April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. What began as a grassroots movement in 1970 in the United States has now become a worldwide initiative, with expected participation this year of more than one billion individuals in 190 countries. But Earth Day is more than a single day event. It's an ongoing effort to create a healthier, cleaner world for today and tomorrow. The purchase and use of environmentally-friendly products can have a big impact, and not just on the environment. Buying green can affect everything from worker safety to the bottom line.
What does sustainability mean to you, to your business, and to the community? What can you do to improve green practices and how can you make them happen? The “ability” part of sustainability is empowering. The “ability” part is a constant reminder that sustainability is an opportunity to flex business muscle, while embracing what is good for the community and future generations.
How can you become an innovative and responsible company? The challenge is to create added value through innovation while keeping the earth’s resources in mind. Don’t know where to start? Ask your staff. You probably have staff that is very eco-knowledgeable or have lots of great ideas about things that can be done or changed (probably inexpensively too).
Start with the creation of a “green” team who will begin the development of your company's green culture. Green teams should represent the entirety of the business, a grassroots effort with the support of the CEO. The team brings creativity and choices that can be far-reaching. A report by Green Impact describes green teams as “self-organized, grassroots, and cross-functional groups of employees who voluntarily come together to educate, inspire, and empower employees around sustainability.” Green teams often begin by looking at greening operations around the office. Some of the changes might include: eliminating Styrofoam cups and providing staff with a reusable cup, recycling toners, providing recycling containers for paper, cans, glass, toners, etc. (Recycle. Recycle. Recycle.)
The momentum grows as employees see that going green does not require changes in their work habits. They learn how they can integrate sustainability into their personal lives, and support broader corporate sustainability objectives. The efforts can pay off with cost savings, increased market share, and improved employee satisfaction.
United Stationers offers these tips to get started:
MAKE YOUR GREEN PLAN Look at and define the mission. Is it to increase operational sustainability? Is it aimed to market and sell to the end users? Is it a combination? Organize and establish clear goals, and reasonable ones.
START Take the first step - start anywhere. Keep the focus small at first and get some attainable results. Wins help create a story that you can sell.
ADOPT A MASCOT Make the program FUN and energizing - get everyone involved. Have a contest to adopt or name a mascot.
GRASSROOTS AND MANAGEMENT INVOLVEMENT The process starts at grassroots, but long-term viability of the program comes with the sponsorship, support, and direction of the executive team.
LEAD IT Respect one another on the team and the expertise and passion that each brings. Encourage each other’s activities.
SHARE IT Share what you’re doing with your suppliers, customers, other organizations, and across your own organization. Build excitement, educate, encourage others to get involved, and support your community.
TRACK THE DOLLARS Frequently, there are real dollar savings in the process of reducing energy and waste. There are rebates by utilities and grant money through state agencies to help. (Check out
www.dsireusa.org for tax benefits and other incentives for small businesses to go green)
REDUCE VEHICLE IDLING TIME Just turning off the engine when you are waiting makes a big difference. (Idling a commercial vehicle for one hour wastes a gallon of fuel.)
CONDUCT A WASTE AUDIT Review yearly to see where opportunities are being missed.
INSTALL SENSORS TO TURN LIGHTS OR OTHER EQUIPMENT ON/OFF Retrofitting lighting can make it safer and more comfortable for employees and may even impact employee moods. Behaviors can be hard to change, but technology can make it easier. Devices such as power strips make it easy to turn off everything at once. (Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.)
Think globally, but act locally as you develop your green initiatives. Green issues are often community issues first. More of the money you spend stays in your local economy when buying local. Therefore, we need to support each other and find solutions that create a win-win for both. A Chicago office supply dealer contends that businesses who buy locally for their office needs can improve the sustainability of their own operations and make a greater indirect contribution to the local economy that supports their community. Let’s assume this is true, let’s make buying it locally (Buy Michigan Now) happen.
DARE TO DREAM…GO GREEN!!! Let’s all do our part in taking care of the ENVIRONMENT.
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Carol Kirkland is owner of AVE Office Supplies, a local avenue to resources and ideas for going "green" as well as office products. For more eco-friendly ideas check out their blog:
http://www.avesales.com/blog.php.
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