Hinkle, Richter & Rhine, LLP, CPAs, a 40+ year old, full-service accounting firm, serving clients in South Florida and across the country, has continued its environmental sustainability commitment by renewing and extending its Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification through 2023.

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 is the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program and allows SMEs (small to mid-sized enterprises) the ability to attain the world’s most popular environmental certification standard via a program designed and priced specifically for them.   Edenark Group also helps clients pursue carbon neutrality and ESG compliance, using the Edenark Group ISO 14001 as a foundation for long term compliance.

The program, which allows companies to progressively improve at a pace that works for their needs, helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally, and with the environment.  It incorporates energy/waste/water, employee health and performance enhancement, community involvement, procurement and suppliers, compliance and regulations, emergency/security, and stakeholder engagement.  Benefits include creating a culture of continual improvement, stakeholder engagement, lower costs, higher revenues and profits, improved employee performance, and…… doing the right thing for the environment and current and future generations.   

“We care about the current and future needs of our clients, our employees, our vendors, and our community,” said Darryl Hinkle, Founder of Hinkle, Richter & Rhine.  “We have been certified for four years and are pleased with how it has impacted how we approach decisions.  We are a stronger company because of it; along with being able to do our part for the environment.”    

“In 2024, I personally hope to spend more time as an advocate for sustainability in order to help other organizations see the value of pursuing this course for the environment and their own operation,” added Hinkle.

“Edenark Group has a 25+ year relationship with Hinkle Richter & Rhine and they are a wonderful example of what the world needs more of – an organization that produces a superior product, supports its current stakeholders, shows it cares about future generations via its commitment to sustainability certification, and makes more money due to its sustainability programs,” said David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.  “When an organization executes the Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification, as Hinkle, Richter & Rhine is doing, it not only benefits the environment, but it also benefits its own operation,” added Goodman.

Hinkle Richter & Rhine can be reached at +1.954.941.2312

Edenark Group can be reached at +1 561.512.2257     

release

Let’s end the year with a toast to Mother Earth and have a laugh or two from these two climate crisis videos

 – Kiri Pritchard-McLean translates Professor Bill McGuire for all of us.

 – Jonathan Pie translates Professor Joanna Haigh for all of us.

Mother earth link

The world needs all the environmentally-supportive programs it can get.

That said, this article on the struggles of a small program (approximately 1% as large as our standard) is a good backdrop for us to re-state what we believe in and deliver.

Per this master class, there are 8 components of a sustainability program thta will be successful and make you happy:

• It MUST include Employee Performance / Health
  • Sustainability is not just about energy savings or ‘Greening Up’, it is about people
  • For most businesses, the employees are one of the biggest costs, one of the biggest risks (mistakes, insurance, law suits) and one of the biggest opportunities (new ideas, collaboration, product knowledge)
  • Every organization suffers from the Big 5 – insomnia, stress, anxiety, physical pain, mental acuity
  • You are losing 5% of your corporate profit/year to the Big 5
  • It takes a lot of LEDs to make up for one worker comp or workplace violence case
  • Make sure your program has a ‘people piece’ that addresses employee performance, health and happiness

• It MUST certify the business not the box
  • People care about things that involve people
  • Most building (ie, ‘Box’) certifications only care about building energy
  • Building certifications are expensive and hard to market (poor ROI)
  • You want to say, “Buy more of my product because we are a certified sustainable business”
  • You do not get much value from, “Buy more of my product because we are in an energy efficient building”
  • You want the certification on your business, not the building your business is in

• It MUST have a 3^rd party audit component
  • Oversight delivers credibility and trust
  • From passing your driving test, to getting your college diploma, to passing a bar exam, we use 3^rd parties to ensure compliance
  • There are many sustainability programs that deliver a certification based on your ‘word’…..and your payment
  • Don’t do it!
  • Make sure the program you choose uses a 3^rd party to validate your work

