Businesses for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST): Portland, OR
The City of Portland’s Businesses for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) program provides a comprehensive package of educational, technical and financial asssistance services to help businesses in Portland meet environmental goals.
The BEST program provides a range of services to businesses in Portland interested in making their operations more sustainable, including:
- A comprehensive assessment of a company’s business operations
- Recommendations for increasing sustainability in the areas of energy and water use, waste reduction, and transportation
- Facilitation of access to a variety of technical assistance and financial incentive programs, both public and private
- Promotion and recognition of sustainable business practices through the publication of a case study series based on BEST clients and the BEST Business Awards program
The BEST program represents an innovative way for cities to implement their commitment to greening local business. Its service package is comprehensive and tailored to each company’s needs. Since it began in 1992, BEST has offered assistance to more than 300 local businesses. The BEST Business Award winners alone have reduced CO2 emissions by more than 25,000 tons per year, and winners in the first three years of the program reported more than $4 million in annual savings. This succinct case study was prepared by ICLEI – International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and provides a starting point for communities seeking a good model for opening a similar resource for their local business community.
