Greener Alternatives

SQA Online Resource Center

Award Recipient Post-Visit Report

Organization name: Greener Alternatives

Street Address: 914 Mission St, Suite A

City: Santa Cruz Zip code: 95060 Central phone: 423-0701

Name of person submitting the application: Bob Schwarz

Title: President Phone: 423-0701 Fax: 423-0702

Product or service: Distribution of Eco-friendly Goods

Number of employees: 4 (part-time)

Award Category: Small (for-profit) Business

Date and time of Site Visit: October 28, 1994; 2:00 PM

Category: Small Business Criteria Areas: All four Final Score: 83

The following report completes the site visit and evaluation process for the 1994 Sustainable Business Quality Awards. We would like your permission to use the commentary on the first page in SBQA advertising, public relations, and press announcements. The second page contains feedback for your eyes only. We accept corrections and clarification to the information provided on either page in writing or by telephone no later than 5:00 PM, 1/10/95. After that date, the information contained on the first page will be considered complete, correct and available for distribution.

Congratulations and thank you for participating in the 1994 SBQA process.

I Leadership

Since 1990, Greener Alternatives has been dedicated to a vision of selling products which minimize human impact on the environment. Their philosophical model is not from a textbook, but rather comes from a deep, abiding belief that all things are connected, that ecosystems sustain the web of life and therefore deserve our utmost care. The company takes a leading role in providing community education on protecting the environment by publishing free ecological information. The company participates in an average of twelve major events per year and provides this literature at each event. Greener Alternatives is listed with many national environmental, both printed and on-line, and owner Bob Schwarz is recognized as a leading resource. Greener Alternatives has also participated in UCSC’s intern program to organize their resource library.

II Human and Community Relations

Greener Alternatives contributes funds, time, and products to nonprofit organizations aligned with the philosophy of sustainability. The company provides a free, high-grade paper recycling service for the community. The increase in the use of this service demonstrates that the process is working. The company has worked with schools to educate students about recycling. Both Santa Cruz and San Lorenzo Valley High Schools have started Environmental Clubs with the help of Greener Alternatives’ early involvement with students. The company also uses local financial and manufacturing services whenever possible to keep money and jobs within our community.

Employees are encouraged to take a leadership role and contribute all they can, receiving recognition for their outstanding efforts through a variety of incentives.

III Continuous Improvement and Economic Development

Greener Alternatives has grown steadily since its inception in 1990; in both 1993 and 1994, annual growth exceeded 10%. Part of the reason they are so successful is that they ask for direct feedback from customers regarding service and expectations. They implement changes rapidly to accommodate customer needs. This has taken the form of regular surveys and the actions that have resulted to date include: modification of the credit application, special searches for specific types of products, and elimination of marginal product lines. The company is actively using the tools and techniques of Total Quality Management (TQM) to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of its processes. Key procedures are flow-charted and upgraded routinely. The company keeps check lists on all delivery and accounting procedures. Frequency distributions are reviewed for ad surveys and a variety of measures are available for tracking sales, financial and accounting ratios. The company searches the marketplace for new and innovative products, such as paper made from hemp, denim, and recycled money. The company uses a formalized method for evaluating new products (see statement published in The Natural Connection).

IV Environmental Stewardship

Greener Alternatives specializes in providing products that have been "researched for the lowest impact on the earth." Their offices and showrooms are lit using energy efficient bulbs, equipment uses rechargeable power supplies, and is a "smoke and fragrance free" working environment. The company also reuses or recycles office paper, glass, metal, cardboard, and ink jet ribbons. It plans delivery routes to minimize transportation fuel and uses a fuel-efficient van.