• It MUST follow a respected and integrated global standard
  • The sustainability industry is maturing and coalescing around few standards
  • The UN has created its SDGs (17 sustainability development goals)
  • 50% of the world’s economies require sustainability reporting
  • Greenwashing lawsuits are growing
  • Don’t pick a program that is not globally respected by, and integrated with, the world leadership groups; and that does not have the ability to integrate the other three legs of the stool – carbon neutrality, ESG and net zero
  • No reason to spend the time and money, then find you are not following the same programs and protocols that the leadership groups have adopted

• It MUST include promotion of the certification
  • Historically, sustainability has been a cost-side play
  • Most programs and providers have been 100% trained and focused on cost-side measures – energy reduction, carbon reduction, waste reduction, water reduction, travel reduction (ie, engineering)
  • But we know consumers are searching for certified sustainable companies
  • If you don’t talk about being certified sustainable they will never know you are (ie, marketing)
  • You want a program provider that is built to do the cost-side work AND the revenue-side work; and helps you promote your certification

• It MUST pursue continual improvement
  • Sustainability is not finite. It requires long-term commitment
  • But…change is hard for all of us
  • If the bar is set too high, we can get frustrated and give up
  • You want a program that lets you come as you are and allows you to continually improve
  • This will keep everyone happy and committed year after year

• It MUST require annual updates
  • Current = credible
  • Sustainability is not finite; we need to continually improve
  • You don’t want a program that does not have a date attached to its certification
  • You want to continually improve, see your success, and annually update your certification to show you are current and credible in your actions

• It MUST be at a price you can afford and produce a positive ROI
  • We could have started with cost but you need the above seven components at a price you can afford
  • It needs to show a positive and rapid ROI
  • The cost includes both money and time and covers everything – the certification, the 3^rd party audit and your work to become certified

As stated, we deliver all eight components mentioned above to our clients.

We enjoy a 100% client renewal rate – every year, every client has a decision to make and every year, every client has renewed.

If you use a program that delivers all of the above, you will probably be happy too.

This article stresses that businesses need to begin work on their climate reporting.  However, it does not explain the urgency.

If you are a vendor, odds are, you will receive a Scope 3 letter in 2024.  This may be your initial notice from your client that you need to make a decision on if you want to retain that client.

Remember, if you are a vendor, you are categorized as Scope 3.  Larger companies will need to start reporting on their carbon emissions before smaller companies.  However, those larger companies will often need to include data from their Scope 3 vendors.  And, knowing that over the next few years their initial reporting will ultimately become audited reporting and later audited reporting with progress goals, most large companies know they will need to replace some vendors. 

Vendor replacement always takes time.  But in this case, they need to find vendors that are sustainable and have a carbon emissions plan.  That has them worried.  If they find a vendor that satisfies this, they will move fast. 

Therefore, expect a Scope 3 letter and an urgency from your larger clients.

For those of you who are proactive and see this as an opportunity to take market share, watch this master class and contact us.

The author of this Forbes article cautions business leaders not to interpret the delay in the SECs’ climate-related disclosure standards as a sign that the SEC / United States has decided to stand down on ESG regulations.

In truth, the SEC has been aggressively using its Climate and ESG Enforcement Task Force, launched in 2021, to investigate and fine greenwashers.

Further, with the new COP28 agreement and many countries forcing climate-related disclosures, the US will need some form of national compliance program to ensure its business community can compete globally.

For non-public SMEs, why should you care? 

• You should care because you are what is called a Scope 3 vendor, which means that as the larger companies are forced to report on emissions, they are going to need vendors that are sustainable and have carbon emissions programs in order for the larger company to provide the Scope 3 part of its submittal.

• Here is a page from a vendor’s website, talking about Scope 3.

• You can ignore becoming sustainable and having a carbon program and get replaced as a vendor, or you can be proactive and take market share from your competitors who ignore.

If you would like to learn more, watch this master class and contact us.

Sustainability is not just about LED light bulbs and solar panels.

It is also about people – how we live, work and play….while leaving something for future generations.

