Sustainability Consultant

In a recent article by the Wall Street Journal, a summary of sustainable business best practices was issued offering suggestions for sustainable business strategies. As a sustainability consultant, I couldn't agree more with the information provided; however, I was left questioning how do the busy, overworked, under resourced business owner, executive translate a conceptual best practice into a tangible business strategy that delivers results to the bottom line? It's not as is sustainability implementation is mainstream. In fact, most are still struggling with what sustainability is and how it applies to their business.

Regarding reducing carbon emissions, the suggested best practice was to look for things that boost productivity and simultaneously reduce carbon emissions. Conceptually, that's easy to grasp but how does that translate to daily behavior that is measurable, impacts the bottom line, and meets the environmental criteria? To bridge the gap from concept to eco action, following are 5 sustainable business strategies that address that recommended best practice.

1 Paperless management systems: The benefits of a paperless/ document management system include increased productivity, elimination of storage space, create the ability to work remotely, reduce expenses of sourcing and storage, and reduce environmental impact.
2. Employee telecommuting is a sustainable business strategy in that it reduces commuter traffic, reduces sick leave and absenteeism, decreases demand for, and cost of, work space or equipment at the office, and provides for uninterrupted public or customer service. Telecommuters can continue to provide vital services or work on projects during inclement weather and even during natural disasters.

Interestingly, did you know that if 10% of the nation's workforce telecommutes one day a week, we would avoid the frustration of driving 24.4 million miles, we'd breathe air with 12,963 tons less air pollution, and we'd conserve more than 1.2 million gallons of fuel each week?

3. Co-working provides a gathering spot for individual entrepreneurs or employees from multiple companies sharing a common work space. Basically, a bridged solution between traditional office locations and telecommuting, that also offers a unique option for those concerned about their employment carbon footprints.

4. Bike commuting programs: As explained in our eco friendly consulting the benefits to employers in adopting a bike commuting program include:

Increase worker productivity: Fit employees are more alert, more productive, perform better and more efficiently.
Improve employee health.
Lower health care costs: healthier employees can reduce health insurance costs.
Reduced carbon emissions.
Reduce turnover: Employers who appreciate workers' personal needs have less employee turnover.

There are benefits to the bike commuters as well. Not only are employees expanding eco awareness in the community and within the business, they are also elevating their moods, saving money, and improving well being.

5. CRM and online invoice and billing applications for small businesses that boost productivity as well as reduce carbon emissions.