The EPA touts these benefits of participation:

• Benchmarking: EPA programs allow comparisons of similar green companies in regards to environmental performance.
• Recognition: the communication programs of the EPA partnerships allow a company to communicate its ecological commitment and actions credibly to a wide local, state, regional, national, and international audience.
• National Reach and Collaboration: EPA has forged thousands of collaborative partnerships with state and local governments, advocacy organizations, community groups, business associations, professional associations, utilities, universities and other research institutions, and other federal agencies.  Partnerships provide access to that expertise which value is difficult to quantify. 
• Services and Resources: The free resources of EPA Partnership Programs are a great entry point for a sustainable company’s commitment to reduce its environmental impacts.  Services and resources often include technical assistance, professional networking, public recognition, financial and environmental analysis tools, training, seminars, guidebooks, toolkits, and environmental performance benchmarking.
• Business Development:  Some programs attempt to help green businesses identify potential buyers and sellers of environmentally superior products and connect them to environmental financing opportunities. Discussing one’s participation in an EPA Partnership provides credibility to an environmental commitment. 
• Early Credit and Regulatory Developments: Participation in an EPA program provides access to decision making processes for climate change strategies and policies.  This participation could include preparation for a new change or even relevant input into actual policies. 

Not a lot of downsides, low costs, and potential for a lot of upside.  That is generally a good thing, right?  Stay tuned as we look at specific industries and partnerships in future articles and ways to incorporate this sustainable legal strategy into your business.