to meaningful employment and resources for sustainable business development. This site provides news, events, information for investors, business connections, a resource directory, and even "green dream jobs".

Search Engines :

Environmental Organization WebDirectory

This site totes itself as Earth's biggest environmental search engine. It has a business category (which leads to the Environmental Organization WebDirectory below), as well as the following categories: government, databases, employment, and many others.

Search the Environmental Protection Agency web server. This search engine provides an advance search, a search by zip code, and a search of publications. You can also find staff and other EPA sites.

This site brings you Environment Canada, Canada's national Environment program, which while being defined in a national context, delivers client-centered resources that takes into account regional differences across the country.

Directories :

This site comes from the Environmental Expert.com. It provides business information and contacts within the environmental industry.

This directory provides business information and contacts with businesses that provide various products (water, air, soil, waste, ecology, and miscellaneous) and services (consultants & engineering, removal & treatment, research & development, and training).

This directory provides information for various specific businesses. It also provides the following categories: assessment, consulting, corporate sponsorship, environmental business products, economics, internet services, marketing, standards, investing, and trusts & funds.

Google's Environmental and Safety Directory provides web links for several environmental resources, in addition to the following categories: conferences and events, emergency management, employment, environmental compliance, environmental management systems, services and training, indoor air quality, noise and vibration, occupational health and safety, safety engineering, safety equipment and supplies, and waste management.

This directory provides over 4000 links for resources related to energy and the environment. Its categories are clear and helpful and it provides a search engine for the directory.

A fairly extensive listing of organizations and websites. Allows the user to search for specific companies and specific topics.
Both provided by Earth Vision.

Resources for Environmental Evaluation :

The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about environmental issues relevant to industry, including small businesses. This information includes (but is not limited to) getting an environmental protection license, compliance and standards, cleaner production, and waste.

The Environmental Evaluation Group is a consulting firm that offers a wide range of expert environmental and planning services to address environmental concerns of both the public and private sectors. This organization provides a broad-based, comprehensive analysis of environmental constraints to resolve the complex issues raised by local, state and federal regulations and facilitate successful project completion.

Some Regional Associations :

This organization offers its members "peer assistance" (find out how others have already solved your company's pollution prevention and compliance problems), regular contacts with government agencies, monthly workshops, and a forum for proven best management practices that assist members in developing and implementing effective EH&S management systems.

CEBA acts as an information resource and collaborates with other organizations in Colorado, the nation, and the world for the benefit of its members, partners, and sponsors. The site provides information about current events, about CEBA, the CEBA newsletter, as well as information about how to become a member and how to become a sponsor.

This organization serves its members by stimulating business development, awareness and growth opportunities through networking, member services and educational seminars; coordinating effective partnerships among environmental businesses and with other business, research, government, and not-for-profit organizations; informing government and business leaders about the needs and economic opportunities of the environmental industry; and assisting in policy development that protects the environment and promotes a strong economy.

The Office of Environmental Assistance seeks to help make Minnesota environmentally healthy and economically strong through using resources efficiently, managing waste responsibly, preventing pollution, and supporting sustainable practices. This organization provides a service that helps businesses, local governments, schools, community organizations, and individual citizens solve environmental problems.

The goal of this site is to increase the quantity and quality of business opportunities for their member companies, and to act as the region's leading voice on issues related to environmental management. They hold regular bi-monthly meetings, special monthly meetings, and an annual business meeting. Speakers are scheduled to address subjects related to the environmental and waste management fields. They provide a directory of their members along with contact information, a list of events, news & notes from meetings.

The Virginia Environmental Business Council, Inc. works to enhance the business and job growth of both established and emerging environmental services companies. They offer services to member companies that are designed to support new business opportunities both with the U.S. and in foreign markets. These services include: networking (business to business and business to government), access to policymakers and regulators, information and guest speaker programs, discounted business services for members, and education and training short courses.