Good Business Sense - Make Your Business Green

Give People What They Want: What Can Your Business Do To Go Green?:Organic produce and green products managed to survive a recession. This speaks volumes. There are people who want to protect the environment and choose environmentally friendly products whenever they are available. Retailers need to offer recycled, organic and chemical-free merchandise, particularly in communities that are environmentally aware.Printers should look for post-consumer recycled materials. Restaurants and food purveyors have biodegradable food container options, and they can increase their quality by choosing local ingredients whenever possible. Any manufacturing business can choose raw materials that are recycled or, at the very least, nontoxic materials. All of these options will help green a business.Honestly market green business strategies. Consumers are becoming jaded because many companies stretch the truth when it comes to their environmental impact. If you managed to reduce waste by 20 percent, then that is the figure that should be advertised. Appeal to the emotions of consumers by stressing personal business goals. For example, keep the public aware of any new projects in the pipeline that will potentially have a positive environmental impact, and share success stories after they are implemented.Green advertising is becoming commonplace. We are inundated with pictures of trees and wildlife, so try to come up with something unique to market a green business. Choose images that reflect the business itself, and use them to connect with customers electronically. Not only does this save on printing costs, it will also save trees. If it is possible, pick up a green business certification, such as being certified organic, LEED certification or Energy Star ratings. Certifications provide independent proof that companies are succeeding at their attempts to become green.Ways to Save Money and the Environment:Green business does more than attract new customers; it will save money. The money saved on energy alone makes going green worthwhile. Start by choosing energy saving light bulbs. They last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs and use 75 percent less energy. Keeping the lights off when a room is empty will also lower the electric bill. Another energy saving tip is not to use light bulbs at all. Many rooms can be lit simply by using available daylight. Remove window coverings and try using natural light. Natural light provides vitamin D and lower energy bills at the same time. Using sunlight at work is also good for growing plants that decorate the room while oxygenating the air.Along with allowing natural light in, try letting in some fresh air as well. Air conditioners use quite a bit of energy and run up the bill. Open the windows and run ceiling fans on nice days. If it is simply too hot to turn off the air conditioner, turn up the thermostat at the end of the day. Do not turn it off because it takes more energy for it to cool the building when it comes back on in the morning.Purchasing equipment that is energy efficient can reduce energy bills. Always check the Energy Star rating at before buying new electronics. Make sure that all equipment is clean and in good working order, and turn off machines when they are not being used. Phantom power can be drained by electronics when they are not in use, but there are power strips designed to prevent the loss of phantom power.Purchasing environmentally friendly products is not only good for the environment; it is good for the health of everyone in the building. For example, nontoxic cleaning supplies are less likely to incite allergic reactions or cause asthma to flare up. Cleaning services that specialize in using only natural, chemical free products are growing. Try finding one, if the size of a building demands a cleaning crew.Use recycled paper products whenever possible. Look for products labeled that they contain "post-consumer waste." Recycled paper products that are easy to find include paper towels, toilet paper, napkins and paper plates. Better yet, provide real plates and glasses in the kitchen or break room. These can be washed and reused, which will cut costs on paper products and reduce waste.Conduct business online or over the phone whenever possible:We live in the digital age, so why not take advantage of it? Teleconferences make it possible for people across the globe to meet and discuss the business without having to travel. This saves energy and money on travel expenses. Telecommuting is becoming a popular alternative for many employers. Allow people to telecommute at least part of the week if their jobs allow for it. They might appreciate not having to fight morning traffic.No one enjoys sitting in traffic, but commuting to work still remains a drain on natural resources. There are several options to reduce the energy used simply to go to work. Some businesses encourage employees to carpool or institute working four 10-hour days rather than five eight-hour days. There is also o growing trend of providing "green benefits." Some companies offer subway passes or bus tokens as part of their employee benefits package. Others go so far as to financially assist employees who green their houses or purchase energy efficient vehicles.Businesses that require company vehicles should look into energy efficient cars, trucks or SUVs. Hybrids are becoming easier to find as the price of fuel increases. It is also important to understand that a vehicle needs to be maintained for optimal energy efficiency.Reducing waste will cut costs and help a business go green:Use shredded papers, obviously not any documents with sensitive information, as packing material. Save rainwater and use it to water plants later. Set the printer to print both sides of the paper automatically, and choose a smaller font size and often style. Century Gothic is a font recommended for saving ink and money. Buy recycled ink cartridges and donate or recycle old electronics and supplies.Start a recycling program at work and get the employees involved. Recycling bins may be available, but without employee involvement the program will not be successful. Encourage them to find new ways to make the business green and share them. Make going green more than company policy; make it an employee led movement. Employees with environmental interests will connect with the company as the feel that working allows them to support their ideals and draw a paycheck.Green Remodeling:This is a good time to remodel. There are plenty of green builders, and the government may offer financial help to certain green building projects. A directory of government programs is available online at http://www.greenbiz.com. Whether building a new structure or remodeling, look into LEED certification. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System can easily be researched online, and being LEED certified proves to customers and employees that the business is built upon the premises of sustainability and environmental concern.Like any other business venture, networking is essential. Try to network with other environmentally friendly business owners. Purchase products from other green businesses and refer customers to them. They will return the favor. Find a green business owner to mentor you as you make changes in your own company. Someone with an established green business will likely have a wealth of information on becoming certified, finding products, reducing waste and saving money.Going green is an important step for a business to take. No matter the size of a company, it is possible to draw in customers and reduce company costs by creating a greener workplace. Green policies will also affect employee morale and involvement. Overall, a green business draws people together as they unite around a common cause. Preserving resources and saving the environment will not only save money and energy, it can also create a sense of pride in knowing that a business built today will have a positive impact on the future.

