THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS COUNCIL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

MATERIALS MARKETPLACE: THE MATERIALS MARKETPLACE IS A FACILITATED TRANSACTION PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP AND SCALE NEW REUSE AND RECYCLING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO CREATE A CLOSED-LOOP, COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHERE ONE ORGANIZATION'S HARD-TO-RECYCLE WASTE AND BY- PRODUCTS BECOMES ANOTHER ORGANIZATION'S RAW MATERIAL. IN ADDITION TO DIVERTING WASTE FROM LANDFILLS, THESE RECOVERY ACTIVITIES GENERATE SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS, ENERGY SAVINGS, AND CREATE NEW JOBS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2017 THE US BCSD HAD MARKETPLACE PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, OHIO, AND TENNESSEE.

WATER SYNERGY PROJECT: SINCE 2012 THE US BCSD HAS WORKED WITH 23 DIVERSE COMPANIES IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN TO ADDRESS A RANGE OF WATER SUPPLY, WATER QUALITY, STORMWATER AND COASTAL RESILIENCY RISKS. COMPANIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY CONCERNS THROUGH DESIGN OF A WATER QUALITY TRADING PROGRAM, AND HAVE EXPLORED NEW OPTIONS FOR WETLANDS RESTORATION THROUGH CHANGES IN WATER MANAGEMENT. PROJECTS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE EMERGED THAT HAVE BEEN GREETED WITH HIGH INTEREST BY STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, ACADEMIA, AND NGOS. THIS MULTI-SECTOR TEAMING DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS CONSIDERABLE REGIONAL INTEREST IN USING THE SPEED AND EFFICIENCY OF MARKET-BASED INSTITUTIONS TO SEEK OUT WAYS OF CONVERTING WATER PROBLEMS INTO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO DEVELOPING A COLLECTIVE CAPACITY FOR CONSERVING WATERSHED SYSTEMS AS BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC GOODS.