Jul 19, 2011

Going Green Can Help Your Bottom Line

[caption id="attachment_393" align="alignright" width="367" caption="Going Green Is Good for Business"]

[/caption] Have you thought about going green? The green trend is one that big businesses have begun to tackle and smaller businesses are starting to follow. Not only can this approach of ecological conscientiousness aid in saving the planet; it can also save small businesses some big bucks. Going green isn’t just for eco-focused businesses, either. The trend has reached a variety of businesses.¹ By making minor adjustments in the workplace, a small-business owner can reap major long-term benefits, and actually increase his revenue and use his business’s green image as a marketing tool. Sounds intriguing, right? But what does it actually mean to be a green business? All businesses must follow the environmental standards set by law for their given industries.² How can you make the extra effort and make your business green? To get started, you’ll need to develop specific practices that are unique to your line of work. For instance, if your business is in the auto industry, your green practices are going to be significantly different compared with those of a pizza place. It would also be beneficial for you to keep yourself up to date on the latest environmental issues and consumer trends, and create a plan of action that your employees and you can realistically follow. All members of your staff should meet to discuss the plan and how they’ll execute it. Doing so will make your green efforts structured and enforceable. It may also be possible to receive a seal or logo from a certifying association for your efforts, but you can still use green practices without an official stamp. In case you’re thinking it’s going to be too expensive to pull off, keep this in mind: It is a misconception that all green practices come with huge costs. The truth is that you do not need a million bucks to invest in green projects. You don’t need to devote entire departments to environmental improvement, as giant corporations can afford to do. You can take a series of seemingly inconsequential steps that go a long way:

Buy green office products, like energy-saving light bulbs and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Use less paper by forwarding emails and only printing emails that need to be kept as records.
Recycle old paper products, computers, and peripherals.
Turn lights and computers off, and unplug charger adapters anytime they’re not in use.
When it’s time to purchase new company-owned vehicles, go hybrid.

All of these minor changes will save your business money, and that money will add up. Some of the cost savings may include reduced utility and waste-disposal costs, more efficient operations and processes, and even tax credits. Going green is a hot trend and not just in the business world. It’s on the minds of consumers as well. Saving money, making money, and saving the planet—it’s a no-brainer. Ditch the red and go green! For more information, visit: 1. “It’s Becoming Much Easier to Go Green” 2. “Becoming a Green Business”