Green Business in the US

What is a Green Business? It seems as if almost everyone is talking "Green." Green is everywhere around us. Bill companies are going green, grocery stores are going green, everyone is cashing in on green, but do we fully understand what it is.A green company or business is marked for its ability to decrease the impact made on the environment by waste, harmful chemicals and materials used to process or make products and services. The direct impact made from all of these products produce a gas which is referred to as carbon dioxide and is referred to as the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint therefore branches off from ecological footprint analysis, which then examines the ecological capacity required to support the consumption of products.One of the most popular examples that we see today of going green is going paperless which is what the majority of bill companies and banks try to get us to do. Instead of sending out paper and paying for stamps they want you to sign up for emails or create accounts online in which you can see your account activity and take care of your business without using or wasting paper.Green Businesses look for alternative ways to create or use products repetitively so we don't have to produce new ones such as paper, lead pencils, emails and more products which are not harmful to the environment and still function the same or at a better level and preferably with a lower cost.A company's green initiative can include conserving materials through remanufacturing, converting harmful gases into clean energy, generating green power and improving fuel economy. Designing this for the environment is a process for a green business as well as making for a sustainable business. This process aids the users into considering the potential for environmental impacts of a product and the process that is takes to make that product.In turn, weighing all of these options take time and effort which makes a business a good business because they want to get their products right in order to help the environment and therefore cut down or eliminate harmful wastes.

Green Business is Good Business - Sustainable Resources Keep Businesses Viable

We hear a lot about "green marketing" these days. Small businesses to major corporations are trying to appeal to the greater environmental consciousness of consumers. Why? There's money to be made. Research suggests that eco-minded consumers are willing to pay more money for green products, services, or even to deal with companies that demonstrate having an environmental conscience.It's Not Easy Being "Green"Being a green business can mean much more than making a quick buck because of clever marketing playing on the current social climate. Creating environmentally friendly products or running an overall eco-friendly business can involve higher overhead costs (which may or may not be fully accounted for in increased prices - either way, it takes a bite out of those profits).When a company decides to go green, they also take on a new image and social responsibility. They have to continually live up to the image they create, making sure other aspects of their business aren't counterintuitive to the environmentally friendly mission their customers come to expect. Even one bad decision can become a green PR nightmare that alienates a company's target market.Green Business can be Good BusinessIf going green is more expensive, involves launching completely new marketing campaigns, and has the potential to make or break a company's reputation with each little decision, why would companies invest so much time and money into being environmentally friendly?For some businesses, sustainable resources mean more than happy customers. They mean sustainable business - ensuring that the resources needed to create their products (especially at prices consumers are willing to pay) don't become depleted.Case Study: Faraway FurnitureFaraway Furniture is a UK-based company offering contemporary indoor and outdoor garden furniture. We use grade A Javanese teak in the development of our teak garden furniture, because it is incredibly strong and nearly maintenance-free (making it an ideal choice for customers).While the use of teak keeps customers happy, it's a natural resource, and natural resources can become depleted. If this happened, we would eventually be out of business. This is a reason we only use sustainable plantation wood - limited amounts of trees can be cut down each year, and that must be met with equal restoration. We're not only interested in appealing to our environmentally conscious customers and helping the environment. We know that doing both of those things is actually essential to our survival in business.While going green is good for our business, we also have a genuine interest in the global community and doing our part to help the environment. Because of that, we have so far planted over 2500 trees through the Billion Tree Campaign of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). We make sure our customers keep coming back, and we make sure we'll always have the resources necessary to satisfy their demand for our products. That's what it means to go beyond green marketing and be a truely green business.

