Clean Consulting at UCLA: Empowering Sustainable Business Practices
Clean Consulting at UCLA is a student-run organization dedicated to empowering companies to understand and act on their connections with the natural world. Functioning as a pro-bono consulting group, Clean Consulting provides strategic, operational, and impact-driven solutions to a diverse range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, startups, and non-profits.
A Community Built on Collaboration and Shared Ambition
Clean Consulting fosters a tight-knit community built on collaboration, trust, and shared ambition. Members work together to solve complex challenges, forging lasting friendships and supporting each other’s growth. The organization celebrates successes as a team, creating a strong sense of camaraderie among its members.
Diverse Membership
Clean Consulting is comprised of passionate and hardworking students from a broad range of diverse backgrounds and many majors. The organization prides itself on being academically diverse, accepting applications from all majors and years. Members come from fields such as Business Economics, Environmental Science, Political Science, Public Affairs, Architecture, Data Science, Art, and Chemical Engineering, among others. This diversity of academic backgrounds enriches the consulting process, bringing a wide range of perspectives and expertise to each project.
Recruitment
Clean Consulting recruits new members every Fall and Winter Quarter. The recruitment process consists of three rounds: resume drops, coffee chats, and final interviews. The organization looks for students who are interested in learning more about the intersection of business and sustainability. There is no single ideal candidate.
Training
New members undergo an extensive training program to equip them with the necessary skills to work on projects and interact with clients. This training ensures that all consultants have a solid foundation in sustainability principles and consulting methodologies.
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Services Offered
Clean Consulting's objective is to evaluate companies' current practices and encourage the use of most sustainable strategies. The organization approaches its projects through a Triple Bottom Line lens, striving for a positive impact on People, Planet, and Profit. They work closely with their clients from conception to implementation to ensure their sustainability goals are being met. Their services include:
Waste Audits
Clean Consulting teams conduct on-site waste audits to understand problem areas and identify opportunities for zero waste and circularity. These audits provide valuable insights into a company's waste management practices, allowing for the development of targeted solutions to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency.
Carbon Footprint Analysis
Consultants analyze the client’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and identify priority decarbonization levers. They create models to project emissions, cost savings, and potential for Net Zero. This analysis helps companies understand their carbon footprint and develop strategies to reduce their environmental impact.
Life Cycle Assessments
Clean Consulting conducts Life Cycle Assessments of a product or activity and identifies hotspots and intersectional impacts. This can be done comparatively or for a new product. These assessments provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts associated with a product or service throughout its entire life cycle.
Market Research
Consultants conduct research and extensive data collection to identify opportunities for market entry, market expansion, mergers, and revamping marketing strategies. This research helps companies identify new markets and opportunities for growth in the sustainable business sector.
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Sustainability Initiatives
Clean Consulting consultants conduct research and provide guidance on top-down intersectional internal sustainability initiatives from mission statements to employee training. This service helps companies integrate sustainability into their core values and operations.
Project Structure
Clean Consulting project teams consist of 1 Project Manager, 1 Executive Advisor, and 4-5 Consultants. Projects typically range from 10-15 weeks depending on client needs and availability. All consultants are either LEED or TRUE-certified, demonstrating their expertise in sustainable building and waste management practices.
Statement of Work
The Client Relations Team meets with client representatives to gauge the company’s needs and goals. This initial consultation ensures that the project is aligned with the client's objectives and that the team has a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities.
Impact and Reach
Since its foundation in 2018, Clean Consulting has quickly found its identity as an organization. From non-profits to Fortune 500 companies, Clean Consulting has provided tangible solutions that have sparked an environmental revolution. Recognized as a 509(a)(2) Public Charity and a Certified California Green Business, Clean Consulting helps organizations make smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Beyond Sustainability
While sustainability is at its core, Clean Consulting goes beyond it, tackling complex business challenges with data-backed insights. The organization empowers and equips companies to pursue sustainable and environmentally and socially responsible business practices.
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RydeMates: A Student-Led Sustainability Initiative
One example of Clean Consulting's commitment to sustainability is the RydeMates app, developed by a UCLA student. RydeMates is an iOS app where students can create & join ride-share groups of up to 4 students to and from LAX. The app was developed in Xcode and used Firebase as its backend.
The Inspiration
The idea for RydeMates came from a student's personal experience of seeing multiple students waiting for individual rides to LAX at the same time. This experience highlighted the potential for ride-sharing to reduce costs and emissions.
The Impact
So far, RydeMates has 588 downloads and registered users. From Thanksgiving to Winter Break, users shared over 150 rides to and from LAX, saving students a collective $11,408 in fares and reducing 1 metric ton in CO2 (1,004 kilograms).
The Future
Clean Consulting is working to institutionalize RydeMates after the student graduates and expand the app’s reach to other campuses or destinations. This initiative demonstrates Clean Consulting's commitment to supporting student-led sustainability projects and promoting innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
Partnerships
Clean Consulting is a proud partner of USGBC and several on- and off-campus organizations with similar missions. These partnerships allow the organization to expand its reach and impact, collaborating with other leaders in the sustainability field.
Alumni Success
While Clean Consulting members have placed in top consulting firms, many of the organization's alumni and current members work in tech, finance, or have founded startups. Clean Consulting equips students with transferrable skills to succeed in a variety of industries.
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