The sixth annual Sustainable Business Symposium began on campus Thursday, featuring a variety of speakers and workshops addressing topics ranging from transportation solutions to the Federal Organic Act.
This year’s theme is “Turning Vision Into Reality: Linking Economy, Ecology and Community.” The symposium will bring together speakers to discuss and investigate sustainable theory and how it can become a working reality in the world of business.
“(The goal is) to show that businesses can be successful and profitable while practicing business in a way that doesn’t degrade the environment,” Shandra LeVan, SBS board member and project manager, said.
One of the workshops, “How to Start a Sustainable Business or Cooperative,” focuses on lending, marketing, accounting, financing and environmentally friendly purchasing for people interested in starting and running their own green business.
“We see that businesses can really be a leader in creating sustainability,” LeVan said.
Organizers say they hope people who attend the workshops and panels will carry out what they learn in their everyday business practices.
Scott Pope, a certified financial planner for Progressive Investment Management, will lead a discussion in the “Socially Responsible Investing for Businesses” panel. Pope will talk about how people can invest their money while keeping the goal of sustainability in mind.
“It’s an attempt to fit people’s investments with their personal values,” he said.
The “Renewable Energy” panel will examine the future of energy use and the implementation of more renewable technologies. Jim Maloney, Eugene Water and Electric Board energy resource projects manager, will speak about making sound investments in renewable energies to provide a better future. He said even though new investments may seem costly now, it is important to look past the short-run.
“You can’t take your eye off the long-term goals,” he said.
Maloney will also talk about the potential impacts of climate change and the risks businesses will face because of it. He said wind or solar power may help to mitigate this problem.
The symposium will run through Saturday on campus and is free to the public. For more information about the symposium and a full listing of events, visit http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sbs.