credit: Mykl Roventine
The global marketplace utilizes so much energy it’s almost unimaginable. Many of the resources we use to carry out business operations are finite, and there’s no way to argue it or skirt around the issue. Resources are not unlimited and there has to be a change throughout all levels of the economy.
Environmentalism is traditionally thought of as a grassroots movement comprised of scattered small groups around the country. Green thinking has without a doubt been initiated by grassroots activism, but more needs to be done. By more I mean that American businesses, small and large, need to pull their weight and make a conscious transition towards sustainable practices. With concentrated leadership and large work forces, true progress can be made with regards to energy and resource use.
The time is now for business leaders to step up. The world needs it, and as an advantage, many of the ways to increase sustainability come with a worthwhile return on investment. Some specific ways to implement green thinking in your business operations:
- Decrease the scope of supply chains.
Most businesses, whether they offer a service or product, utilize supply chain operations. These supply chains can extend across zip codes, state borders and even major oceans. The physical space between the source and the customer’s door seems to grow each and every day. Large-scale supply chain operations greatly increase energy use and environmental impact.
Solution:
If you’re a leader in your business, consider showcasing the idea of reducing supply chain scope to fellow executives. Whether it’s sourcing what you need from more localized vendors or simply consolidating your transport methods, supply chains have a massive environmental footprint that can be reduced. The ROI for this change can be seen in decreased transport and sourcing costs. This is a perfect example of how business can make a large scale improvement when the environment is concerned. Transport and supply chain operations are a key component of commerce, and it’s not going to change. Making these chains more efficient can help business while also preserving precious resources.
- Genuine and widespread recycling.
It’s common for people in our society to be exposed to recycling options. It’s not enough, though. It’s not a big enough impact to simply provide people with a recycle bin. American organizations and companies waste so much paper, use so much energy and undermine precious resources on a daily basis. Genuine recycling can really help, especially when large businesses take part in legitimate strategies.
Solution:
As a leader in business, it’s imperative for you to recognize the affect that widespread recycling can have on your operational footprint. Whether it’s getting involved with an EPA supported recycling program or simply making sure that your employees know what options they have, it’s important to aim for widespread implementation.
Another specific way to increase recycling and sustainability within your business is to provide your employees with reusable personalized cooler bags. Imagine that your business has 500 employees dispersed across three states and six offices. If each of those employees brings a lunch bag each day, and throws it away each day, that’s 2,500 bags into landfill each week and 130,000 per year. That’s a ton of waste!
Another benefit to you as a business is that these bags can be imprinted with your company logo. A branded lunch bag will not only be appreciated by your employees and reduce company-wide waste, but also provide a desired ROI through increased visibility. Each time one of your employees carries his or her bag to work or opens their lunch, your logo will be visible. This repeated exposure is ideal and creates a physical touch point to your brand image. Your employees immediately become endorsers of your business, while at the same time contributing to sustainable development.
Grassroots activism jumpstarts many movements around the world. However, it’s simply not effective without the appropriate manpower. Businesses can provide the actionable changes that are necessary as soon as leadership takes the initiative. In our economy, ROI is usually the deciding factor when business decisions are concerned. The options I provided are a couple of the many ways that businesses can think green without compromising their operations or financial goals.
Hayley Scott is a writer and graphic design aficionado that loves Thai food, specifically green curry. When she’s not sketching a new logo design she writes for HALO Branded Solutions, a leading provider of personalized cooler bags and other promotional items.