75 Tips To Green Your Business

75 Tips To Green Your Business
Make the world a better place

and Increase your bottom line.
75 Tips to Green Your Business

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................Page 2-4
WHY GO GREEN?.........................................................................................................................................2
WHAT IS THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE?..........................................................................................................2
TAKING THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY....................................................................................3
BE A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR...................................................................................................................3-4
25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR OFFICE......................................................................................Page 5-15

25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR MARKETING............................................................................Page 15-27
25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR BUSINESS................................................................................Page 28-40
Why Go Green?
Being a green business has become more than the niche market. Big businesses like Walmart,
Nike, Hewlett-Packard are embracing sustainability, not simply for altruismtheyve realized
that going green can reap significant cost savings, which impacts their business bottom line.
Going green in your business is not only good for the environment; it's good for your bank account. When you operate efficiently, less energy and raw materials are required, both of which
cost money. Show consumers how much more eco-friendly and less toxic your product is, compared to your competitors, and they will be more inclined to buy from you. Invest in the success
of your employees and the communities you operate in, and you are on your way to becoming a
triple bottom line business.
What is the Triple Bottom Line?

Also known as 3BL, TBL or the Three Pillars, the term the triple bottom line was first coined in
1994 by John Elkington, who is the founder of a consulting firm called SustainAbility.
Traditionally, companies only took into account the bottom line of
profit and loss. However, this narrow perspective ignores the business
impact on human stakeholders and the environment, such as health
impacts to local communities, or the long term cost of resource depletion.
The triple bottom line refers to the three Ps of doing business
people, profit, and planet. TBL aims to measure the financial, social,
and environmental track record of a corporation over time, and tends
to more accurately reflect the full cost involved in running a business.
Taking the First Step Towards Sustainability

Green businesses strive to have little or no negative impact on the environment, society,
community, or economy. But becoming an environmentally sustainable business may seem like a
daunting task. Face it, producing anything involves consuming resources and energy, in depending
on what industry you are in, zero impact may be impossible.
However, you can lower your impact in small, but significant ways. On the operations side, just
about any business can start to go green. Start by turning off monitors or powering down
computers at the end of the day. Set all your printers to print double sided. Start a recycling and
composting program.
On the product side, you might manufacture a more eco friendly alternative to a common household product, or a more energy efficient machine. You can try to implement cradle to cradle product design principles or only work with suppliers that meet certain environmental standards. The
list of ways to go green is endless, and you can start anywhere.
Be a Social Entrepreneur
The old paradigm of profit maximization as the sole
purpose of business is being re-examined by a new class of
entrepreneurssocial entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurs
are mission driven entrepreneurs who seek market driven
solutions for the worlds most pressing social end environmental concerns.

From developing solar ovens out of cardboard boxes, to portable water purifiers, and low cost baby
incubators, creating products that meet urgent needswhich the market wants and can afford - is
often more powerful than charity.
The fact is, most people who are involved in launching green and social enterprises are often doing so
more out of passion, and a sense of mission, than a need to earn a living. Passion is an important
metric for any business venture. Life becomes less about work, and more about sharing joy.
I know joy factor can be easy to forget, because an entrepreneurs work is never done. But even if
you are alone, or working with a team, know that you are part of a movement of entrepreneurs who
are changing the world, and taking names.
Be the change you want to see in the world. Start with these 75 tips to green your business. Even if
you only do a few, you are making the first steps towards positive change.
To Your Success,
Lorna Li
Founder, Editor in Chief
Green Marketing TV
P.S. Follow us on Twitter @LornaLi & @GreenMarketTV
P.P.S. Please Like us on Facebook and you will get a FREE gift

TABLE OF CONTENTS
25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR OFFICE
Page 5-14
REDUCE
14. WORK A 4 DAY WEEKTELECOMMUTE
11
1. REQUEST A FREE ENERGY AUDIT
15. COLLABORATE WITHOUT PAPER
11
2. TURN OFF LIGHTS WHEN NOT IN USE
16. ELECTRONIC BUSINESS CARDS
11
3. USE FEWER LIGHTS
REUSE
4. USE ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING
17. BUY RECYCLED PAPER
12
5. PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT
18. PURCHASE REFILLED TONER/INK
12
6. TURN OFF COMPUTERS
19. PRINT ON THE BACK
12
7. INSTALL POWER STRIPS
20. STOP STAPLING
12
8. ENERGY EFFICIENT MODELS
21. FURBISH WITH USED FURNITURE
12
9. FLUSH LESS WATER
RECYCLE
10. INSTALL A WATER DISPENSER
22. CHOOSE GREEN POWER
13
11. PASSIVE SOLAR
23. RECYCLE YOUR E-WASTE
13
12. DITCH THE DISPOSABLES
10
24. SET UP A RECYCLING CENTER
14
13. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH
10
25. ASSIGN A SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER
14