Green Business in the US

What is a Green Business? It seems as if almost everyone is talking "Green." Green is everywhere around us. Bill companies are going green, grocery stores are going green, everyone is cashing in on green, but do we fully understand what it is.A green company or business is marked for its ability to decrease the impact made on the environment by waste, harmful chemicals and materials used to process or make products and services. The direct impact made from all of these products produce a gas which is referred to as carbon dioxide and is referred to as the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint therefore branches off from ecological footprint analysis, which then examines the ecological capacity required to support the consumption of products.One of the most popular examples that we see today of going green is going paperless which is what the majority of bill companies and banks try to get us to do. Instead of sending out paper and paying for stamps they want you to sign up for emails or create accounts online in which you can see your account activity and take care of your business without using or wasting paper.Green Businesses look for alternative ways to create or use products repetitively so we don't have to produce new ones such as paper, lead pencils, emails and more products which are not harmful to the environment and still function the same or at a better level and preferably with a lower cost.A company's green initiative can include conserving materials through remanufacturing, converting harmful gases into clean energy, generating green power and improving fuel economy. Designing this for the environment is a process for a green business as well as making for a sustainable business. This process aids the users into considering the potential for environmental impacts of a product and the process that is takes to make that product.In turn, weighing all of these options take time and effort which makes a business a good business because they want to get their products right in order to help the environment and therefore cut down or eliminate harmful wastes.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Green Business

