FAQs
Why is this the right time?
More and more organizations are trying to implement sustainability and yet integrated, comprehensive approaches to promoting sustainability are the exception, not the rule. Director of sustainability or sustainability coordinator positions are proliferating to aid these organizations wanting to embed sustainability into every level of their operations/structure so that sustainability becomes part of everyday business. Why should they all have to start at ground zero? Where do these people go for career development? While there are a few universities with sustainability programs, there is a need for professional development on a broader scale. Many colleagues have expressed a desire to connect with others doing this work to support and learn from one another. See the survey for more information about the purpose and services of ISSP.
What is the philosophy of ISSP?
We believe... Sustainability can be defined in different ways in different contexts but at its root is an acknowledgement of the limits of nature and a long-term systems view that includes social and economic elements as well as environmental ones. The world is in its infancy in learning how to develop a sustainable society, so open dialog about different approaches will be key to our success. No one has the whole picture or the whole answer, so through collaboration, experimentation, and information sharing, together we can find paths toward a better, more sustainable world.
Why form another sustainability organization?
While there are other organizations related to sustainability, they tend to be focused on a geographic area, framework, philosophy or sector. None are truly professional societies dedicated to supporting the professional development of practitioners globally, across sectors and philosophies. ISSP will not compete with these other groups but instead will leverage what they have and extend their reach. Many of these organizations have content that would be of interest to people who would not want to be members. Why should everyone develop their own green purchasing guidelines or sustainability coordinator job descriptions. Certainly there are discussions that are best done in these other groups, but we see ISSP as the place to share materials of general interest and explore synergies across sectors, geographic areas and philosophies. Sustainability is about the whole system after all!
Who created ISSP?
ISSP was formed as a program under the Zero Waste Alliance (a program under the International Sustainable Development Foundation), a 501 (c) 3 non profit. There are currently four members of ZWA who act as the Executive Team for ISSP. We have an Advisory Board with respected professionals from around the world. We also invited approximately 50 Founding Members who populated the site with useful content and will help recruit and support new members.
Why not create a separate non-profit?
Yes, we're doing that now, as a matter of fact! We are grateful to ZWA for incubating us but it is time to become our own organization. We will be forming a traditional Board of Directors.
Who controls ISSP?
While ISSP has an Executive Team of people who have volunteered countless hours to get ISSP up and running, the members are utimately in control of what ISSP becomes. No one can 'control' a web-based platform like this. The Executive Team members have had an 'if you build it, they will come' attitude and believe that the organization will become what the members need, evolving over time.