25 Tips to Green Your Office - Reduce
Make the difference where you work
The office is the hub of a business, the center of communication and
planning, as well as being a showcase or example for your customers.
There are numerous points in any office operation where a greener
choice is possible, and many green alternatives do not have a higher
cost associated with them. Start by finding out where you can reap
immediate cost savings, beginning with energy efficiency.
1. Request an energy audit from your local power utility.

A growing number of municipalities offer free audits to help businesses learn how to use power more efficiently and suggest ways to conserve within the office. US Dept. of Energy review of auditing tools.
You can do your own audit, or hire a professional. Here are some options:
Do-it-yourself energy audits:
Energy Right free audit kit A step-by-step way to assess energy inefficiencies.
World Resources Institute Check out their simple calculation tools for energy inefficiencies related to
heating, transportation, electricity, travel, and commuting.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative There are several calculation tools for businesses.
Professional energy audits:
Home Performance with ENERGY STARa joint ENERGY STAR, and US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) program

2. Turn off your lights:
Either set your office lights on a timer, so they get turned off after
hours automatically, or assign someone to always make sure the
lights are off when the office is empty. This one takes a little practice, for sure, but it brings mindfulness to the practice of conservation. Check out EarthHour.org for a Global movement.
3. Use fewer lights:

Do you need all of those lights on all of the time? Try using daylight
to lessen the need for artificial lighting. Although somewhat pricey to install, putting in Solar Light Tubes are a
relatively affordable, sustainable and awesome way to bring in the light.
4. Switch to energy efficient lighting:

Buying all new bulbs or light fixtures might be an expensive option,
but replacing one light at a time with an energy efficient compact florescent (CFL) or LED unit is an affordable way to transition over.
Dont know whats so special about LED lights? Check out this article
from Energystar.gov Why use LED lights?

5. Program your thermostat
Installing and programming a thermostat to keep temperatures at energy-saving levels is a painless way to
use less electricity or gas while staying comfortable. Set it for at least two different schedules: Daytime, for
working hours, and Nighttime, during the times and days that nobody is in the office. With a manual thermostat, simply turn it down (or up, depending on the season) before leaving for the day or weekend.
6. Turn off office computers when not in use:
Set computers and other equipment to go to sleep after a period of inactivity, and turn them completely off
when leaving for the day or for the weekend. Schedule your backups for during the day if you can, and use a
file-syncing service to take files with you avoiding the need for remote access.
7. Install power strips to cut phantom power usage:
Many devices use electricity even when not in use, so put a power strip between the outlet and your equipment so that you can fully shut off anything that doesnt need to be running. Why power the clock on the
coffeemaker or microwave all the time if you dont have to?
8. Replace office equipment with more efficient models:
When replacing any piece of office equipment, ask yourself first if you really need it, and then choose models
with high energy efficiency ratings. Many times you wont have to pay any more for a model which has the
lowest energy consumption, so its not necessary to spend more money for energy savings.
Energystar.gov has a ton of information, and a pretty well designed site.
This list of EnergyStar certified products can help in narrowing it down for new or replacement equipment.

9. Flush less water down the drain:

Put a full milk jug in your toilet tank, or adjust the fill level to use less water for
each flush. If its yellow, let it mellow. Post an explanation nearby about why using less water makes sense in terms of both the environment and the utility bill.
10. Install a water dispenser:
Cut out plastic water bottle usage by supplying drinking water and reusable
cups. Paying for a water delivery service is a premium that many businesses
choose, but in some cases, the water is no different than the municipal tap water. In that case, it can be way more cost effective to install a drinking water filter
for the sink.
11. Use passive solar:
Arrange your office to best take advantage of any passive solar gains. If you have
south facing windows (in the northern hemisphere), the surrounding areas will
be warm and well-lit throughout the winter. East and west windows will have
morning and afternoon sun, respectively, so arrange your workspace to best use
the free solar heating and lighting.
10

12. Ditch the disposables:

Stock office kitchen with cups, dishes and silverware. To go an extra
step, buy cloth napkins instead of paper, and take them home to wash
every week. A great place for cheap kitchenware is a thrift store, as mismatched coffee mugs and plates, etc., can be bought there for a fraction of the price of new ones.
13. Bring your own lunch:

