1.Complete the online registration form and send in your application fee.
(see below)
2.Distribute the below application questionaire to staff and choose three
questions in each of the four categories (total of 12 questions) that best
fit your ‘Sustainable Quality’ success story.
3.Answer the twelve questions that you have chosen in detail.
4.Compile your answers into a Sustainable Quality Success Story containing
1200 to 2000 words. It is helpful to keep the four main categories as
chapters in the story.
5.Email your completed story document by June 30 to SQA at
sbqa@cruzio.com.
6.Or, if necessary, by U.S. mail. Mail fees along with your Sustainable
Quality Questions and Story to: SQA, Awards Program, 2870 S. Palisades
Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Include any supporting information and images
that can be useable on the website as part of your SQA Awards
Sustainable Quality Success Story Web Page.
7.Sign up for the SQA Sustainable Quality training seminar online (free
for applicants).

Award Categories and Related Application Fees

Large Business (100+ employees) $135

Small Business (<100 employees) $85

Government (City, County) $65

Non-Profit (All types) $55

Educational (Institutions) $45

Individual (Nominated) $25

The SQA program is operated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
under the laws of California.

Use these questions below to enable your thinking around Sustainable Quality.
Tell us why you or your organization deserves to represent Sustainable Quality
for your category.

REMEMBER: Applying for an SQA Award does not mean you are sustainable today.
Rather, it means you are effectively moving in the direction toward
sustainability.

SQA Awards Application Questionaire

INTEGRATING ‘SUSTAINABLE QUALITY’ INTO YOUR ORGANIZATION

Category I: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Demonstrate a commitment to effective "people
practices."

1.How are the interests of people integrated into overall business
objectives, internally (with employees) and within the local community
and greater community at large?
2.How have included surrounding community supply chain people to
collaborate on a broader vision and direction for your organization?
3.How does your community and employees benefit from your organization's
developments?
4.How often do employees of all levels participate in organizational
planning?
5.Describe the organization's employment and hiring strategies that result in
local job growth.
6.Give examples of the organization's efforts to use and promote
socially-responsible retirement and investment funds (401(k), Keogh, etc.)
7.Describe how the organization empowers employees with authority,
responsibility, and resources.
8.Describe how the organization encourages and supports employees to
reach their full potential for contribution.
9.How does the organization support employee well-being and promote
positive morale?
10.Are training, education, and retraining for skill and personal development
made available?
11.Describe any profit sharing or worker ownership programs.
12.Explain how the organization meets or exceeds industry standards in salary
administration.
13.Describe the organization's community relations programs such as
philanthropic sponsorship of local events, non-profit organizations, and
community projects.

Category II: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP:
Doing more with less materials and less waste

1.What methods are being implemented for going beyond compliance?
2.What environmental criteria for purchasing, planning, operations are being
used?
3.Do you have a performance plan in place for measuring and monitoring
results?
4.What rewards efforts are in place to encourage the reduction of waste,
discharges, and emissions to land, air, and water systems?
5.What efforts are in place to reduce the consumption of resources such as
paper, energy, water, minerals, and forest products?
6.How effective is your land use planning and management?
7.How are you reducing sprawl, promoting greenbelts, preserving open
space, and protecting and restoring natural habitats?
8.How do your products and services integrate with the environment?
9.Describe the organization's hazardous or integrated waste management
program.
10.Explain how the organization minimizes the use of non-renewable
resources and raw materials.
11.Describe the organization's life cycle analysis process (e.g., including
disposal considerations in product design and packaging).
12.Describe how the organization promotes environmental ecology in daily
routine.
13.Describe any transportation demand management programs.
14.Explain how the organization uses recycled content of materials in
manufacturing.
15.Explain how the organization uses recycled content of materials in
shipping.
16.Describe how the organization promotes internal recycled product use.
17.Describe the organization's efforts for energy conservation (e.g.,
high-efficiency lighting retrofits, use of sensors).
18.What measurable results have been obtained?
19.Describe the organization's efforts for water and resource conservation.
20.Explain how the organization supports public education on environmental
programs.

Category III: ECONOMIC VITALITY:
Improving organizational and community value

1.How are you designing or implementing quality initiatives and economic
development strategies that systematically monitor and improve service,
products, and business processes to reach business objectives while
enhancing customer satisfaction?
2.What is the organization's quality policy?
3.Describe how the quality policy influences daily activity.
4.Describe the nature of customer and supplier relationships.
5.Describe the process for product and service design improvements.
6.Describe the systems for monitoring information used for analysis in
process improvement.
7.Describe the processes for evaluating product and service performance
data.
8.Explain the organization's methods for developing growth potential;
capacity and ability to lead change.
9.Provide examples of how economic development strategies are carried
out.

Category IV LEADING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT:
Asking deeper questions about organizational
purpose, intention, and commitment

1.What is the level of commitment from upper management to a
comprehensive plan of policies, programs, and procedures aimed at
sustainable practices?
2.How are you working with your organization's chain of suppliers and
vendors to inform them of your values and intentions?
3.What kinds of learning programs are in place to initiate innovation and
product and service improvement keeping in mind emerging global needs?
4.What programs are in place to simplify and reduce the transportation of
employees, products, and resources such as public transit, telecommuting,
and ride sharing?
5.How do employees learn about health and welfare improvements within
the organization?
6.Give examples and situations describing how executive leadership is
evident, visible and involved.
7.Describe how your organization’s values are demonstrated by your leaders
actions and communications.
8.Characterize interpersonal communication, i.e., inclusive style, conveys
goals and information.
9.Explain how your organization's values are integrated with employee
needs.
10.Explain how your organization's values are integrated with customer wants
and needs.
11.How are people empowered as leaders?
12.How have you shared your skills, knowledge, and models to guide other
organizations?

Be sure you’ve registered with us.

Call or email us if you have any questions or need assistance

Good Luck To You !!

SQA needs your support to continue its important work.
Please send us your tax deductible contribution Contributions. THANK YOU!
For questions or comments about SQA, send email to sbqa@cruzio.com
Copyright © 1994-1999 Sustainable Quality Alliance
Web Site by Murtek Systems
Last modified: May 26, 1999