SAGE

Sustainable Business Certification Program

Solutions for Advancing a Green Economy 

Catamount Institute's SAGE Certification Program is an in-depth checklist developed to measure, verify, and recognize a business's sustainable actions.  By completing the SAGE Certification checklist, businesses are able to:

• Reduce their overall operating costs
• Assess current sustainable endeavors and establish a roadmap for achieving future goals
• Discover opportunities for improving their triple bottom line
• Learn to market and promote their sustainable business initiatives

Benefits of SAGE Certification

Green businesses save on operating costs while reducing the consumption of our region's natural resources.  By proactively responding to inefficiencies, they increase their trust among stakeholders, add value to their products and services and create a healthier and happier work environment for their employees.  SAGE Certification allows your business to stand out among your competitors and highlights your commitment to environmental stewardship as well as your community.

About the checklist

The SAGE Certification Program is anchored by a 100-point checklist divided into six categories. A business must complete all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to receive certification.

• Corporate Commitment, Social Responsibility, and Wellness
• Energy & Water
• Transportation
• Material Management, Waste & Pollution Reduction, Recycling
• Procurement, Operations and Maintenance
• Professional Certifications, Affiliations and Business Innovations (Extra Credit Section)
  

Certification Levels

Businesses that receive at least the minimum of points required receive one of four levels of Certification:  Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum.  Certifications are documented for two calendar years, based on the year of certification (e.g. “Bronze Level Certified, 2011-2012”).  Businesses may choose to become re-certified after this two year cycle by registering for and submitting the most current SAGE program checklist.

Bronze:  36 – 44 points

Silver:  45- 55 points

Gold:  56 – 69 points

Platinum:  70+

Getting Started

Complete the SAGE registration form and submit your registration fee to Catamount Institute.  You will be e-mailed the checklist and all necessary information to complete the checklist.

Businesses are given 90 days from the date of registration to complete the checklist and submit all supporting documentation.  Catamount Institute reviews the submittals and awards certification to businesses that receive at least the minimum number of points required.

Business Recognition

Certified businesses receive a plaque for display as well as the electronic SAGE certified logo for use on websites, e-mails and all advertisements and media releases.  Press releases are submitted to our media partners including print, radio and television.  SAGE certified businesses will be listed on our website, and full case studies and checklist reports will be made available to the public as permitted by your business.

For more information, contact Whitney Calhoun, Program Manager, Sustainable Business Certification Program, 719.471.0910 x109 or Calhoun@CatamountInstitute.org.

John Crandall, Owner of Old Town Bike Shop

“The Sustainable Business Certification Program will be a very valuable tool to evaluate our business, see how we stack up against local trend setters, and measure progress as improvements are made. The result is a comprehensive document that covers many aspects of sustainability, has an easy to understand point system and will hopefully move Colorado Springs forward on the path of improving our sustainability efforts. This is not a burdensome project, but rather can help any company’s triple bottom line!”

Lynette Myers, Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Coordinator

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability:

“This is a wonderful assessment tool for businesses within the Pikes Peak Region (and beyond) that want to assess and measure their current sustainability actions while also working towards further improvement.  Ranking in this certification program would equate to the bronze level for CELP, and is a terrific introduction for higher level certifications in CELP.”

Anita Burke, The Catalyst Institute

"This certification program is a fabulous educational tooling for businesses!  The SBCP allows businesses to have a better understanding of what is already happening globally in the context of sustainable business practices and transparent reporting with programs such as GRI, BCorp, Walmart and others.”

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