15 Sustainability Programs for Your Business

Green business practices are rapidly approaching a tipping point. Companies both large and small have learned the value of integrating eco awareness into their operations and business strategies. The question is where to start.

CEOs around the world are evaluating the bottom-line potential of integrating sustainability concepts into their core business. Companies are beginning to realize cost savings through sustainable implementations.

In addition, ‘green business’ has become a top-line business sustainability opportunity. Business sustainability has shifted from a movement to a market, as companies target a new and growing customer segment.

Leading companies are implementing sustainability concepts that reduce cost and value. Here are some ideas:

1.    Office Energy Consumption – Evaluate the average energy use per square foot of office space and implementing best practices to reduce: energy consumption studies, efficiency practices, equipment modifications, etc.
2.    Employee Commuting – Offer employees incentives to ride public transportation or participate in car/van pooling.
3.    Employee Telecommuting – Reduced office space and transportation as a potential win-win-win practice for businesses, employees, and the environment.
4.    Sustainable Design – Consider materials selection, energy consumption, manufacturing, product use and operation, and final disposition, early in the product development process.
5.    Water Conservation – Manage water entering the company and look for opportunities to reuse water.
6.    Management Systems – Raise eco awareness and company commitment through established sustainability policies, standards, metrics, and self audits.
7.    Environmental Philanthropy – Beyond just corporate volunteering efforts, provide access to technology, engineering support, information and research that benefits the local community and the environment.
8.    Packaging – Focus on using as little packaging material as needed and making packaging as recyclable as possible.
9.    Pollution Prevention – Keep attention on both source control and waste reduction
10.    Recycling and Waste Reduction - Anywhere there is a trash can, there should be a recycling bin.
11.    Resource Conservation – Consider material and energy consumption across the entire value chain…reduce, reuse, recycle.
12.    Printing Less – Paper makes up about 35% of a typical company’s total waste stream
13.    Go Digital – Reduce paper use and get contracts and documents signed more quickly by using electronic signatures.
14.    Sustainable Partnering – A key aspect of business sustainability is making sure that you manage your supply chain and partner with companies with similar values.
15.    Sustainable Education and Development - There is always more you can do to make your business more sustainable. Encourage education and innovation within the organization.

Today’s business environment is changing and companies have to respond. Recognizing the need for change and taking action can get a business on the right track. At Taiga Company, our professional consulting advises clients to implement solutions that are in alignment with stakeholder needs and add value to the organization.