Northwest Center’s Vision for a
​Sustainable World: Mission and Business for People and Planet​​

Sustainability is at the heart of Northwest Center, who we are, what we do, and our work toward an inclusive and sustainable world. From the beginning, people and planet have defined our mission and our social enterprise businesses. Our mission is to promote the growth, development, and independence of people with disabilities through education, therapy, and work opportunity​. Our five social enterprise businesses sustain this work. ​​

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​​Driving Sustainability for Half a Century​

In 1967, our original social enterprise, The Big Blue Truck, was among the first to embrace the circular sustainable economy, collecting and selling used clothing to generate revenue for programs for people with disabilities. This model established a commitment to sustainability that has grown ever since.​​

Integrating Sustainability Across Northwest Center​​

As Northwest Center grew it integrated sustainability into the five pillars that now define it:
​our people, partnerships, operations, governance, and impact in communities.​

Our commitment is captured in our ten sustainability goals:  ​

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Create a more equitable world by working to eliminate ableism and create equity for people with disabilities​

Advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals​

Advocate for our mission at all levels of government and in communities ​

Evaluate environmental elements of our businesses and move toward sustainable consumption and production​

Maintain a culture of continuous improvement and growth ​

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Ensure Northwest Center complies with environmental policies and creates best practices that go beyond policies​

Work with suppliers to adopt Northwest Center’s sustainability policy ​

Educate staff about the sustainability policy and encourage adoption of its ideas and spirit​

Ensure sustainability goals are documented in strategic plans and implemented, reviewed, and improved​

Establish accountability through the Board, which provides oversight and governs the execution of Northwest Center, including our commitment to sustainability​

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Working with employees, clients, communities, customers, policymakers, and suppliers we are committed to achieving our sustainability commitments and vision of an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world.​

Gene Boes, CEO ​

Tess Connor, CGO