Project Partners and Funders

One of the most challenging aspects of creating a network like the Chicago Waste to Profit Network is developing a team of partners. From the very conception of the network, the City of Chicago , the United States Business Council for Sustainable Development (USBCSD) and the Chicago Manufacturing Center (CMC) collaborated closely on how to develop the initial pilot project. For the launch of the network, CMC worked closely with the USBCSD to create an estimated budget and scope of work, and with the City of Chicago to develop the funding for the program.

The City of Chicago leadership—before and during this process—led to the creation of a different kind of by-product synergy process than any of the other networks the USBCSD had formerly created. While the Kansas City network also included governmental involvement, the City of Chicago took a much more pro-active role in many aspects of the project. Not only was the City of Chicago a principal funder of the network with the State of Illinois, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Institute of Standards and Technology, but also a key project partner.

For the targeting phase that the State of Illinois funded, the City of Chicago became very involved in bringing in other project partners, such as the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development and World Business Chicago.

Network Membership

The primary node of the Waste to Profit Innovation Network spans all sectors of Chicago industry and has companies ranging in size from 10 to 100,000 employees. Members are visionary leaders in sustainable business and industry.

Community Network membership contains the same industry diversity and leadership potential, but in a smaller package. Community Network members are generally companies with fewer than 500 employees and small or inconsistent waste streams which would not normally be profitable as revenue streams on their own. The Community Network format allows the WTPN to use the principals of economies of scale in aggregating common by product streams of several small companies to produce a shared revenue stream.