15 Small Business Tips to Going Green

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 by Julie Urlaub
image: go green

Integrating sustainability concepts into core business functions makes companies more nimble in a fast-changing world.  It also makes a business’s brands more attractive to consumers and retailers, and its management more respected by employees, regulators and the financial markets. In short, the drivers for improved business sustainability equate to cost savings and improved performance.
 
Our sustainability consulting practice works with small business owners to integrate sustainability concepts into the core business, the workplace, and the communities in which the business operates.
 
Are you looking for ways to green your business?  Following are 15 ways to go green today!
 
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.

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