Eating out, especially take-out, can generate needless waste, and
you often dont have the choice to recycle or compost leftovers.
Plus, its almost always more expensive than eating homemade
foods. Bring a homemade meal in a reusable container for lunch.
Laptop Lunch Bento Boxes are a savvy way to impress your coworkers and save the planet. Or go with a stackable lunch box like
this stainless steel tiffin set from To-Go Ware.
Bonus: Set up a compost receptacle in the kitchen for organic
11

14. Work a 4 day week or telecommute:

If you can work fewer days per week, or work from home, youll save on transportation and energy. Plus, you get to work in your pajamas. Wear your pajamas to work day is April 16th. Awesome.
15. Use paperless collaboration when possible:
Use a cloud based file and project management system to give everyone access to the documents
they need, without having to print all of them out for each person. Google Docs is a great, free
document sharing tool.
If you are working with a virtual team, try Pelotonics, an inexpensive project management tool, with document sharing, task
lists, milestone setting and more. Starting at $9/month, its
cheaper than Basecamp and just as effective.
16. Use electronic business cards:

Having a paper business card can be handy sometimes, but you can also use your website or a memorable internet profile that serves as your digital business card. When receiving a business card from someone else,
scan it into your contacts and reuse the card for scratch paper or recycle it.
12

25 Tips to Green Your Office - Reuse
17. Buy recycled paper products:
Choose 100% recycled content paper, paper towels and toilet paper. For printed
promotional materials, explore your options for using post-consumer recycled
paper. Some recycled paper suppliers, such as FutureMark Paper, offer high post
-consumer recycled content products at the same price as virgin pulp, so its not
necessary to spend more to make that choice.
18. Purchase refilled toner/printer cartridges:
Many of the ink components for printers can be refilled, so choose to buy refurbished cartridges instead of
new. Some companies offer a small credit for exchanging old cartridges, making it cheaper for you.
19. Print on the back:
If you must print something out, have a receptacle ready for when youre done with it. Take these used pages,
flip them over and put into the paper drawer of the printer so you can print on the back, getting two uses out
of one piece.
20. Stop stapling:
Use reusable binder clips or paper clips to join pages, or buy
a staple-less fastener to quit buying staples altogether.
13

25 Tips to Green Your Office - Recycle
21. Furbish your office with used furniture:

Shop around at thrift stores, surplus auctions, or yard sales for your office furniture. A used chair or desk will
always be greener than purchasing a brand new green model and youll save tons of cash as well.
22. Recycle old electronics and equipment:
Dont just pitch the old version in the trash find an office supply store that accepts e-waste and disposes of it properly. Some
devices are even worth a small amount of cash in exchange. In
California, a site called Ecollective will help you find locations
that accept e-waste.
23. Choose green power:
Many utility companies offer a renewable power option, usually for only a
small increase in price, giving you the option to sign up for a wind or solar
power option. One in particular making a big difference is Green Mountain
Energy, though they only serve a handful of states in the U.S. at this time.
14

25 Tips to Green Your Office - Recycle
24. Set up a recycle center:

Make a designated recycling station, with receptacles for paper,
commingled, and compostables, all clearly labeled with acceptable
items. Many trash services supply the bins for free.
25. Assign a sustainability manager:

Giving the responsibility to one person helps to get things done, and makes accountability easy. The coordinator oversees the recycling, energy usage, and gives green purchasing recommendations, along with implementing new ideas for greening the office.
This doesnt have to involve hiring a new employee. With climate change and
environmental sustainability being top of mind these days, chances are you
wont have to look very far for someone who will embrace the role of sustainability manager.
In fact, the number one way to transition into a green career is to lead a sustainability initiative in your current job. Thats right. You dont need a Green
MBA or other specialized degree. Create a project, assemble a green team,
and before you know it, sustainability might turn into a full time gig.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR MARKETING
Page 15-27
MAKE IT DIGITAL
1. TAKE IT TO THE WEB
17
13. UPCYCLE YOUR AD MATERIALS
22
2. PURSUE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
17
14. ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS CARDS
22
3. OFFER A DIGITAL MAILING LIST OPTION
17
15. GREEN YOUR GIVEAWAYS
23
4. SEND E-PROOFS OR USE BICYCLE COURIER
18
16. USE GREEN PRINTING
23
5. USE DIGITAL COUPONS
18
17. CHOOSE 100% RECYCLED PAPER
24
6. OFFER DIGITAL DOWNLOADS OF ASSETS
19
18. GO WITH GREEN CLOTHING
24
7. DITCH PRINT ADVERTISING
19
19. GREENER PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION
25
MAKE IT LOCAL
DOCUMENT, TRACK, AND ANNOUNCE
8. USE GEOLOCATION TO REACH LOCALS
20
20. SET GOALS AND DOCUMENT YOUR PROGRESS
25
9. JOIN A LOCAL LIVING ECONOMY GROUP
20
21. GET GREEN CERTIFICATION
25
22. FEATURE YOUR GREEN EFFORTS PROMINENTLY
26
MAKE IT GREEN
10. CHOOSE A GREEN WEB HOST
21
23. JOIN ECO ORGANIZATIONS
26
11. CLEAN UP YOUR MAILING LIST
21
24. MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND
27
12. RETHINK YOUR PACKAGING
22
25. AVOID GREENWASH
27
16