Recently I've met with a couple of green businesses, at opposite ends of the spectrum.The first one is a manufacturing company making all-natural chemical cleaning products for commercial use. For the past several years they have had an annual sales growth of over 100%. This year it looks like they will far surpass that number.They drive a delivery van fueled for free from their restaurant customer's grease that is filtered into bio fuel, which saves their customers from having to pay to send it to a landfill.The other company just closed their doors after about five years. They were a local green retail store here in Brooklyn. They offered all-natural products for the home in a general store setting. Giftware, baby products, housewares and so on. As a service to the community, they collected used batteries for recycling.The last time I went in to speak with one of the owners, there were piles of used batteries around and not too much inventory. She was exhausted and seemed almost resigned to the fact she would not make it.And I've seen that look before. In me. Twelve years earlier when I tried and failed at a similar concept in a much larger scale.After having been working in and with green businesses for over 20 years, this is what I see as their pros and cons:Pros of Being Green:Green is Hot-Is it a fad or is it here to stay? The answer is "yes". It is a fad and it will stay. Mostly because it must stay. These days everyone wants to be seen as being green. If you have something that people need that is superior to non-green alternatives, you can do well in certain situations.Solid Business Opportunities-if you have a product or service in the energy, clean tech or green tech sectors, or are dealing with everyday challenges people face AND are competitive in your product/service, you are in a good place.Marketability Factor-since the media is still hot for green, businesses can definitely find unique ways to milk this one.Just make sure you do it authentically, otherwise you risk getting busted for green washing-claiming you are greener than you really are.Easier to Compete-as long as your product is just as good as or better than non-green alternatives out there you're in good shape. Even if you cannot compete on price, there are solid strategies to position your product/service to be quite desirable.Strong Feel Good Component-if your product / service really makes a difference for the planet and society, you can certainly leverage this in your branding and marketing. People like knowing what they purchase is going to help more than just themselves, with everything else being relatively equal.More Stable-businesses that build not only a profitable business but one that integrates the social and environmental components that surround it, usually do better than their "non-green" competitors.Cons to Being GreenGreen is Hot... Right Now-those green businesses that market, position and brand themselves as "green" as the main message will struggle when the green wave subsides. Knowing how to stay hot without relying on "green" as the key differentiator is crucial.Keeping Up-since green business is here to stay (not to be confused with the "buzz" or fad of being green), keeping ahead of the competition in new green technologies and strategies can be quite challenging at times. For example, it is so '90's to say, "We're green because we use recycled paper and soy based inks in our materials...."Complex Business Model-it's hard enough to focus on one bottom line: profits. Try focusing on three! True green businesses not only focus on being profitable, they also take responsibility of the impact their business has on people and the planet (known as the triple-bottom-line or the three p's.)Juggling Hats -most green business owners I know are traditional business people OR environmentalists, but rarely both. To thrive as a green business owner, you must be great at both!Play By the Same Rules... For Now-many green business owners expect people will come flocking to their product or service because of how green it is. They usually are in for a rude awakening. If it does not compete on the traditional business components of: functionality, quality, fashion, and/or price it will not succeed. Guaranteed. This may change, but not yet.And while we're light-years ahead from where we were 20 years ago, the green business model is quite new and we're still ironing out the kinks.Green businesses, just like traditional businesses, must still pay rent, make payroll, figure out marketing and branding strategies and so on.But there is one major difference. When a green business is done really well, you will see the positive social and environmental impact it has... while making a solid profit.And when that happens, it really doesn't get any better than that.Action Steps for the Week:So you want to be green, huh? Or perhaps you already are? Cool. Take a look at all three bottom lines:Profits - how are you going to make money (or how are you making it already)? What is your business model, price-points, competition and market analysis?People - how will your product/service impact your stakeholders (anyone impacted by your business: community, customers, vendors, employees, investors, etc.) What plan do you have to make sure you are making a positive difference for them?Planet - what do you do that will not only be gentle on the planet, but even reverse the damage we have been doing to it?Once you answer these three in a powerful, positive and interesting way you will have a business model that is solid, strong, and truly sustainable.

Growing a Successful Green Business

In today's world, more and more people are becoming more conscious of their environment. As a result, more businesses are adopting environmentally friendly business practices, like becoming a sustainable, green business. However, even with all the advantages of going green, there are many business owners who find it hard to adopt green practices, because of the costs needed to implement changes, such as reconstruction to their daily operations and alterations to products sold to the consumers.What many don't realize is that the benefits of green practices far outweigh the costs. Becoming a sustainable business can save money in the long run, create happier customers, and it contributes to a healthier planet.Start Your Own Green BusinessIf you are planning to start your own green business, and don't know where to start, you can begin by thinking about what you would like to change in your business. Starting your own green business requires a lot of thought and before you invest your hard-earned money, the following tips should be kept in mind:Find your niche. The natural, organic lifestyle is becoming popular and offers a wide variety of products you can choose from, such as food, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies. But remember, choose the product that interests you best.Get certified. Obtaining a certification from an independent third-party will boost your product's image. This means that you can include the "ecolabel" of the certifying body on your product's label and other marketing materials. This will attract green consumers.Practice what you preach.If you are marketing your business as green, make sure that you are living a green lifestyle. This will show that you are socially responsible and will greatly affect your image to an environmentally conscious society.Educate.You must understand the significance of your product and how it will benefit or help the environment. Once you fully understand everything about your product, you can effectively communicate the value of your product to the green consumers.Get your customers to be your promoters.When your customers are happy with your product, they will share their good experience with others. The spreading of positive feedback about your product is not only good for your product image, but it will ultimately draw more consumers.Find colleagues who share your passion. Colleagues who share your passion are more likely to support you in your business endeavors and help your business to blossom.Join industry partnerships. The government sponsors partnerships and programs that aim to reduce the harmful effects of business activities on the environment. You can learn all the important things about having a green business through these programs. You can also connect with other businesses that promote environmentally-friendly products.If you're interested in adopting green practices, the government Web site, http://www.Business.gov, provides a guide to help businesses adopt green practices, listed below: Follow the environmental regulations relevant to your business. Compliance creates two effects: it protects your business from fines and legal actions from the government and it protects the environment.Create a sound environmental management plan. Since you are now running a green business, creating an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient workplace is important to send your message across. An environmental plan will help you achieve this.Build green and install energy-efficient air-conditioning systems, appliances, etc. You can contract with an energy professional to help you manage your project.Buy green products. Green products are made from recycled materials, non-toxic, renewable, and recyclable. Also buy food that is locally grown and organic.Adopt energy-efficient practices. One of the most effective steps you can take to cut costs is to save energy. You can help your employees conserve energy by providing them with energy-saving tips.Reduce, reuse, and recycle wastes. Money can be saved by reducing waste. You can also cut costs on raw materials, office supplies, and equipment. Some of the things that you can do to reduce waste are using recycled products, eliminating excessive product packaging material, and participating in recycling programs.Conserve water. Through conservation, you both save water and cut costs associated with buying, heating, treating, and disposing of it. Try to use water-saving equipment, and minimize discharges to sewer or wastewater.Prevent pollution. Materials should be recycled and reused, vehicles must be properly tuned, all liquid chemicals must be stored in their proper places, and all wastes must be properly disposed.Create a green marketing strategy. Add "green" claims to your brand, and the growing number of environmentally conscious consumers will surely take notice. This is good for your image.Join industry partnerships and stewardship programs. There are several programs sponsored by the government that are designed to help the environment. Joining these programs will also create an opportunity for you to meet other green businesses in your industry.

