Alegria Partners specializes in sustainability strategies, helping companies improve operational efficiency, communicate with stakeholders, and reduce carbon emissions. Their services include conducting sustainability assessments, strategic planning, and project management, with successful case studies demonstrating significant cost savings and emissions reductions for clients like Williams-Sonoma and Blue Coat. Founded by Nikki Pava, the team is well-connected in the sustainability field and emphasizes corporate social responsibility as essential for modern businesses.

1. ALEGRIA PARTNERS
Strategies for Sustainable Business

2. Algeria Partners specializes in
sustainability initiatives development
and marketing communications strategies
so companies enhance operational
efficiencies, adapt to change and
connect with stakeholders.

3. SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES
• Analyze your current social and
environmental impacts & create a strategy
for improvement.
• Pinpoint your current “baseline” in the
above areas to use as a comparison for
future milestones.
• Find the most cost-effective ways to
reduce your company’s carbon emissions/
output.
• Assist you in determining and
understanding your company’s carbon
footprint.
• Determine other sustainability initiatives
that would benefit your company and
contribute to your success.
• Assess your relationships with your
company’s stakeholders and develop a
plan for improved communication and
collaboration.
• Identify steps and execute a triple bottom
line strategy that encompasses the People
& the Planet aspects of your business, to
increase your Profits.
Other services include marketing communications strategy, event production and social media campaigns.

4. CAPABILITIES SUMMARY
• Strategic Planning: implemented sustainability
initiatives to decrease a mid-sized
company’s waste stream, energy use and
costs (saving the company $3.3 million since
2007).
• Business Development: created a strategic
business development plan to generate leads
for a mission-driven marketing company,
doubling client list in the first six months.
• Communications: strategized and executed
internal and external communications for a
global company’s sustainability initiatives in its
headquarters office and satellite sites
(including ISO 14001 certification and “green
team” efforts).
• Project Management: projects focused on
CSR, supply chain analysis, waste streams,
product life cycle analysis and commute/
carbon reduction.
• Competitive Analysis: researched and
reported on competitors’ sustainability
initiatives and certifications.
• SustainabilityVisioning: facilitated strategy
sessions for a company’s principals to achieve
financial and personal goals for the year.
• Social Media Strategy: planned and executed
a social media campaign for a best-selling,
world-renowned author.

5. ALEGRIA PARTNERS TEAM
• Graduate of the Presidio School of Management, an
MBA program focused on sustainable management
• Named one of the “Top 10 Women in Cleantech and
Sustainability” in Renewable Energy News and
Cleantechies
• Founder of EcoTuesday, a national networking forum
that facilitates vital connections and essential change in
the business community
• Serves on the Board of Directors for Women in
Cleantech & Sustainability and Going Organic Magazine
• Past clients include Williams-Sonoma, Morrison &
Foerster, DynaMedia SF,Technology Forecasters/Blue
Coat Systems, Greenopolis, and Burning Man, LLC.
Nikki Pava, Founder

6. ALEGRIA PARTNERS TEAM
• Graduate of the Presidio School of Management, an
MBA program focused on sustainable management
• Leader of the “Green Schools Initiative” for a local
school to become Green Star certified (this includes
creating a green team of staff and parents, coordinating
auditors for various needs such as energy, lighting and
water, expanding the school garden and procuring green
cleaning products)
• Served as the project team lead for a company that
produces special economic reports focused on various
countries and geographic regions
• Board Member of the Petaluma Mother’s Club for the
past 3.5 years
Tauni Swenson
Lead Consultant

7. Deep Expertise
Proven track record working with all types of “green
businesses” on sustainability-related issues and
trends.
Project Specific Teams
Each client team is different and formed with
knowledgeable experts based on that client’s
specific needs.
Strong Connections
Alegria Partners is connected to the best minds in
sustainability through the national EcoTuesday
network and the Presidio School of Management.
Petaluma Expert
Team leader has been actively participating in the
local Petaluma area for many years.
KEY STRENGTHS

8. Green Teams
Starting sustainability/CSR programs and green
team initiatives from scratch.
Volunteers
Enrolling and invigorating company volunteers
in headquarters and satellite offices.
Community
Guiding philanthropic programs, non-profit
outreach, and community engagement.
Long-term Success
Successfully engaging cross-functional teams to
create effective long-term visions.
KEY CSR STRENGTHS

9. WHAT IS CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY?
Social responsibility is the responsibility of an organization
for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and
the environment through transparent and ethical behavior
that is consistent with sustainable development and the
welfare of society; takes into account the expectations of
stakeholders; is in compliance with applicable law and
consistent with international norms of behavior; and is
integrated throughout the organization.
Working definition, ISO 26000 Working Group on Social
Responsibility, Sydney, February 2007

10. • Beginning in 2013, all companies on the
London Stock Exchange will publish full
details of their greenhouse gas
emissions.
• NASDAQ OMX, along with 4 other
members of the Sustainable Stock
Exchange, recently committed to
promote reporting on environmental,
social, and corporate governance (ESG)
risks and opportunities by listed
companies.
CSR & THE STOCK MARKET
“Hopefully we’re heading
toward a tipping point,
where companies that don’t
report have some explaining
to do, rather than those that
do being the exception.”
- Michelle Greene,Vice President and Head
of CSR at NYSE

11. • Increased anticipation and management
of an ever-expanding spectrum of risk
• Enhanced ability to recruit, develop and
retain staff
• Improved innovation, competitiveness
and market positioning
• Enhanced operational efficiencies and
cost savings
• Improved reputation management
• Access to capital
• Improved ability to attract and build
effective and efficient supply chain
relationships
• Enhanced ability to address change
• More robust “social license” to operate
in the community
• Improved relations with regulators
• A catalyst for responsible consumption
WHY IS CSR IMPORTANT
FOR YOUR COMPANY?

