Based on its widely recognized 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon project, the 100 Best Green Companies are determined by an anonymous employee survey and an independent assessment of the employers’ sustainability practices.

For the second annual 100 Best Green Companies in 2010, Sustainable Practices questions were incorporated into both the 100 Best Nonprofits survey, conducted April-June 2009 and the 100 Best Companies survey, conducted August-November 2009. More than 26,000 employees from more than 500 Oregon workplaces took part in these two surveys.

SCORING

Employee ratings on satisfaction with and importance of sustainable practices for 10 survey statements count for 2/3 of each workplace's overall green score while 10 sustainable practice questions answered by the employer count for the remaining 1/3 out of 300 possible points.

GREEN EMPLOYEE SURVEY QUESTIONS

For each statement below, employees rate:
  • Satisfaction with the performance of their company in that area.
  • How important that particular item is to their overall satisfaction.
   1. Company/Organization's recycling of paper products
   2. Company/Organization's waste reduction, other than paper
   3. Company/Organization's use of nontoxic, biodegradable materials
   4. Company/Organization's support for renewable energy and conservation
   5. Company/Organization's support for commuting by bicycle, walking
   6. Company/Organization's support for public transit, carpooling, telecommuting
   7. Company/Organization's commitment to environmental stewardship
   8. Management support for sustainability as part of company/organizatoin mission
   9. Employee recognition and rewards for meeting or exceeding environmentally sustainable practices
   10. Company/Organization's efficiency efforts toward a sustainable workplace (compact fluorescent bulbs, low flow equipment, weatherizing, etc.) 

GREEN EMPLOYER SURVEY QUESTIONS

   1. Does the employer reward and recognize employees for reducing energy and material consumption? (Y/N)
   2. Does the employer subsidize employees' public transit passes? (Y/N)
   3. Does the employer allow space for bikes, skateboards or other green means of transport? (Y/N)
   4. Does the employer utilize natural lighting and/or energy-efficient lighting and equipment? (Y/N)
   5. Does the employer purchase renewable energy or directly utilize a renewable source, such as solar or geothermal? (Y/N)
   6. Does the employer recycle paper? (Y/N)
   7. Does the employer recycle cardboard, plastic, glass and metals? (Y/N)
   8. Are biodegradable or nontoxic materials chosen for business processes and facilities maintenance whenever possible? (Y/N)
   9. Do business decisions include an analysis of energy-efficiency and waste-reduction opportunities, including life-cycle costs? (Y/N)
  10. Are reducing energy consumption and pollution, and sustainability part of the company's core business strategy? (Y/N)
  11. Do you have any comments or observations about making your company more sustainable? (Non-scored write-in section)

HOW TO APPLY

Companies interested in entering the survey should contact Brandon Sawyer, research editor, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . There is no cost to participate.

HISTORY

Sustainability is an important value and sustainable industries are a critical sector in Oregon. And green practices also are key to being a great place to work, according to a new survey by Oregon Business Magazine. To honor that, Oregon Business launched its first annual 100 Best Green Companies project in 2009.

In 2009, there were 372 companies that participated in the project. The 100 Best Green Companies was announced in the June “Green Issue” of Oregon Business and at the Gerding Theater in Portland on June 1. The Gerding is the first National Register-listed building in the country to receive a LEED platinum certification.

The 100 Best Green Companies were determined by satisfaction and importance ratings of sustainability statements from the 100 Best Employee Survey as well as answers to 10 sustainability questions in the 100 Best Employer Benefits Survey. Both surveys were conducted in the fall of 2008. The 100 Best Employee Survey included questions on the organization’s support for waste reduction; reuse and recycling; renewable energy and conservation; alternative modes of transportation; use of nontoxic materials; environmental stewardship; and employee recognition and rewards for meeting or exceeding energy and waste-reduction goals.

The 100 Best Employer Benefits Survey asked the organization about recognizing employees for reducing energy; helping subsidize employees’ public transit passes; allowing for green means of transport; using energyefficient lighting; purchasing of renewable energy; recycling office waste; using nontoxic materials; making business decisions based on sustainable values; reducing energy consumption and pollution; and commitment sustainability as part of the organization’s core business strategy.

Companies interested in entering the survey should contact Brandon Sawyer, research editor, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . There is no cost to participate.