Your employees are your company’s biggest asset.  Multiple studies show ALL companies around the world are losing roughly 5% of their profits (+/-$10,000 per full time employee per year adjusted by the currency of the country the company resides) to the Big 5 – Insomnia, Stress, Anxiety, Physical Pain and Mental Acuity.  That’s a sizable ‘unforced error’ that can be corrected.

Edenark Group is proud of the ‘people side’ of its sustainability program, which helps people become happier, healthier and more productive.

Our Gym For The Brain business is part of that.

Here is a discussion of some of the things that a person does at Gym For The Brain….and the benefits of same.

If you are not using these tools for your personal performance, health and happiness, take the time to investigate them.  You will be happy you did.

The impact of Scope 3 mandates are already being felt; even before the 2024 laws take effect.

Per this article, recent research shows a bold shift among SMEs, with 89% pursuing suppliers who have solid green credentials (ie, certified) and have a shared commitment to carbon neutrality.

As corporate and government initiatives pressure SMEs to commit to climate change pledges and many organizations and governments are already making it mandatory for SMEs to present verified carbon reduction plans to potential clients (ie, as these SMEs are Scope 3 vendors for their clients), SMEs are not only anticipating these requirements but are also implementing thorough ‘sustainability checks’ to identify sub-suppliers who align with their carbon neutral objectives (and help them satisfy Scope 3 mandates).

• 35% are already seeking suppliers who share their carbon neutrality values
• 23% insist on reviewing their supplier’s sustainability credentials
• 41% review their supplier’s sustainability credentials online
• 35% demand proof of certification
• 29% seek sustainability references

Given the rapid rise in global concern over climate change and the corporate and governmental mandates that are taking effect in 2024, If you think this is not going to impact your business, you are going to be in for a surprise.   

If you would like to get ahead of the wave and benefit from it, watch this master class and contact us.

The wire serices are picking up the story of Unlimted Auto Wash

United States Newswire

Canada Newswire

Florida Newswire

Google News

Google

AP News

Yahoo

Bing

Unlimited Auto Wash Club is a 100% Full Service Hand Car Wash that serves South Florida via seven locations and over 175 employees.  It cares deeply about the environment and the community it serves, and has decided to pursue the Edenark Group ISO 14001 environmental sustainability certification program for all seven locations.

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 is the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program and allows SMEs (small to mid-sized enterprises) the ability to attain the world’s most popular environmental certification standard via a program designed and priced specifically for them.  This allows an organization to validate, via 3^rd party audit against the world’s top standard, its environmental / sustainability / green / eco-friendly actions.

The program, which allows companies to progressively improve at a pace that works for their needs, helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally, and with the environment.  It incorporates energy/waste/water, employee health and performance enhancement, community involvement, procurement and suppliers, compliance and regulations, emergency/security, and stakeholder engagement.  Benefits include creating a culture of continual improvement, stakeholder engagement, lower costs, higher revenues and profits, improved employee performance, and…… doing the right thing for the environment for current and future generations.

“We are a leader in our space and being the first environmentally certified sustainable car wash in the region was important to us and our employees,” said Kevin Dalton, CEO of the Unlimited Auto Wash.  “The world needs organizations to commit to being sustainable; not mislead consumers via greenwashing.  We have seven facilities and all seven will get certified.”

The seven individual locations and their statements can be found here –

• Palm Beach Gardens / Northlake
• West Palm Beach
• Tequesta
• Wellington
• Jupiter
• Palm Beach Gardens / Frenchman’s
• North Palm Beach / Lighthouse Drive

“When an organization pursues, and attains, the Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification, they are not just doing it to see their costs go down and revenues and profits go up.  They are setting a higher bar for their organization and sending a message to all those around them that may be claiming to be environmentally-supportive, but are in truth greenwashing by not validating their actions under a global 3^rd party certification,” says David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.  “Companies who are agreeing to adhere to the world’s Gold standard for sustainability certification are allowing their actions to be reviewed; are choosing to be a leader and part of the solution, not the problem; and are joining an elite fraternity of over 300,000 organizations, in over 150 countries, that have committed to continually improving in every way.”

