These days, the term “sustainability” can apply to a variety of things from food to recycling and even business practices.

The latter will be the topic of a free workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Sedona campus of Yavapai College.

Moving Toward Sustainability is co-spon­sored by the city of Sedona and the Sustainability Alliance, as well as the Yavapai College’s Small Business Development Center and Sedona Chamber of Commerce.

In this workshop, attendees will hear from national experts and local businesses about their experiences with sustain­able business practices.

Lisa Voss, business program manager for the Sustainability Alliance, said their organization is a network of 10 sustain­ability-focused nonprofits serving communities in Sedona and the Verde Valley. Their programs help businesses, communities and municipalities advance their sustainability goals.

One of their key programs is the Sustainable Business Certification, a free, light­weight assessment that offers education, recogni­tion and ongoing engage­ment opportunities for certified businesses. Currently there are nearly 85 certified organizations across Sedona and the Verde Valley.

Voss said the target audience is organizations in Sedona and the Verde Valley who want to learn about how they can be more sustainable. This applies not only to for-profit busi­nesses of any size, but also nonprofits and municipalities. No prior sustain­ability knowledge is needed for work­shop participation.

Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff said many local businesses are interested in the sustainability trend but are not sure what it means to them. At the work­shop, local Certified Sustainable Businesses — as recognized by the Sustainability Alliance — will present what they have done and the benefits they see. She said business owners will learn how to assess their opera­tions for sustainability improvements and how those improvements can help the overall environmental and quality of life balance in Sedona, but also help cut costs.

“Presenters will also point out what funding and other resources may be available to help businesses transi­tion toward sustainable practices,” she said. “The Alliance will talk about their certification criteria which, once achieved, can be a valuable marketing point for businesses as sustainability awareness grows.

“It is really all about the practicali­ties of making sustainable practices happen in the workplace. We’re finding a lot of enthusiasm, and we’re responding with the information busi­nesses need so businesses can channel enthusiasm into action.” 

Voss said the core content of the session will explain the framework used for the Sustainability Alliance’s Sustainable Business Certification and give real-life examples of these practices as implemented by select Certified Sustainable Businesses in the region. The panel will also illus­trate that sustainability is an iterative process of improvements over time.

“An organization doesn’t need to be a perfect model of sustainability, it just needs to get started and keep moving,” she said.

Voss went on to say, “The goal of fostering sustainable businesses is also inherently aligned with the objectives of economic development. Thus we are continually deepening our partner­ships with the municipal economic development offices across the region and the Small Business Development Center at Yavapai College. Sedona Economic Development Director Molly Spangler has been particularly helpful in promoting sustainability and the Sustainable Business Certification through her workshops and individual business coaching.”

To RSVP for this event, email Samantha Eves at seves@sedonaaz.gov.