These case studies are collected from across the country to help businesses from a variety of industries implement more sustainable practices. Though a few come from larger businesses, the topics are relevant to small businesses. These examples cover a variety of sustainability opportunities, from recycling to hazardous material substitution, and can help generate ideas and demonstrate how to implement new practices successfully.
We are continually updating this page and looking for new case studies. If you have a case study you’d like to share, please e-mail it to info@nationalsbeap.org.
Agriculture
- Anaerobic Digester on Poultry Farm - Kentucky Division of Compliance Assistance
- Elimination of Pesticide Use in Beef Production - Kentucky Excellence in Environmental Leadership
- Surface Water Protection in Livestock Farming - Kentucky Excellence in Environmental Leadership
- Anaerobic Digester in Small Livestock Farm - University of Wisconsin Extension
- Waste, Energy, Water, and Toxics Management at a Nursery - Maryland Green Registry
Aircraft
- Water Use Reduction in Cutting Sheet Metal - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Waste and Energy Management - Maryland Green Registry
Aluminum
- Energy Conservation - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Water Conservation in Aluminum Can Manufacturing - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Hazardous Material Reduction - Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Autobody
- Parts Washing - Toxics Use Reduction Institute (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Water-Based Paint, Material Reduction, and Recycling - Toxics Use Reduction Institute (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Toxics Reduction - Maryland Green Registry
- VOC Reduction and Energy Conservation - Maryland Green Registry
Chemicals
- Waste, Energy, and Chemical Management - Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Solid Waste and Water Conservation in Enzyme and Fermentate Production - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- More Efficient Use of Wastewater Treatment Chemicals in Fertilizer Production - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Improved Controls on Wastewater Treatment in Fertilizer Production - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction, and Watershed Protection in a Distillery - Kentucky Excellence in Environmental Leadership Program
- Water Conservation in Manufacturing of Water Testing Supplies - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Construction
- Toxic Material Reduction - Toxics Use Reduction Institute (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Various Environmental Measures in Home Construction - Maryland Green Registry
- Environmentally Friendly Purchasing and Design in Deck Construction - Maryland Green Registry
- Toxics Reduction and Waste Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Water Conservation in Manufacturing Roofing Materials - Minnestota Technical Assistance Program
- Water Conservation in Ready Mixed Concrete - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Die Casting
Dry Cleaning
- Waste Reduction - Maryland Green Registry
- Perc Replacement and Waste reduction - Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Electric/Power/Energy
- LED Retrofit, Renewable Energy, and Other Environmental Measures - Maryland Green Registry
- Water Conservation, Reduced Transportation, and Other Environmental Measures - Maryland Green Registry
- Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation, and Other Environmental Measures - Maryland Green Registry
Electronics/Computers
- Water and Wastewater Reduction - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Energy and Water Conservation and Recovery of Acids and Solvents - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
- Water Conservation and Reduction in Use of Treatment Chemicals - Toxics Use Reduction Institute (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Energy Conservation in a Datacenter - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste and Energy Management for IT - Maryland Green Registry
Food
- Sustainable Brewery Initiative - Colorado Department of Health & Environment
- Smoked Sausage Manufacturer Pollution Prevention Case Study (2017) - Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute
- Smoked Sausage Manufacturer Pollution Prevention Case Study (2018) - Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute
- Beef Processing Facility Pollution Prevention Case Study - Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute
- Potato Processing Plant - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Distillery Water Mapping and Wastewater Reduction - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Forest Products
- Water and Energy Conservation - Regional E3 Project (Danville/Pittsylvania County, Virginia)
- Energy and Waste Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Solvent Reduction - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste and Energy Management in Restroom Hygiene Products and Services - Maryland Green Registry
Furniture
- Cabinet Manufacturer Pollution Prevention Case Study - Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute
- Supply Chain Sustainability Assessment - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Water Conservation and Reduction in Use of Plating Chemicals - Toxics Use Reduction Institute (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Waste Reduction and Solvent Elimination in Wood Finishing - Maryland Green Registry
- Powder Coating with High Efficiency Oven - Maryland Green Registry
General Small Business
- Waste Diversion and Water Conservation in an Office Building - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Energy and Water Conservation in an Office Building - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Water, Waste, and Energy Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste and Toxics Reduction in Skin Care Products - Maryland Green Registry
- Energy Conservation in Multiple Businesses - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Hospitals/Medical
- Water and Energy Efficiency at Hospital Facilities - Minnesota Technical Assistance Provider
- Sustainability Plan Development with a Focus on Zero Waste to Landfill - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Energy Conservation, Primarily Window Replacement - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Waste Reduction and Diversion - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Water Conservation and Waste Management in a Dental Practice - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste and Energy Management in Home Health Care Services - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste Management and Toxics Reduction - Maryland Green Registry
Hotels
- Water, Energy, and Waste Reduction - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
- Waste Reduction, Water and Energy Conservation, and Other Environmental Measures at a Small Inn - Maryland Green Registry
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Waste and Stormwater Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste Management and Toxics Reduction - Maryland Green Registry
- Toxics, Energy, and Wast Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste, Energy, and Toxics Management - Maryland Green Registry
Iron and Steel
