subject: 7 Simple Ways to "Green" Your Business — Starting Now! [print this page] 7 Simple Ways to "Green" Your Business Starting Now!
More and more people are embracing green initiatives.
In fact, many of today's consumers are willing to shift their purchase decisions and brand loyalties toward green retailers (for more interesting stats on this, download the free PDF "It's Good to be Green" from Focalyst here).
Businesses have much to gain from greening their brand, products and practices; not only can it help preserve the earth, it can also mean an increased market share.
But just because something is more environmentally friendly doesn't mean it is necessarily expensive or difficult to implement. Take a look at these 7 simple ways to start greening your business practices starting today!
1. Add a recycling wastebasket to your office kitchen and copy room.
Nearly everything can be recycled these days, and if you are a larger business in an office building or complex, you can find many companies that will carry out your recyclables on a weekly basis.
2. Use a digital business card.
You can send your contact information via bluetooth, SMS or email from many popular phones with simple apps like Bump for iPhone and Android, Blackberry's DubMeNow, or even twtBizCard. You could even consider pointing people directly to your own business card website like the free ones on BusinessCard2.
3. Utilize virtual meeting rooms.
Not only do video conference calls save work and expense money, you will reduce CO2 emissions by avoiding travel. Skype offers a very simple way to make free video phone calls, and there are many enterprise-level web conferencing solutions like GoToMeeting out there as well.
4. Monitor your carbon footprint.
If you do have to travel, mimimize your CO2 emissions by using RouteRan, a greener travel planning website. There are also inexpensive devices, like Belkin's Conserve Insight Energy Use Monitor that can help you learn how much energy a particular device (copy machine, CRT monitors, etc.) uses.
5. Stop sending paper invoices.
Why not change your billing system over to digital methods or e-billing? This also means fewer archiving headaches, with all your invoices easily searchable online. And even though you stopped printing emails long ago, consider adding a similar prompt to others in your email signature.
6. Reduce emissions everywhere around the office.
Tired of asking co-workers to turn off unneeded lights or make fewer copies? Weary of trying to explain the benefits of greener lighting options to upper management? Google's PowerMeter software and TED 5000 device are helping people and businesses alike get access to energy use information, which can create meaningful behavior change.
7. Create electronic versions of marketing materials.
For years businesses had reams of printed materials on hand at all times. Shift all those necessary promotional items to PDF, video and other formats. Media kits, reports, and other documents all translate very well to online versions, and help your business overcome geographical barriers as well.
What greener business practices have you been implementing? Leave a comment below and let us know what's working for you.