Unlimited Auto Wash Club can be reached at +1 561-WASH-ME-2

Edenark Group can be reached at +1 561.512.2257

social media release

This article offers six reasons why a law firm serving SMEs should develop a sustainability ‘strategy’.

First, let’s change ‘strategy’ to ‘program’.  You can strategize forever.  What you need is to actually execute a sustainability program for your company.  This ties to the 7^th point, which we added, below.

Here are the six reasons the article gives, plus one from us at the end:

• To keep ahead of upcoming sustainability and ESG legislation (and, we would add, carbon emissions and Scope 3 legislation….both for your clients and your firm)
• To help recruitment and attract top talent (again, only if you execute a legitimate sustainability program)
• To attract more clients and boost firm reputation (same point as above)
• To increase profit (same point as above)
• To create future opportunities (same point as above)
• To reduce risk of fraud and ensure compliance (same point as above)
• To actually have experience with the thing you are selling advice on

If you want to show clients you are ahead of the curve, and counsel them on the #1 issue in the world, you need to have hands-on experience with what you are giving advice on.  And, if you want to avoid the embarrassment of being called out for greenwashing, that program needs to be certified with a provider that uses 3^rd party verification. 

If this sounds compelling, watch this master class and contact us.

TruPayroll, a relationship-driven, full service, payroll provider, located in Marco Island, Florida has continued its environmental sustainability commitment by renewing and extending its Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification through 2024. 

Here is a link to its sustainability page.

TruPayroll is part of a three-company supply chain, where all three companies, DataSetGo, Wholesale Payroll and TruPayroll, are certified sustainable.  This creates a wonderful opportunity for organizations seeking vendors who are sustainable and can satisfy Scope 3 mandates.

The Edenark Group ISO 14001 is the world’s premier environmental sustainability certification program and allows SMEs (small to mid-sized enterprises) the ability to attain the world’s most popular environmental certification standard via a program designed and priced specifically for them.   Edenark Group also helps clients pursue carbon neutrality and ESG compliance, using the Edenark Group ISO 14001 as a foundation for long term compliance.

The program, which allows companies to progressively improve at a pace that works for their needs, helps the organization define how it interacts internally, externally, and with the environment.  It incorporates energy/waste/water, employee health and performance enhancement, community involvement, procurement and suppliers, compliance and regulations, emergency/security, and stakeholder engagement.  Benefits include creating a culture of continual improvement, stakeholder engagement, lower costs, higher revenues and profits, improved employee performance, and…… doing the right thing for the environment and current and future generations.   

“I love helping people beyond my core corporate service.  We strive to have a positive impact on our clients’ personal lives, their businesses, and their community,” said Al Wagner, CEO of TruPayroll.  “This desire to help others is what caused me to become passionate about sustainability.  I want to be part of the global solution by making an impact in my community, for my family and my clients’ families.  The Edenark Group ISO 14001 program gives me that platform,” added Wagner.    

“In 2024, given global warming and governmental regulations, our mission will be sustainability advocacy.  We want to let our clients and community know how easy it is to become certified sustainable and how beneficial it is for the business and environment,” added Wagner.

“Edenark Group has a wonderful relationship with TruPayroll and they are an example of what the world needs more of – an organization that produces a superior product, supports its current stakeholders, shows it cares about future generations via its commitment to sustainability certification, and makes more money due to its sustainability programs,” said David Goodman, CEO of Edenark Group.  “When an organization executes the Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification, as TruPayroll is doing, it not only benefits the environment, but it also benefits its own operation and its clients.  In this case, TruPayroll is part of a three-company supply chain that is all certified sustainable.  This provides far more value to their clients than competitors can offer,” added Goodman.

TruPayroll can be reached at +1.239.394.0358

Edenark Group can be reached at +1 561.512.2257     

release