Boosting business sustainability with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Sustainability improvements in businesses don't happen by accident. Usually, there’s someone inside the company who starts asking questions: Is there a better way to do this? Could we reduce waste? Are we spending more on energy than we need to?

That person might be a business owner, an operations manager, a sustainability lead, or a facilities manager. Whoever they are, they’re often the one championing the idea that doing things more efficiently is good for both the bottom line and the environment.

The programs offered by the Minnesota Chamber Environmental Sustainability Foundation exist to support those champions and their businesses. Our teams help turn good ideas into practical projects, whether that’s increasing recycling, cutting energy use, or identifying ways to improve air quality.

And the payoff can be significant. Sustainability projects often lead to lower hauling costs, reduced utility bills, and long-term operational savings. In the last year, the Sustainability Foundation saved businesses $728,000 in annual cost savings.

Through programs like Energy Smart, Waste Wise, MNimize, and the Pollution Prevention Grant, businesses can connect with specialists who help assess current operations and identify practical improvements. These services are offered at no cost to eligible businesses. Most visits take just 30–60 minutes and can find opportunities that lead to years of savings, along with connections to rebate and grant funding that helps projects move forward.

Learn more or schedule a consultation at mnenergysmart.org or mnwastewise.org.