12. CASE STUDIES

13. CASE STUDY:
WILLIAMS-SONOMA
Background
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty
retailer of home furnishings and gourmet
cookware in the United States. Williams-Sonoma
is the parent company for Pottery Barn, Pottery
Barn Kids, PBteen,West Elm,WS Home,
Rejuvenation and Cultivate.
Challenge (CSR Report)
Williams-Sonoma needed to research the various
options for generating a public-facing CSR report.
Executives wanted to know what reporting
method to use and understand all options. They
also wanted to get a baseline of where they were
in the process, and a roadmap for how to manage
the program internally.

14. CASE STUDY:
WILLIAMS-SONOMA
Solution
• Provided a comprehensive report of our
research on competitors, reporting options and
recommendations, internal baseline and plan for
implementation
• Using GRI standard guidelines, identified where
Williams-Sonoma was already aligned and
where it needed to focus attention
• Generated a three year roadmap for
implementation of sustainability initiatives in
order to meet guideline requirements for
reporting

15. Results
• Aligned Williams-Sonoma with GRI standards
• Presented Executives with recommendations as
to how to prioritize each step of the GRI
• As a result,Williams-Sonoma hired a CSR
Manager in 2011 to implement the report
CASE STUDY:
WILLIAMS-SONOMA

16. Background
Blue Coat Systems is a leading provider of Web
security and WAN optimization solutions. The
company is based in Sunnyvale and has sales offices
in 9 countries.
Challenge
Blue Coat needed support in creating a Green
Team that would involve key stakeholders and
employees from all functional units and offices so
that the company could save money, engage
employees, and reduce their overall carbon
footprint.
CASE STUDY: BLUE COAT

17. CASE STUDY: BLUE COAT
Solution
A wide variety of CSR/Sustainability initiatives were
developed for the company’s newly-formed Green
Team, called “Blue Planet,” including:
• Supply chain, purchasing and equipment design
analysis
• Waste, paper, lighting and commute reduction
initiatives
• Streamlined consistent messaging from
Executives about initiatives throughout all
offices
• Earth Day and other events to engage
employees
• Internal newsletter & other communications
focused on Blue Planet’s efforts

18. CASE STUDY: BLUE COAT
Results
• In 3 years, Blue Coat’s operational costs
decreased by $3.3 million
• The company’s overall carbon footprint
decreased by 8%
• The carbon footprint per employee decreased
from 17 to 14.3 metric tons per person

19. Background
Gap, Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer
offering clothing, accessories, and personal care
products for men, women, children, and babies
under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy,
Piperlime, and Athleta brands.
Challenge
Leaders in the Corporate Sustainability
department wanted to develop and execute
“Earth Week,” a series of events to promote the
company’s sustainability initiatives and encourage
employees to get involved in grassroots
campaigns.
CASE STUDY: GAP, INC.

20. CASE STUDY: GAP, INC.
Solution
• Secured keynote speakers for multiple days of
events
• Organized brown bag lunches and selected
topics
• Generated employee-facing information and
resources on the intranet
• Served as the liaison between the Gap’s cafe
and facilities staff to ensure smooth interactions
and logistics throughout events

21. CASE STUDY: GAP, INC.
Results
• The Earth Week series of events was a full-
fledged, successful multiple month project that
involved hundreds of Gap employees.

22. CASE STUDY:
WILLIAMS-SONOMA
Background
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty
retailer of home furnishings and gourmet
cookware in the United States. Williams-Sonoma
is the parent company for Pottery Barn, Pottery
Barn Kids, PBteen,West Elm,WS Home,
Rejuvenation and Cultivate.
Challenge (Waste Diversion)
Williams-Sonoma wanted to decrease their waste
in 9 Bay Area stores and 5 headquarter offices.

23. CASE STUDY:
WILLIAMS-SONOMA
Solution
• Hired to research, design and plan a road map
for a waste diversion program in 9 Bay Area
stores
• Execution involved interface and meetings with
store staff, facilities staff and SF Recology Waste
Haulers to identify materials collected, best
waste container configurations and pick up
schedules as well as internal waste container
needs and placement
• Further involved hands-on assistance with
placing signage, containers and monitoring
proper usage. Final steps included employee
training and ongoing monitoring systems

24. Results
• A working group was formed between 15
major retailers and 2 mall development
companies to discuss better recycling
opportunities in malls
• Discussions included pilot recycling program
areas, pilot material recovery programs and
strategies to get other retailers involved
• An effective recycling and composting program
was implemented at all the headquarters
offices
• Opportunities were identified for improvement
in 3 stores with savings up to 26% and
diversion rates up to 75%
CASE STUDY:
WILLIAMS-SONOMA

25. CLIENTS

26. We understand how to help companies
reach their sustainability goals.

27. Thank You.
Alegria Partners
http://www.alegriapartners.com