The Boston Sustainable Business Leader Program was created through a partnership between the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston (SBN) and the Boston Redevelopment Authority's Green Tech Initiative.

The Boston program was funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Air Pollution Control Commission.

This technical assistance program builds on the successful “Business Summits for a Sustainable Boston” which the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston organized in conjunction with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) in 2006 and 2007.  These bi-monthly meetings created a forum for small and medium-size Boston-based businesses to share waste reduction strategies and learn about new climate protection initiatives.  The Business Summits culminated with the successful “Green Business Awards” presented by Mayor Menino in the spring of 2007.  

After running the Business Summits and assisting the City of Boston in creating and organizing the Green Business awards, SBN understood that there were a large number of small and medium-size businesses that needed help in reducing their carbon footprint.  The Boston Redevelopment Authority and SBN wanted to reach out and assist businesses that weren’t aware of how to reduce their waste generation rate, lower their energy and water consumption, and purchase green products produced from local and regional manufacturers.

As a result the Sustainable Business Leader Program was created to assist businesses in Boston become more sustainable by offering technical, hands-on assistance that is affordable, actionable and practical.

SBN has received financial grants from its members to initiate this program.  In addition, SBN has received a pledge to print 5,000 resource guides titled the “Busy Business Guide to Sustainable Practices.”  These contributions supplement the funds granted from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.