Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

After finding itself on the low end of the sustainability rankings among states, an organization named Sustain SC decided to do something to improve the Palmetto State’s position. The result is a just-released Roadmap to Sustain SC, which identifies seven key accelerators that will move South Carolina forward as a sustainable state ensuring economic prosperity and protection of its quality of life.

“This is a big moment for our organization, which has dedicated an entire year to developing the Roadmap to Sustain SC,” said Ethel Bunch, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sustain SC. “This was a passion project and enhances Sustain SC’s mission of connecting the sustainability goals of business in South Carolina with local solutions for the benefit of our economy, environment, and people. We are proud to serve as a model for other states who work toward similar goals.”

The undertaking began after South Carolina ranked 37^th out of 50 states in a 2021 U.S. Sustainable Development Report released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. As a result, began an assessment of how South Carolina could improve its low position on the list and be competitive with neighboring states. Through comprehensive research and analysis, researchers mapped out a plan for future sustainable development reflective of the unique commerce and conservation needs of the state.

The roadmap initiatives include the following:

• Partnerships for Economic Prosperity and Quality of Life: Sustain SC will advance a future of strong cross-sector collaboration among commerce and conservation partners to attract new, sustainable industries, enhance the existing industry in South Carolina, and protect our quality of life.
• The Three-Legged Stool – Affordable, Reliable, and Sustainable Energy: Through multi-stakeholder engagement with the private and public sector and conservation NGOs, Sustain SC supports cross-sector energy engagement to retain and attract industry in our state.
• STEM2030 Workforce Accelerator: Sustain SC is modernizing the STEM initiative to ensure all learners have the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development, enhance scientific research, upgrade technology capabilities, and encourage sustainable innovation throughout every workforce sector.
• Capitalizing on the Sustainable Revolution: In an effort to establish South Carolina as the center point of sustainable economic development, Sustain SC is forging alliances between industry and conservation organizations to transition from traditional 20th-century economic practices to 21st-century industries that provide well-paying jobs and implement innovative, sustainable methods in production, supply chain management, and distribution. Between 2022 and 2023, companies announced more than $9.7 billion in EV investments across South Carolina.
• The Circular Economy – South Carolina’s New Economic Opportunity: Reducing, reusing, repairing, and repurposing materials for production and consumption in South Carolina not only lowers emissions and protects our natural resources, it creates innovative solutions, reduces costs, increases profits, and saves consumers money. Industries in SC are engaged in the circular economy, re-envisioning our waste as an economic engine for our future.
• A Resilient State: Sustain SC Land and Water Action Platform: After five consecutive years of flooding and storms, South Carolina’s Office of Resilience (SCOR) has created a plan to protect our state’s natural resources and buffer our communities from increased threats through nature-based solutions. Sustain SC is collaborating with SCOR, as well as businesses and organizations in the industry and conservation sectors to leverage state dollars with private and federal dollar investments to protect South Carolina’s most critical natural resources.
• Meeting Goals at the Local Level: Approximately 80% of industries in South Carolina are actively assessing and tracking their sustainability efforts. Sustain SC is collaborating with both industry and conservation partners to establish standardized metrics and approaches for measuring sustainability at the state level.

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