Applied Sustainability LLC: Making a Business Case for By-Product Synergy

Environmental entrepreneur Andrew Mangan promoted by-product synergy (BPS) programs as a means to achieve sustainable development goals. BPS is a process that helps companies discover new ways to convert their wastes into saleable commodities. Mangan’s goals were two-fold: to promote wider adoption of BPS programs and to create a business out of helping companies adopt such programs. Mangan faced both business and regulatory barriers, not all of which he was able to overcome. Critical support from the EPA was granted verbally but meaningful measures were not yet implemented. Mangan also needed to develop a pricing policy and business model that would sustain Applied Sustainability. Recent developments, such as a relationship with the State of New Jersey, suggested a positive outlook, though much uncertainty remained. Mangan reflected on his decade-long struggle as he considered his options.