Top Four Principles For a Green Business

To make it simple and concrete for you, each principle is paired with a specific business concern and four explicit green actions you can take. Think of it as a "tasting menu" to celebrate Earth Day. It's like four carefully crafted courses, each paired with a beautiful wine. Each of the four courses has four delicious items on the plate for you to choose from - or you can really indulge and eat them all!The four courses to taste today are the Four Principles for a Green Business:• Appetizer: Aspire to be 100% good, not just "less bad"
• First Course: Act in cycles, rather than linear (waste = food)
• Second Course: Tap into an unlimited source of energy (the sun)
• Dessert: Attract and keep the best employees and customers (celebrate diversity)
The only way to make these real in your business is to taste them, to put them into practice. And, we're going to show you how.We paired four business concerns with each of the Four Principles. For each, the combination of flavors is subtle and unique: There are tastes that you avoid and tastes that you cultivate.Appetizer: Policy & Practices that aspire to be 100% good, not just "less bad"• Avoid: confusion, distraction, wheel-spinning, burn-out
• Cultivate: shared definitions and frameworks, creative teamworkFirst Course: Handle materials in cycles, rather than lines (waste = food)• Avoid: waste, toxics
• Cultivate: reuse, conservation, thoughtful purchasingSecond Course: Energy that taps into an unlimited source, the sun•Avoid: waste, fossil fuel use
•Cultivate: savings, clean energyDessert: Workplace & Community that celebrates diversity, attracts and keeps the best employees and customers• Avoid: isolation, competitiveness
• Cultivate: connection, flexibility, inclusiveness, creativitySo far, we've covered the why and the what - principles and specific business concerns. Now, for the how. I'm going to give you the four delicious tastes for each course on our menu. These are concrete action steps that will allow you to experience greening success in each area of your business.Are you curious about the goodies in the appetizer course? Wait no longer! Here are four specific green actions can you take in your Policy & Practices:• Write your green mission statement and set annual goals to move toward it.
• Establish green policies and practices. These will come in time, as you take more measures to go green. Be conscious to write them down, so you get systems in place that will outlast your current leadership.
• Measure, benchmark, and track progress regularly. This includes conducting audits of your energy and water use, and a waste audit.
• Regularly communicate your mission and progress on your website.Hungry for more? It's time for the First Course, Materials:• Green your supply chain.
• Establish, revive, or enhance your recycling program.
• Avoid paper plates, foam or plastic cups, and plastic utensils in your kitchenette or break room. Instead, provide reusable cups, plates, and silverware.
• Have a no-bottled-water policy. Get a nice reusable dispenser to filter tap water and serve with reusable cups or glasses at your meetings. Some examples: Eco-Chic version from Aqua-Ovo. For us regular folk on the other end of the spectrum is the nice-looking polycarbonate model from Target.By now, you are getting warmed up and ready for the Second Course, right? Good thing that's all about Energy:• Have a Smart Strip Blitz: Go around your office and plug everything into power strips and then turn off the strips with items that aren't in use. Don't forget that cell-phone charger! Then, sit back and count the money you're saving.• Find and use the Energy Star power management settings on your computer and monitor.• Unless you've been time- or space-traveling lately, you've probably heard the suggestion to change all your incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescent. Here's a twist on that: even if you've already changed over to CFL's in the office, you can hold an employee CFL giveaway. Or, consider trying the new LED bulbs that save even more energy and last even longer. See what's available at Home Depot:• Energy efficiency isn't just for offices. Your personal energy is a vital part of the picture. It is often closely associated with the metaphor of life as breath - the words 'chi', 'prana', and 'spirit', for instance, are all related in their respective languages to the verb 'to breathe'. The advice here is: establish a daily energy recharge with conscious breathing. This can be very effective in the morning, combined with gentle stretching. Try using the Mindful Clock which chimes at defined intervals throughout the day, reminding you to stop and take a few deep breaths. You'll be amazed at how energizing this simple practice is.Did you skip to Dessert right away? Why not, eh? Life's too short! To wrap up our delicious meal, we have four goodies for your Workplace & Community:• Support local environmental / community groups, both financially and with volunteer time. Some great non-local ones: Earthshare and Kiva.
• Consider a telecommuting policy, ideally coupled with a program to encourage and/or reward use of public transit or bicycling.
• Hold regular Green Team meetings with broad participation and a focus on action and measurable results. (This is where your mission statement and goals from the Appetizer come in handy.)
• Provide or direct people to ongoing training in sustainable business topics. The Natural Step Network's programs are a great resource.

