The green movement is upon us. Restaurants are touting ‘farm-to-table’ cuisine, suburbanites are trading in SUVs for Prius sedans and CFL light bubs are flying off the shelves.
Living an environmentally friendly lifestyle is more than just a fad. It is a practice that is here to stay, and as more people invest in the health of Mother Earth, the more they care about doing business with companies also on the tree-hugging wagon.
Haven’t fully embraced the movement? Fear not. Here are five easy ways to green your business:
1. Research best practices
When Byron Williams wanted to open a sustainable wine tour company, he researched others first.
“I called up other companies who were successful in the space and asked them what they were doing, how they were doing it, what worked, and what didn’t,” he says, adding that he now owns Grand Cru Wine Tours in Monmouth, Oregon. “I recommend starting with some internet research. Look for green, sustainable, eco-friendly companies in your industry and see who pops up. Then give them a call.”
2. Inspect office products
Take a glance around your place of business. Chances are you use a healthy amount of paper, light bulbs, and cleaning solution.
“Start by looking at the paper you use and switch to all recycled paper,” suggests Berit Coleman, co-founder of Affinity Lab, a Washington, D.C.-based shared office space for small businesses. “This type of paper used to be pretty expensive, but in the last few years the price has come down nicely.”
Next, Coleman suggests looking at your soap, spot cleaners, and even kitchen dishware.
“Look for compostable paper plates,” she says. “You can also get a variety of soaps and cleaners that are good for the environment. Also, look at getting a green office cleaning company. They are incredibly popular right now and you can find them in most large cities.
“After you’ve made these changes, tell your clients about it. They will be happy to know.”
A few green office product resources include Sustainable Earth by Staples, The Green Office, and Eco Green Office.
3. Consider telecommuting
Working remotely is becoming wildly popular of late. Time away from the office can slash operational costs—and your employees can get to work right when they wake up—translating into increased productivity, even if they’re still in pajamas.
“Consider having your employees work from home several times per week,” suggests Coleman. “It may seem like a major change, but with today’s communication tools, it is easier than ever and saves on your company’s environmental footprint.”
Worried that your employees will slack off all day? “Set up metrics so as not to sacrifice quality,” she says. “Make sure you are getting the same output. Your employees will love it.”
Can’t buy into telecommuting? “Encourage your employees to bike to work,” she says. “Install bike racks and perhaps even showers at your office.”
4. Get audited
Put your tax forms back in the file cabinet—I’m not talking about that kind of audit. Instead, consider getting an energy audit—sometimes event subsidized by city governments.
“An energy audit of your office space can give you excellent insight into where you are losing money on heating and cooling,” Coleman says. “Our city (Washington, D.C.) was subsidizing it, so we took advantage. We had to pay part, but the city paid the balance.
“We discovered places where we were losing heat and patched up those areas. Our bills when down immediately.”
Even if your municipality doesn’t offer an energy audit subsidy, Coleman claims the process is worth it.
“It is an upfront cost, but you end up being more environmentally friendly and saving money down the line,” she says.
For more information on energy audits, check out your local chamber of commerce, U.S. Department of Energy and Energy Star.
5. Hire local
After inspecting green practices inside your office walls, start thinking about the outside. What vendors do you employ? Are they from your area?
“I recommend hiring local vendors because then the products don’t have to travel as far,” Coleman says. “It is also a sustainable practice because you will be helping a local business. Chances are, if you purchase for local caters, for example, they will source locally as well.
“Trucks create a huge burn on carbon and buying local is an easy thing to do. It might be tempting to buy products online, but think about the shipping costs and the distance something is traveling. It may end up not being a savings at all.”
Check out these great ‘green’ books:
The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference By Jodi Helmer
Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet By Jay Conrad Levinson and Shel Horowitz
Build a Green Small Business: Profitable Ways to Become an Ecopreneur By Scott Cooney