SQA Online Resource Center

How does it work?

Modeled after the state and national business quality awards, the SQA provided recognition for innovative business practices in three key areas:

The criteria and selection process are designed by a team of quality experts, environmental science professionals, organizational development practitioners, business and community leaders.

In business as well as in communities, the results we produce depend on what we encourage, recognize, and celebrate; therefore, it makes sense to reward what we want. An awards process holds the focus on a set of criteria that educates and builds awareness of ways that a business or organization can continuously improve in all domains. It increases our ability to compete and prosper while improving the quality of worklife and why we got into business in the first place.

The SQA program provides a process for organizations to productively engage in and get acknowledged for excellence in continuous quality improvement and sustainable practices.

What's different about this awards program?

The focus on sustainability -- environmental, social and economic -- encourages a proactive approach to resolving the conflicting demands for profit, people resources, and stewardship of the environment.

For example, businesses are constantly exploring how to cut costs without negatively impacting the workforce or the environment. Businesses that find ways to save money and expand their economic base without harming the environment -- and in many cases by restoring or improving the physical and social environment -- are creating models that others can 'benchmark" and learn from.

Simply put, these businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations deserve public recognition for setting standards of leadership and innovation. The awards create an upward spiral of improvement and inspiration that bypass all the conflict and controvery about regulations and government's interference in business. Instead of getting lost in that win-lose battle, we aim to help people get and celebrate the results they can be proud of.

What is "sustainable quality"? Why is it important?

Initiatives like ride-sharing, waste reduction efforts, energy conservation, workplace inclusion and collaboration, and paying attention to the needs of the greater community are all examples of sustainable quality practices.
These practices build on the three pillars of sustainability:

The time is right for innovation and actions that demonstrate that businesses can do good, do it well, and do well economically.

Sustainable quality blends aspects of Total Quality and continuous improvement / redesign, Industrial Ecology, and System Thinking. There are hundreds of books on topics that relate to this topic. Ask for a reference if you are unfamiliar with these ideas.

The SQA itself also represent public-private partnerships that help us build the possibility of a sustainable future.

How does a local quality award benefit a community or bioregion?

This program benefits a community in at least four ways:

1. SQA encourages business/education partnerships, which is a powerful way to create deep and lasting positive change, spread the word about what's working well, form better business-to-business relationships, and involve the broader community.
2. A local quality awards process will provide a forum for effective dialogue and collaboration between government, private industry, and non-profit organizations.
3. SQA builds public awareness and attracts positive media attention -- key to sustainable community. Public participation leads to a sense of ownership, buy-in and pride. Community interest and support are also keys to good business.
4. SQA shines a spotlight on the people working behind the scenes of businesses and organizations that are solving the problems we all face. By sharing the success stories, even when there are aspects of a business that still "have a long way to go" to reach long-term sustainability, we focus on what's possible, not what isn't, and thereby establish new traditions of sustainable economic and community development.

This program helps promote what a community has to offer to the broader marketplace as a model for cooperative ventures between diverse groups, as a great place to spend money and enjoy natural treasures, and as a demonstration of our integrity and commitment to preserving and protecting our precious natural resources.

How does the SQA Program's approach help businesses?

The SQA program educates, informs, and builds awareness about sustainable quality practices and the businesses that implement them. The program highlights successful initiatives that uphold principles of ecology and quality, shedding a positive light on those involved. Employees, community members and prospective customers all appreciate and prefer to work with businesses that act on behalf of the whole. This social responsibility, in turn, improves customer and employee relations, as people recognize that they can make a difference.

Through adopting sustainable quality initiatives, corporations become healthier, more resilient, better able to cope with constant change, and we strengthen our competitive position in the broader marketplace. By building bridges between the groups advocating environmental and social responsibility and those who are interested in improving business performance, SQA acts as a resource center for healthy commerce.

Who Initiated this program? Who organized and operates it?

The SQA was initiated in September 1992 as a result of brainstorming around how to involve and encourage business leaders and interested community members in defining what's meant by "sustainable." In search of solid examples and in the interest of building a bridge between diverse local stakeholders, Daniel Robin, a local business consultant and conflict resolution specialist, begin to organize and develop what is now known as the SQA. The SQA program is operated by a volunteer team of business professionals, quality consultants, organizational development practitioners, and community leaders.

The SQA Steering Committees organizes and staffs additional teams to focus on the selection process, fund-raising, public outreach, and the awards ceremony.

Award recipients are invited to serve as advisors to the Steering Committee for future years. Volunteers are always welcome and much appreciated. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, send E-mail or call to request a copy of the SQA Volunteer Opportunities fact sheet.

How is the SQA Program Funded? Who is behind it?

Application fees are collected based on organization size and type. Private-sector business sponsorships, in-kind donations, and grant funding has made possible the promotion and implementation of this program.

The SQA is a 501(c)3 non-profit project of Ecology Action of Santa Cruz, with an independent Advisory Board and volunteer staff.

The SQA program co-sponsors include the area Chambers of Commerce, the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the County of Santa Cruz, and endorsement by the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). In Santa Monica, CA, the program is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Santa Monica.

When will the SQA go national?

We get asked this question periodically, as we are still operating in only two communities, one in North-Central California (Santa Cruz County) and the other in Southern California (Santa Monica). How about the rest of the US or beyond? We agree that it would be of great benefit to come together and celebrate those who are "doing well by doing good." As we consider expansion to other communities, we also recognize that awards programs are but one way to encourage the right things. What is also needed?

Thus, the SQA founders and members of the staff are pursuing programs, projects and for-profit ventures in these and other areas.

We continue to offer consulting and facilitation to communities that wish to create their own on-the-ground recognition program. Call SQA founder, Daniel Robin, at (831) 761-0700, or email dnr@ecoquality.com to discuss your situation.

What are examples of sustainable quality improvement efforts?

Energy conservation through lighting retrofits, company-wide employee rideshare and recycling programs, innovative employee human relations training, and integrated vendor management (a company's Purchasing Department manages the vendor relationships and insists on environmental quality of packaging, materials and supplies). The SQA process highlights additional examples during the annual Awards Ceremony Luncheons.

How can our organization apply for recognition?

In Monterey Bay Area or the greater Santa Monica area, contact your local Chamber of Commerce or the SQA Program office (1-800-962-GREEN) for further information on how to apply.

Copyright © 1994-2013 Sustainable Quality Awards / Daniel Robin & Associates
Last modified: March 01, 2013