25 Tips to Green Your Marketing
Dont Blow Up Your Marketing Budget, Green It Up Instead

Going green with your marketing isnt necessarily about a huge change in your current campaigns taking
your marketing efforts green doesnt have to be a one-shot approach. In fact, looking at your marketing strategies from multiple directions will not only help in saving the planet but will strengthen your strategy
By implementing just a few of these green tips on a regular basis, the budget for your marketing campaigns
wont get blown up, and the cumulative effects on the environment can further be used in your marketing
messages.
Coupled with the huge leverage available to businesses in the digital sphere, going green with your marketing
just might be the key to jumpstarting your business sales, no matter what the economic forecasts might say.
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25 Tips to Green Your Marketing - Make It Digital
1. Take your marketing to the web with your own website:
Ditch the paper catalogue and go for a virtual cataloguea.k.a. your website...tree-free, open 24/7, and much
cheaper than print.
Once upon a time, a professional static website would cost $5000. Each time you wanted
to make a change, youd have to call your web developer and pay them for simple updates. Free, open source Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress and Drupal
make it possible to have a robust, beautiful websites that anyone can update. All you
need to do is log into your CMS and make the changes through the sites WYSIWYG editor
yourself.
WordPress
For most websitessuch as static websites and blogs - consider going with WordPress. Its the most user friendly
solution and you can access thousands of beautiful free WordPress templates. If you need a powerful a professional themes, that comes with support, at a low cost. Check out Woo Themes and Elegant Themes to start.
For anything else, such as an e-Commerce site or community, go with Drupal. Drupal requires developer resources,
while WordPress is more DIY friendly.
Greener Web Hosting
Both Bluehost and HostGator offer inexpensive web hosting for under $10 a month, and
both have excellent support. Hostgator also purchases Green-e certified renewable
energy credits, offsetting their environmental impact 130% with wind power.
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2. Pursue social media marketing:
With the huge surge in social networking and bookmarking, your business can take advantage of the new media landscape as a part of your paperless advertising efforts. Set up social media profiles for your business and
start making connections to customers, suppliers, clients, and your competitors. Social media platforms are
free, however, social media marketing does take time.
Check out this post on How to Measure your Social Media Impact and test the tools that will help you determine which communities and engagement tactics are yielding results you want.
3. Offer a digital mailing list option:
If you use direct mail to reach current customers, create a digital version and offer that option via email to all
new and current subscribers.
4. Send electronic proofs or use bicycle courier:
Does your business have a need for sending documents across town
on a regular basis? Bicycle courier service is quick, green, and usually
cost-competitive with other delivery services. Or consider using all
electronic proofs instead of physical copies. Many cities, large and
small, have bicycle courier services for reasonable fees. How cool is it
to have your product delivered by 100% human power?
19

5. Use digital coupons:
With the trend toward going digital in many media outlets, digital coupons are an eco-friendly way to give discounts and promote your products without having to print and distribute any paper products. Mobile advertising
is also rapidly expanding with the rise in smart-phones, so mobile coupons can give potential customers a reason
to shop with you, right from their phone. And as with most things digital, the easier it is to share with others, the
farther your reach will be with these types of promotions.
6. Offer digital downloads of marketing assets:
Make digital versions of all of your marketing materials and be sure theyre easy to find and download. An electronic version of your catalog can be easily shared by customers, and can be updated much quicker and cheaper
than a printed one. Plus, its virtually cost-free if you already have the files ready to upload.
7. Ditch print advertising:
Do you really want your business associated with media made
from dead trees? Its also much more expensive than digital advertising, so try banner ads, PPC, or Facebook ads. These options
offer better demographic targeting, with near-instant campaign
metrics at a fraction of the cost of print. Split & multivariate
testing allows you to fine tune your ads and landing pages. Dont
forget directory listings, as well as local directories, like Yelp, Best
of the Web Local, and local search listings, especially if you are a
brick and mortar business. Read more about Local SEO
20

