Buy Local initiatives--The Dane Buy Local initiative, first of its kind in Wisconsin, attracted more than 200 member businesses by the end of 2007, with an active education and promotion program. WiscPSA can assist your community with similar strategies. Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility is a member of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (B.A.L.L.E.), a network of more than 50 similar alliances which share ideas and host a national conference each year.

Greener Wisconsin Business Network--When fully updated and operational, this online directory of businesses taking steps to incorporate green practices will make it easy for consumers and other businesses to find them. If you are interested or already implementing green practices in your workplace, with your supply chain, in products and services, the Greener Wisconsin Business Network can help you move forward for greater profit, healthy living and community benefit.

The next step: linking with similar networks nationwide.

Conscious Consumer Discussion Course--Neighborhood, school and faith-based groups can use the discussion guide to learn all about how to pay attention to sustainable practices, Fair Trade and related issues. 

Green Online Auctions--Twice a year we host online auctions to promote businesses, products and services which participate in the Greener Wisconsin Business Network and Buy Local initiatives. The auctions benefit Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility operations and outreach.

Green Practices for Government, Business, Communities and Consumers: There's more to this than merely buying compact flourescent bulbs or putting recycled items in the right place. By working together, different sectors of society can accomplish a wide variety of benefits. But it takes a systematic framework like The Natural Step as well as specific behavior change strategies. Workshops around Wisconsin can offer cost-effective strategies and resources.

Greencubator--Got an idea? A whizbang possibility that could save energy, save money, enrich the soil, clean the air or water, protect our health or reduce global warming? Do you know someone who has a community service project or enterprise that could benefit from creative and cross-disciplinary technical assistance? Using the principles of social marketing, dynamic facilitation and lateral thinking, WiscPSA can help implement green practices at all levels.

Sometimes government and private sector groups come to us; sometimes we create the projects ourselves. Some examples:

Mercury Thermostat Recycling Project: Although much of the population recognizes some of the dangers associated with mercury, few thermostats with mercury in them are disposed of properly. The result is the gradual poisoning of water, air, soil and eventually human beings and other forms of life. After comprehensive research on programs throughout the U.S., Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility have begun to generate social marketing approaches to increase the amount of mercury thermostats replaced each year.

Where We Live--Neighborhoods, Villages and Communities Around the World: Learning about "community" has often meant amassing economic and demographic data planning documents and policy-related information. The average citizen, however, rarely appreciates the complex interdependencies which comprise community life--between people, the natural and built environments and other relationships. Children, youth, adult men and women and elders in villages around the world are beginning to use the asset-based community development, participatory action, geography and ethnography to understand basic principles of sustainability and quality of life. Where We Live offers internet-based and "on the ground" tools for learning and action.

BYOB--Bring Your Own Bag and It's In the Bag: These two initiatives actually developed independently but approach similar challenge from the the supply side and consumer side. A student group in the Green Bay area wanted to reduce the use of plastic by encouraging customers to carry re-usable bags when they shop.

A social entrepreneur wanted to help poor women in Sri Lanka and non-profits in Wisconsin as well as the local environment by establishing a business which sells canvas tote bags at fair trade prices. Food coops, grassroots organizations, Time Banks, gardening groups and recycling programs have purchased the bags as fundraising and promotional tools.