Get Going With a Green Business Today

Go Green, this subject is becoming familiar to everyone, and as well it has created an impelling buzz all around! Getting started with a green business can also be a way to make good money. Green business is not only a profitable practice, but also it pays attention to the many needed environmental awareness issues of today. While a lot of businesses are adapting this principle, there are still a few others who are having trouble on getting started in terms of going green. Manufacturing businesses, for example, will have higher cost for the reconstruction of their daily operations. However, they have to understand that the benefit of going green will far outweigh the cost in the long run. You will be able to serve happier customers and at the same time, live in a healthier planet.If you are planning to start your own business, make it a green business from the initial stage of your project. The first thing you have to do is to devise a well thought and well researched plan. It is important to put the plan in writing so it will serve as a guideline for you and your business.Know your target market. Once you know what target market you want to service, you will then find it easier to narrow down the list of products or services you can offer. Note that you should only offer services or products that interest you as well so you can better market it to others.Do a lot of research? Now the ways and means you can get your product green, from manufacturing to distribution. Document this and submit it to organizations who certify green businesses. You have to get some form of "eco label" into your product so that your customers will know that your business is an environment friendly. You can also tie up or go in partnership with government agencies and programs that also aims to reduce waste in the environment.Going green does not only involve your product, it involves the entire workplace. You should also take the effort to create an energy efficient workplace for your employees. In order to be believable in your green approach, you have to practice what you preach. Use recycled materials in the office. There is also energy efficient air conditioning systems and appliances you can install. Make your employees know the importance of saving energy and have them practice it by turning off lights and other appliances when not in use. Segregate your trash and recycle those that can be recycled like plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and papers. What you cannot reuse, you can sell like used bottles and ink containers. If your employees only live nearby, encourage them to use bikes or go for carpooling.Lastly, let everyone know that you are running a green business by creating a green marketing strategy. A lot of people are now aware regarding energy conservation and environmental protection so for sure a lot of customers will come your way.

