The Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable (SBR) is a collaborative group of 55+ member organizations across our region that are demonstrating how to integrate sustainability into their organizations to benefit staff, the environment, and their bottom line. Our business leaders across industries and in both public and private companies are optimizing use of energy and materials, reducing waste and pollution, and enhancing community investment. 

By leveraging the collective knowledge and lessons learned from our member organizations, along with sustainability subject matter experts across our network, we offer advice and inspiration, along with access to tools that help reduce risk and advance sustainability.

Mission, Vision, Value

Our Mission

The mission of SBR is to foster collaboration that enables our member businesses to build and act on sustainability goals, maintain profitability, and promote healthy communities.

Our Vision

Our vision is to grow and support an environmentally and economically resilient community that prioritizes the well-being of current and future generations.

Value Proposition

By leveraging the collective knowledge of a diverse business pool, SBR offers members practical advice, inspiration, and access to tools that can be implemented to reduce environmental impact while achieving economic gain and risk reduction. We provide leadership to create competitive advantage and contribute to a thriving, sustainable future for the Western New York region.

Board of Directors

 “In 2015, I made a career move into Environmental Health & Safety. As a department of one, I needed local resources to learn from and share best-practices with. I am thankful to have found the SBR. The SBR has connected Harmac with many companies and amazing people that are willing to share their journey and knowledge. These connections have been invaluable.” Kris Ann Bolt, Harmac Medical Products

* Erie County and University at Buffalo hold permanent seats.

Acknowledgements

We’d like to extend our appreciation to the following individuals for serving on the steering committee during the development of SBR. 

• Eric Lindstrom, CannonDesign

• Deb Gondek, Rich Products

• Jeff Oliver, McCullagh Coffee

• Mark Casell, Siemens Industry US

• Thomas R. Hersey Jr., Erie County

• Andrew Goldstein, Erie County

Staff

Asa has worked at the intersection of public policy, law making, information and business within the European Union for more than 10 years. She was appointed Scientific Attaché for Sustainable Development at the Embassy of Sweden in Tokyo, Japan. She was also in charge of the Sweden’s Ministry of Environment’s Environmental Research Group, leading initiatives for e.g. National Environmental Monitoring programming and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

She relocated to Western New York from South Florida, where she was responsible for the day to day business at the Consulate of Sweden in Fort Lauderdale. As the appointed Vice Consul, she acted as a liaison between the Swedish and American business communities. Asa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and a Master’s program degree in Environmental Management & Auditing from Uppsala and Stockholm University. Email her at:  asa@wnysustainablebusiness.org

History

Earth Day 2014: SBR was kicked off with 35 founding member businesses after months of behind-the-scenes planning. 6 months later the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced award of a grant to Empire State Development and Erie County to fund a staff person for two years to assist the steering committee.

March 26, 2015: Members adopted Bylaws and elected our first Board of Directors. 

In 2015, SBR launched the Sustainable Business EXPO, which transformed into our annual signature event, the Sustainable Business Summit.

In 2018 SBR implemented membership dues. In addition to a more diversified funding strategy, this enabled SBR to hire a full-time coordinator in 2019 to better advance SBR’s mission and vision on behalf of our members.