Description of Standard

Leonardo Academy is developing an ANSI standard for Sustainable Organizations that defines what a sustainable company or organization is and how its level of sustainability achievements can be measured and documented. The standard will address organizational achievements in the three areas of sustainability – environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic prosperity.  Requirements for third-party verification of achievements under this standard will also be addressed. For More Information: Contact Barb McCabe at 608-280-0255 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Benefits of the Standard

With interest in sustainability increasing in the market place, it is difficult for investors, companies and organizations, procurement programs, and consumers to evaluate and compare the sustainability profiles of companies and organizations. By providing a third-party metric for measuring sustainability achievements, the Sustainable Organizations Standard will make it easier to evaluate and compare the sustainability of organizations. This will generate competition just as the US Green Building Council’s LEED Rating System has energized competition among companies and organizations on the relative levels of sustainability of their buildings. By providing clear, practical metrics for sustainability in buildings with third-party verification, the LEED rating system has created a booming sustainable building industry. Likewise the Sustainable Organization Standard will provide the language of commerce for the sustainability of companies and organizations.

Development Process

Leonardo Academy is an ANSI accredited standard developer. We are following the ANSI standard development procedures, which require openness and transparency in conducting the standard development process. The process includes both standard development by a multi-stakeholder committee, as well as a public comment period. The application period for committee membership runs from June 8, 2010 to August 31, 2010. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis for future openings on the standard development committee and for participation in the subcommittees. Additional openings are dependent on the need for expertise in critical areas. Please contact Leonardo Academy to receive an application.

Pilot Testing

Leonardo Academy will issue a pilot version of the standard to gather feedback from potential users. Leonardo Academy will hold regular conference calls with the pilot participants to discuss issues and gather their input. If your company or organization wants to participate in the pilot testing of the Sustainable Organizations Standard, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Note:  Pilot versions of the standard issues by Leonardo Academy are not official ANSI standards. Only standards that have been promulgated by ANSI can be recognized as American National Standards.

There are many ways to participate in the Sustainable Organizations Standard development process:

(1)    To sign up or request and application please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(2)    Apply to be a member of the standard development committee or subcommittees, or apply to be a process observer

(3)    Sign up to participate in the pilot program for the draft standard

(4)    Make a charitable donation to support the standard development process. Leonardo Academy is a charitable (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization so your contribution is tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law.

Committee Membership

Leonardo Academy standard development committees are made up of members that represent four interest categories:

(1)     Companies and organizations that will follow the standard to make their companies or organizations sustainable,

(2)     Companies and organizations that will use the standard to specify the level of sustainability they want from the companies and organization they do business with,

(3)     Environmentalists,

(4)     General Interest which includes government, academia, and others.

For more information about Leonardo Academy's Sustainability Programs, visit:  http://www.leonardoacademy.org/programs.html.

For more information about Leonardo Academy's Sustainability Services, visit:  http://www.leonardoacademy.org/services.html.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization (501)(c)(3) that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Leonardo Academy is an ANSI (www.ansi.org) accredited standards developer. This project ahs been announced through the ANSI Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) and will be carried out in accordance with Leonardo Academy’s ANSI approved standard development procedures