About Sustain SC
We bring together a diverse coalition of stakeholders at the intersection of commerce and conservation to advance initiatives that benefit South Carolina’s economy, communities and natural resources.
Our Mission
What we do
Connect the sustainability goals of business in South Carolina with local solutions for the benefit of our economy, environment and people.
Our Purpose
Why we exist
To build and grow a more sustainable future for South Carolina at the intersection of commerce and conservation.
Our Values
Fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape our organization.
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We value doing good and doing it well.
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We value and care for our state’s resources — our economy, environment and people.
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We value working together with different sectors and industries in a non-partisan way.
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We value acting with trust, credibility and accountability
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We value each other’s opinions and views, even when we may not agree.
What sets us apart.
NON
PARTISAN
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COMMERCE
DRIVEN
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CONSERVATION
MINDED
Our History
Sustain SC was officially launched in the Spring of 2021 by Ethel Bunch, a visionary leader who saw the powerful potential of connecting commerce with conservation in South Carolina. With deep roots in cross-sector collaboration, Ethel brought a rare combination of spirit, resilience and tenacity to the challenge of aligning sustainability goals across business, government and environmental interests.
The seeds of Sustain SC were planted in 2019 with the creation of “Palmetto Green,” a pilot initiative developed to build a layered mapping tool that could help businesses and conservation partners prioritize where mitigation projects would have the greatest impact. Developed in collaboration with a cross section of statewide leaders, the tool integrated technical data like zoning and watersheds into a first-of-its-kind resource that brought the worlds of economic development and environmental planning together in meaningful, actionable ways.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Palmetto Green team recognized a critical need to evolve. As the world faced reduced human interaction and increased economic pressure, the value of scalable, collaborative solutions became more urgent. That pivot led to the launch of Sustain SC; a nonprofit built on the foundation of collaboration and committed to helping South Carolina thrive through a balanced approach to growth and stewardship. Sustain SC is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization, designed to serve as a trusted connector among diverse stakeholders.
Under Ethel’s leadership, Sustain SC quickly became a statewide hub, uniting stakeholders from industry, government and conservation around shared sustainability goals. She brought people to the table to work together toward a better, more resilient future.
One of Sustain SC’s first major initiatives was commissioning a study with Ernst & Young (EY) after South Carolina ranked 37th nationally in sustainability. The findings helped shape Sustain SC’s unique strategic model of “Accelerators” designed to take big ideas and turn them into action across key sectors.
Today, Sustain SC continues to be a catalyst for collaboration, bringing together stakeholders from industry, government and conservation to align important issues.