Sustainable Industries
By Nik Blosser
President, Celilo Group Media
March 2004
Prologue:
What is sustainability?
Definitions
• Brundtland Report: “…meet our own needs while allowing future generations to meet their own needs.”
• The Natural Step Framework: 4 “system conditions”
Victory (in sustainability)as defined by William McDonough
1. 100% of energy from renewable sources;
2. All products in the world made from either:
(i) biological nutrients that replenish the earth after use, or;
(ii) technical nutrients that are perpetually and safely recycled.
What are sustainable industries?
Businesses that have ecological innovation as a core part of their business model.
1. Products (renewable energy, technical ‘nutrients’);
2. Processes (biological and technical nutrient processes);
Sustainable Industries:
• Product manufacturers
• Distributors
• Raw material providers and brokers
• Professional service providers
The next Bill Gates will come from the renewable energy
world.
-- Theodore Roosevelt IV, Wall Street Investment Banker
Main Story:
Emergence of Sustainable Industries in the Northwest
Categories • Status • Opportunity
4 Major Categories
1. Green Building
2. Recycled Products
3. Sustainable Agriculture/Natural Resources
4. Renewable/Smart Energy
1. Green Building
• Raw lumber
• Wood products manufacturers
• Architects, contractors, interior designers
• Building efficiency systems and services.
Islandwood (LEED Gold)
Status
• City of Seattle leadership in LEED development
• Concentration of LEED experts in region
• GreenBuild conference in Portland, November 2004
• Booming growth in private sector development
Green Building
Barriers to growth:
- Marketing: demonstrating value in LEED certification;
- Policy: out-of-date building codes;
- Product availability.
2. Recycled Products
• Processors (paper, metal, glass, plastics, organics, wood, electronic waste)
• Manufacturers using recycled products
Status
• Portland #1 recycling rate in the nation of larger metro areas (Waste News)
• Bottle bill in Oregon
• Scrap metal recycling expertise – exporting to Pacific Rim
• King County/City of Seattle bans on various materials
Recycling Opportunities
Material Type Generated Disposed Recovered Recovery Rate
COMPOSTABLE ORGANICS
Yard trimmings 256,297 52,801 203,496 79%
Food scraps 192,762 180,804 11,958 6%
Grease 10,825 - 10,825 N.A.
Total Compostable Organics 459,884 233,605 226,279 49%
Compostable Organics
Portland metro region 2002 (tons)
Portland Metro Region 2002 (tons)
Material Type Generated Disposed Recovered Recovery Rate
PAPER
Recyclable Paper
Newspaper 168,117 26,879 141,238 84%
Magazines 12,886 12,886 - 0%
Mixed waste paper 81,182 54,030 27,151 33%
Cardboard/kraft paper 249,131 41,328 207,803 83%
High-grade paper 49,537 20,440 29,097 59%
Recyclable Paper subtotal 560,853 155,563 405,290 72%
Non-recyclable Paper
Non-recyclable paper 52,884 52,884 NA
Non-recyclable packaging 18,859 18,859 NA
Mixed paper/materials 24,905 24,905 NA
Non-recyclable Paper subtotal 96,648 96,648 NA
Total Paper 657,502 252,212 405,290 62%
Paper
Construction & Demolition DebrisPortland Metro region 2002 (tons)
Material Type Generated Disposed Recovered Recovery Rate
Recyclable Wood
Clean and painted lumber 44,817 44,817 NA
Pallets / Crates 17,044 17,044 NA
Other wood products 1,746 1,746 NA
Recyclable Wood subtotal 274,370 63,607 210,763 77%
Non-recyclable Wood
Chemically treated lumber 1,219 1,219 NA
Mixed wood / materials 20,027 20,027 NA
Non-recyclable Wood subtotal 21,246 21,246 0 NA
Gypsum wallboard
Gypsum wallboard new 34,326 31,167 3,159 9%
Gypsum wallboard old 20,382 20,382 NA
Roofing
Roofing, recyclable 42,180 30,998 11,181 27%
Roofing, nonrecyclable 2,880 2,880 NA
Fiberglass insulation 4,117 4,117 NA
Porcelain and other inorganics (5) 33,364 32,670 694 2%
Total Construction & Demolition 432,865 207,068 225,797 52%
125,773
Other Materials
Portland Metro 2002 (tons) Material
Material Type Generated Disposed Recovered Recovery Rate
Total Glass 67,456 24,637 42,819 63%
Total Metal 167,232 67,132 100,100 60%
Total Plastic 149,609 138,610 10,998 7%
Total Other Organics 57,911 57,911 - 0%
Total Rubber 27,542 19,015 8,527 31%
Total Textiles and Carpet 73,361 71,612 1,748 2%
Total Furniture & Furnishings 23,291 23,291 - 0%
Total Electronic & Electrical Equipment 24,727 23,971 756 3%
Total Inerts (rock, sand, concrete) 57,056 37,146 19,910 35%
2. Recycled Products
Barriers to growth:
- Policy: raising recycling rates, particularly for construction & demolition debris and organics; WA reporting system needs improvement
- Markets: creating markets for various waste streams and materials;
- Engineering: “waste is a failure of design”
E-waste
3. Sustainable Agriculture/Natural Resources
• Organic and Food Alliance-certified farmers
• Marine Stewardship-certified seafood
• Food processors
• Food preparers/servers
Status
• National certifiers HQ in NW: Oregon Tilth, Food Alliance, Marine Stewardship Council, Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
• WA: state organic certification; decent technical assistance for organic farmers
• OR: lacking in technical assistance and organic ag research
3. Sustainable Agriculture
Barriers to growth:
- Technical assistance: ag extension research;
- Policy: Transition assistance to farmers seeking certification is critical;
- Marketing: US citizens are simply used to paying too little for food.
4. Renewable/Smart Energy
Renewables (wind, solar, geothermal, wave, biomass, hydro)
• Development and Generation
• Manufacturing
• Transmission and consulting services
• Energy efficiency technologies
NW Windpower Advantages
• Oregon and Washington ranked in top ten in the nation for wind resources
• Wind “shapes” well with hydropower
• One of largest wind developers HQ in Portland (PPM)
• One of largest wind turbine manufacturers has US HQ in region (Vestas)
National ranking of NW green power programs
• Portland General Electric: #2 (and #1 IOU)
• PacifiCorp: #5
# of birds killed by wind turbines annually
6,000
4. Renewable/Smart Energy
Barriers to growth:
- Policy: federal tax credit for wind energy (lapsed this year)
- Policy: renewable portfolio standards in WA, OR and neighboring states
- Market: higher energy costs make renewables and smart energy tools more viable
Other possible categories
• Transportation: hybrid-electric cars, transit systems, fuel cells
• Green chemistry
By-the-wind sailor
If an invertebrate can sail into the wind, you can, too.
• Sustainable Industries Journal NW(monthly)
• Sustainable Industries Overview 2004 (annual)
• Chinook Book (annual Seattle/King County and Portland metro editions)
www.sijournal.com
For more information: