Greening Your Business

How you green your business is a decision you’ll need to make just like any other. Greening is above all else a chance to renew your business. It is a chance to step away from old habits and to reinvest in your business. You can make green a part of your brand and use it to identify yourself as a green business. You can make green part of your business by taking it on as something you do but not who you are.

You have to find a balance. Green business is a way of doing business not an accreditation. What you do to green your business is up to you. There are compelling arguments to green business and improving your bottom line is one of the strongest. No matter which argument tips the scales, the end result should be the same; a greener, less environmentally impactful business that runs smoother and more efficiently.

Making a Green Action Plan
You want to green your business but you aren’t sure where to start. Should you buy carbon offsets? Switch to recycled everything? Install solar panels and make your employees walk or cycle to work? Start by making a green action plan. Here you’ll find a quick guide to writing one.

One of the biggest challenges in greening a business is developing management support. Having a green action plan that highlights simple, easy and cost effective changes that you can make right away will go a long way in developing much need support.

s a quick guide to writing a green action plan.
Paper Use
Paper use in a business is more than printing and copying. Your business’ paper use includes: toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, envelops, labels, file folders, phone messages, notes, post-its, cash till tapes or adding machines, structural drawings, business cards and packaging. It also includes how you dispose of your paper. How much of that paper can you eliminate? How much of it can you recycle? How much will you save from it.

Vehicles and Fleets

This section highlights policies or policy changes related to travel or company vehicle use, and not necessarily all of your vehicles or equipment that may be used on site. For information on reducing the impact of your equipment and vehicle fleets click here.

Electricity Use
Reducing the amount of electricity you use is the fastest way to reduce your carbon footprint, and save you a bundle of cash. Here you’ll find information on high efficiency lighting, company policies, device use and incentive programs. You’ll also find some information on purchasing green power from utilities.

Recycling

Here are some quick tips and suggestion to get a recycling program going in your business along with some general information on recycling.

Useful Links