Green Business Strategy - Getting Employees Engaged in Sustainability

Give the company a green boostTrying to persuade your business colleagues to go green can be tough. Yet we know environmental consciousness is not only good--it is good for business. Customer loyalty, public credibility and investor confidence are gained by companies that do things right.The majority of leading companies have made public commitments around sustainability - whether it is lowering their carbon footprint, investments in communities or ensuring sustainable sourcing. Yet, we see that their internal practices do not necessarily measure up to their public commitments - which leads to skepticism amongst their customers and employees about how truly green they are. This can impact the bottom line from reputation and loyalty to attracting and retaining the right talent.In order to be taken seriously and perceived as an environmentally-friendly enterprise, you should establish credibility and follow through on public commitments for sustainability. The added benefit for you is that sustainability in business means operating more efficiently...in other words, driving expense out of the business.There is a way you can significantly improve the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives and ensure that the environmental culture permeates throughout the organization: by framing them properly and getting employees engaged. Though simple in concept, it requires expertise in practice to get the best results from sustainable business initiatives.How to sell sustainability within your organizationThe single most important factor for success is executive sponsorship. It is required to ensure the success of sustainable practices within your company. However, changing your organizational culture and perception of the company's values also requires contribution from everyone within the organization. In order to do so effectively, it is important to understand the unique perspectives of senior managers and benefits to each area in addressing sustainability. In turn, senior managers will be able to frame the objectives within their functional areas in a way that is relevant to each employee, creating a more comprehensive and effective implementation. Some of the key functional areas to get on board include: Finance, Marketing, HR and IT / Operations.Defining the need for the finance department:In order to influence the finance department to direct resources toward sustainability efforts, it is important to focus on what is most relevant to them. Expense savings are a huge focus in business right now and finance departments are constantly looking to the business to do more for less. Often times it leads to internal cost cuts which translates to reduction in headcount - something which may impact the effectiveness of the business (less headcount to do the work and morale impact on productivity) and public perception on the viability of the business.However, supporting green initiatives is a great opportunity for those in the finance department to get employees excited about and supportive of internal cost cuts. By identifying ways for employees to help reduce energy consumption - such as turning off the lights, changing screen savers and shutting down computers at night, stocking the refrigerator, cutting down on paper waste, etc., you can save money and increase morale as employees unite in doing something good.Defining the need for HR:HR departments are typically concerned with attracting and retaining top talent. However, when the business is focused on saving money and potentially reducing headcount, it can be challenging to maintain employee satisfaction. Additionally, they need to stretch their budgets farther, making recruiting and retention ever more difficult.A focus on sustainability can be the basis of attracting talent and may help smaller companies, which are often at a disadvantage when recruiting employees, attract creative and talented staff.- Highly educated/talented prospective employees, especially Generation Y, are seeking the opportunity to work in a company focused on sustainability.- Employees look to work for companies with a strong brand reputation - and a focus on sustainability could be a key point of differentiation in creating a positive brand image.From a retention perspective, current employees will be more engaged and productive. Employee productivity and morale typically impacted in the current cost-cutting environment. However, by focusing on cost-cutting through sustainable business practices, a culture focused on "doing-good" - employees will be more engaged and able to focus on productivity instead of the stress typically associated with cost-cuts.Defining the need for IT / Operations departments:IT and operations groups tend to be the most resource / energy intensive groups within an organization and they are constantly being asked to do more with less - causing frustration amongst the groups who use the IT resources. While it is challenging to get employees on board with IT cuts, IT groups can be influenced to get on board with sustainability with knowledge that by getting employees engaged in green IT initiatives, IT departments will be able to more effectively drive their cost-cutting initiatives and maximize results without sacrificing efficiency. Additionally, IT will have the support necessary to implement policies and practices that--while reducing energy and resource consumption--may generate resistance among employees.Defining the need for the marketing department:Sustainability initiatives can address two key focal areas of the marketing department - getting and retaining customers and brand advocacy. Research indicates that companies whose employee practices do not align with green marketing claims will drive consumer skepticism and be perceived as cynically taking advantage of environmental concerns. Marketing leaders have the opportunity to engage customers and employees on a new dimension by demonstrating commitment to sustainability - thereby making employees into committed brand advocates and creating loyal customers by living up to public commitments.Aligning the rest of the organizationOnce Executive Sponsorship is in place and Senior Management understands the benefits of embracing sustainability within their functional areas, it is time to align the rest of the organization and embed a true culture of sustainability. Since employees, like consumers, have different attitudes and perceptions around sustainability programs and can be segmented as such, it is important to design programs that address the unique segments within your organization. The steps below outline what is necessary to fully engage your employee base to achieve your ongoing sustainability commitments.1. Survey employees to segment on attitudes, perceptions, behaviors2. Conduct moderated discussions to get a deeper understanding and to develop communication, persuasion, and engagement strategies3. Design promotions and track behavior to add a dimension of competition and tangibility-and go beyond traditional directive style4. Create a holistic program to achieve stated green business goals while identifying incremental performance opportunities using employee inputBenefitsThe benefits of embedding a sustainability culture within your organization are clear: greater efficiency, lower costs, positive PR, easier recruiting and retention and of course, the positive impact on the environment. By understanding the unique perspectives and needs of everyone within the organization and ensuring the organization is fully aligned, it is easier to communicate your overall strategy and identify and transfer knowledge of successes across the organization. This enables a more comprehensive implementation of your sustainability programs, thereby multiplying the effects of any programs designed.EvaluationImplementing sustainable business practices is a process--not an event--and ultimately should become part of the way the company does business. In order to ensure ongoing success, tools should be established to track and share progress. Start by investigating what can be measured, including electrical and other energy consumption, and resources consumed. Then establish a baseline from which goals can be set and progress tracked. Measure very frequently at first to create continuous feedback on relevant behavioral changes; as those changes become habituated, you can measure less frequently. Conduct root cause analysis on both positive and negative performance so you can replicate the positive and avoid the negative.Use employee engagement programs to achieve these goals and help celebrate success across the organization.