- Water Reduction in Steel Tubing Manufacturing - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Energy Conservation in Steel Foundry - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Energy and Waste Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Water Conservation and Reduction in Chromium in Wastewater - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Air Quality Improvement - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Janitorial Services
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing - Maryland Green Registry
- Toxics Reduction and Waste Management - Maryland Green Registry
Laboratories/Schools
- Solvent Reduction in Chromatography - Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance & Technology
- Waste Reduction and Diversion in Campus Dining - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Steam System Audit - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Energy Conservation - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- School District Sustainability Audit - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Laboratory Waste Reduction and Diversion - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste, Energy, and Toxics Management at a Community College - Maryland Green Registry
Landscaping
- Water Reduction and Recovery from Washing Mowers - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Stormwater Management and Clean Energy - Maryland Green Registry
- Various Environmental Measures - Maryland Green Registry
- Green Infrastructure, Toxics Reduction, and other Environmental Measures - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste, Water, and Energy Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Optimization of City Irrigation - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Local Government
- Waste Management in Correctional Facilities - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
- Minimization and Diversion of Residential Waste - Maryland Green Registry
Machining
- Toxics Reduction through Alternative Metal Surface Cleaning Methods - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Energy Conservation in Machine Manufacturing - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Waste Reduction and Diversion - Maryland Green Registry
Metal Finishing
- Water and Wastewater Reduction - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Alternatives to Trichloroethylene Vapor Degreasing - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Reduced Acid Use in Electroplating - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Reducing Water and Chemical Use - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Water Conservation and Waste Reduction in Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturing - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Metal Products
- Toxics Reduction in Brass Instrument Manufacturing - Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance & Technology
- Toxics Reduction and Energy Conservation - Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute
- Toxics Reduction, Solvent Reclamation, and Energy Conservation - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Mining
Painting and Coating
- Powder Coating to Reduce VOCs in Machinery Painting - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Water-Based Painting to Reduce VOCs - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [VIDEO]
- Water-Based Painting to reduce VOCs - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Toxics Reduction in Paint Manufacturing - Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance & Technology
- Toxics and Waste Reduction and Energy Conservation in Coatings Manufacturing - Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance & Technology
- Solvent Reduction and Transfer Efficiency Improvement - Minnesota Technical Assistance Provider
Petroleum Refining
- Leak Detection Using an IR Camera - Utah Department of Environmental Quality
- Energy Conservation in Fuel Blending and Distribution - Tennessee Green Star Partnership
- Water and Energy Conservation in Oil Recovery - Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
- Waste Reduction and Water and Energy Conservation in Petroleum Refining - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Pharmaceuticals
- Solvent Reduction and Recycling - Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance & Technology
- Water and Energy Conservation in Water Purification and Temperature Control - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Water and Energy Conservation - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Plastics and Rubber
- Water Reduction in Tire Manufacturing - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Water, Energy, and Waste Reduction - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
- Energy Conservation and Hazardous Waste Reduction - Southwest Ohio P2 Intern Program
- Energy Conservation - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Energy Conservation - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Printing and Photoprocessing
- Run Waste in Flexographic Printing - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
- Trade Bindery - Maryland Green Registry
- Toxics Reduction and Waste Management - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste, Water, and Energy Management - Maryland Green Registry
Pulp and Paper
- Removing Tannins and Suspended Solids from Wastewater - New York Pollution Prevention Institute
- Electricity Reduction in Speciality Paper Manufacturing - New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
- Water Conservation in Corrugated Cardboard Manufacturing - Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
Recycling*
- Energy Conservation and Waste Recovery - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
- Waste Reduction and Energy Conservation in Recycling Office Supplies - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste Management in Electronics Recycling - Maryland Green Registry
Recreation
- Pesticide Elimination in City Parks - Toxics Use Reduction Institute (University of Massachusetts Lowell)
- Waste, Toxics, Energy, and Water Management in Public Gardens - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste, Water, Energy and Wastewater Management at a Recreational Vehicle Resort - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste, Water, and Energy Management in a Campground & RV Park - Maryland Green Registry
- Environmentally Friendly Purchasing and Waste, Water, and Energy Management in a Yoga Studio - Maryland Green registry
- Water, Waste, and Energy Management in an Aquarium - Maryland Green Registry
- Reduced Impact of Landscaping on a Golf Course - Maryland Green Registry
Retail
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste Management and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing in Home Decor- Maryland Green Registry
- Energy Conservation in a Wine Shop - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste and Energy Management in Grocery Stores - Maryland Green Registry
Solvents/Cleaning - also see other industry sectors for sector-specific resources on solvent cleaning
Stone/Clay/Glass/Concrete
Textiles/Textile Services
Transportation
- Waste Reduction for a Moving Company - Maryland Green Registry
- Waste Management in Commercial Moving - Maryland Green Registry
- Energy and Waste Management in Railroads - Maryland Green Registry
Used Oil
- High Yield Re-refining of Used Transformer Oil - Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Water and Energy Conservation - Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Utilities