The Fox Valley has a long history of making things: paper, machinery, food, printing and packaging, along with the shops, clinics, schools and nonprofits that serve the people who live here. Many of those organizations already manage energy, materials and waste carefully because it affects the bottom line. A structured sustainability approach builds on that instinct and helps you see opportunities that are easy to miss when you look at one cost at a time.
This page is for owners, managers, facilities staff, green teams and board members of any size of organization, from a two-person storefront in Kimberly to a large employer in Neenah.
The triple bottom line
The idea of the triple bottom line asks organizations to judge success on three dimensions rather than one. It is a useful way to frame conversations with owners, staff and boards.
Economic
Lower operating costs, steadier supply chains, reduced regulatory and price risk, and products or services that customers increasingly look for.
Environmental
Less energy, water and raw material use, less waste and pollution, and a smaller footprint on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago watershed.
Social
Healthier workplaces, engaged employees, fair dealings with suppliers and a stronger relationship with the surrounding community.
The triple bottom line tells you what to pay attention to. It does not tell you which direction is sustainable or how to prioritize. That is where The Natural Step comes in. For a deeper discussion, read Sustainable Business in Practice: Turning the Triple Bottom Line into Profit.
The Natural Step for business
The Natural Step is a science-based framework developed in Sweden that defines the basic conditions a sustainable society must meet. Instead of chasing every new green trend, an organization uses those conditions as a compass. In plain language, the framework asks a business to reduce its dependence on:
- materials taken from the earth’s crust that build up in nature, such as fossil fuels and certain metals;
- persistent chemicals and compounds made by society that build up in nature;
- activities that physically degrade or destroy ecosystems; and
- conditions that create barriers to people’s health, influence, competence, impartiality and meaning.
These map directly to the three guiding questions on the original Sustainable Fox Valley home page, plus the social condition that runs through all of them. Companies around the world have used the framework, and its practical method, called ABCD planning, works just as well for a small manufacturer or a church office as for a multinational.
A step-by-step path for your organization
- Get leadership on board. Identify a sponsor with authority to approve time and spending. Even a small commitment, such as a quarterly review, signals that the effort matters.
- Form a green team. Include people from operations, purchasing, facilities and front-line roles. They know where the waste is.
- Build shared awareness. Introduce the framework so everyone uses the same definition of success. Our half-day Natural Step workshop is designed for exactly this step.
- Take a baseline. Gather twelve months of energy, water, waste hauling and key purchasing data. Walk the building and note what you see.
- Brainstorm solutions. Picture your organization in a sustainable future, then work backward to identify actions that move you toward it.
- Prioritize. Choose actions that move in the right direction, serve as a stepping stone to further improvements and offer a reasonable return.
- Act, measure and report. Assign owners and deadlines, track results and share progress with staff and customers honestly.
- Repeat. Revisit the plan each year. Sustainability is a direction of travel, not a certificate on the wall.
Typical quick wins
Every organization is different, but the same opportunities come up again and again. The table below shows common first steps. Costs and savings vary widely, so treat it as a starting checklist rather than a promise.
| Area | Quick win | Typical effort | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Upgrade to LED fixtures, add occupancy sensors in low-traffic rooms | Low to moderate | Cuts electricity use and maintenance |
| Heating and cooling | Schedule thermostats to occupancy, service equipment, seal obvious air leaks | Low | Reduces natural gas and electricity use, improves comfort |
| Compressed air and equipment | Find and fix leaks, shut down equipment when idle | Low | Leaks are a common, invisible source of wasted energy in industrial settings |
| Waste | Audit dumpsters, separate cardboard and other recyclables, rightsize hauling | Low | Can lower hauling costs and keep material out of landfills |
| Purchasing | Prefer durable, refillable and less-toxic products; buy local where practical | Low | Reduces persistent chemicals and packaging, supports the local economy |
| Water | Fix leaks, install efficient fixtures, manage parking-lot runoff | Low to moderate | Lower water bills and cleaner stormwater |
| People | Encourage carpooling, biking and transit; involve staff in ideas | Low | Supports health and engagement, cuts commuting emissions |
Nonprofits, schools and faith communities
Organizations without a profit motive still pay utility bills and still shape their community. For them, sustainability often lines up neatly with mission: a food pantry that reduces waste stretches donations further, a school that saves energy frees budget for teaching, and a congregation that cares for its building and grounds lives out its values. The same steps apply. Start with a green team, a baseline and a few visible wins, then build from there.
Common questions from Fox Valley organizations
We are small. Is this worth our time?
Yes. Smaller organizations often move faster because decisions are made by a few people. A simple baseline and three priority actions can be done in a few meetings.
Will this lock us into expensive certifications?
No. The Natural Step is a way of thinking and planning, not a label you must buy. Some organizations later pursue formal certifications or reporting, and a Natural Step foundation makes that easier.
How do we avoid greenwashing?
Measure before you make claims, describe specific actions rather than vague promises, and be honest about what you have not yet solved. Customers and employees respect candor.
If you would like to involve your staff in a structured conversation first, a study circle can be a low-pressure place to start. Municipal partners may also find our municipalities page useful.