Easy and Affordable Going Green Business Tips

Creating a "green" business or transforming an established business into an eco-friendly environment, may seem like a very overwhelming task. Yet, in today's era of escalating energy costs and climate change, energy efficiency is the most important aspect of greening your business. You can reap immediate savings by lowering your overall energy use and doing so will automatically reduce your business's carbon emission footprint. You can also save money in the areas of waste reduction, equipment use, transportation, and building design.Operating a green business is not only good for the environment, but good for your business's bottom line. Conserving resources and cutting down on waste saves money. The good news is that regardless of the type of business you run, there are simple things you can do, to run an environmentally friendly business.* Save Energy with Existing Equipment. Make it a company policy to turn off all lights, equipment and machinery when it is not being used, especially nights and weekends.- Much equipment is idle and unused for up to 90 percent of its life.- Turning off the computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50 percent.* Save energy by installing new or replacing existing equipment.- Install low-cost energy monitors that can provide an accurate display of the cost and energy use of individual equipment. Research shows that this step alone can lead to energy savings of up to 40 percent.- Lighting can often account for up to 40 percent of energy costs for many businesses. Installing motion-sensor or automatic dimmers helps to ensure, that you are efficiently shutting down lights in areas when no one is present.- A very cost-effective upgrade is to replace all of your incandescent lighting with new compact fluorescent bulbs. Your older 1.5 inch diameter fluorescent tube lighting should also be replaced with newer 1 inch tubes and solid-state electronic ballasts.- Install displacement toilet dams in toilet reservoirs. Placing one or two plastic containers filled with stones [not bricks] in the toilet's reservoir will displace about 4 liters of water per flush - a huge reduction of water use over the course of a year.* Reduce unnecessary waste. Any waste that your company generates is an unnecessary cost. Waste is simply inefficient. Implement a recycling program and have a meeting on how to eliminate the items that are not recyclable. Setting up recycling in your workplace is something that is simple and invites your employees to become a part of the movement, giving them a sense of purpose.- Encourage communications by email and read email messages on screen to determine whether it's necessary to print them. If it's not, then don't. If you need to keep a copy for legal reasons, or for various other reasons, there are online storage sites that may be utilized for this reason.- Purchase recyclable products for your office, there are now many different vendors that supply not only recycled paper, but sell "green" cleaners, standard or not so standard, office supplies. These vendors will typically provide a recycling program of their own. A word of advice, if you are needing new office furniture, before investing money in purchasing it new, find out if your existing furniture can be refurbished.Going green not only helps a business to do their part in minimizing their eco-foot print. The savings, especially at times like these, help everyone. If that's not enough, there has never been a better time than now to tap into a laundry list of tax credits, rebates and other financial incentives designed to encourage individuals and businesses to go the greener mile. At the federal level in the U.S., individuals can reap the rewards of no less than eight different financial incentives. Besides these federal incentives, nearly every U.S. state has additional state or local incentives available.