25 Tips to Green Your Marketing - Make It Local
8. Use geolocation apps to reach local customers:

Reaching the right customers at the right time is a key component of any
green marketing campaign. Use popular geolocation apps like Gowalla,
FourSquare, Booyah, and Loopt to boost the effectiveness of your paperless advertising programs.
Geolocation is a great way for local businesses to be discovered, attract
and retain customers through special deals offered through geolocation
services. But social cause organizations are using geolocation as well.
Check out 10 Ways Geolocation is Changing the World to learn how geolocation is changing the way we discover our local world.
9. Join a local living economy group:
Band together with other local independent businesses through organizations such as the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) to
help build lasting, profitable, green partnerships. Local networking can
pump up your green marketing at the cost of time, not money. Wondering
What is a Local Living Economy? It is closer to the idea of a market economy as envisioned by Adam Smith, who wrote Wealth of Nations, than the
capitalist economy of today.
21

25 Tips to Green Your Marketing - Make It Green
10. Choose a green web host for your site:

All hosting companies are not created equal. Does your web host use renewable energy purchasing? Do they
buy carbon offsets? You may be surprised to find out that many green web host have competitively priced
hosting plans, as low as $4 a month, without skimping on customer service. For a list of green web hosting
services, check out the Ultimate Guide to Green Web Hosting.
11. Clean up your mailing list:

How often do you update and clean your mailing list? With so many people
on the move each year, youre bound to end up with duplicate or wrong
addresses. This translates to wasted resources during mailings. Use a service or software to regularly clean your list, and make it easy for customers
to update their contact information with you. The potential savings here
for businesses with large lists is quite high, especially when considered in
conjunction with having a digital mailing list.
22

12. Rethink your packaging:
Does your product even need packaging? In general, the less packaging you need,
the cheaper it is on a per-unit basis, so losing the packaging might be a savvy financial decision as well. If it does need a package of some sort, can you continue to
make it greener? Packaging that can be repurposed or recycled ads to your green
credibility, and if you can use 100% recycled materials, youre doing even better.
If you are not sure about what green packaging options exist, check out 5 Ways to
Green Your Packaging to start.
13. Upcycle your advertising materials:
Look into upcycling or repurposing your advertising and marketing materials, such as having your old billboards turned into shopping or messenger bags. Use those products as great green swag for events or contests. In fact, if you really get into upcycling, you may even consider Launching Your Own Upcycling Business,
a business you can start from home.
14. Eco-friendly business cards:
Even if you choose recycled content paper for your cards, what happens to it when someone no longer
needs it? Print your business card info on seed packets or paper containing embedded seeds. Print something extremely useful on the back, like a reference chart for your industry or niche, so it gets kept and used.
To offset any cost difference, dont print thousands of cards that will get tossed away, but instead print fewer
ones of higher quality and impact.
23

15. Green your giveaways:
What kinds of schwag do you give out at conferences or to customers? If they are meant to be disposable or
only single use, it just creates more waste. Products such as cloth shopping bags with your logo are not only a
useful item for customers, but they serve as mobile billboards for your business. Consider the environmental
effects of your promotional items before committing to them, and instead of giving away four throwaway
items each year, focus on one quality free item. Sites like Ecobunga.com and articles like this one about Green
Freebies will give you a better idea.
16. Use a green printing service:
Going truly paperless isnt really an option for most businesses, so when you have printing jobs, choose an
eco-friendly printing service. What kind of recycled paper do they offer? What kind of inks do they use? Are
they powered by renewable energy? Award-winning companies like Greenerprinter.com and BareFootPress.com have set the bar pretty high.
24

17. Choose 100% recycled content paper:
When printing promotional flyers, mailers, business cards, brochures, or
other paper products, opt for a paper stock made from 100% postconsumer content. Not only is the cost only a little more than other paper
choices, but recycled paper only uses half as much energy to make as virgin pulp. To make up for any extra cost, consider printing only what you
need, or print fewer than your usual amount and make it clear that a digital version is also available.
18. Go with green clothing:
Do you have company t-shirts or uniforms? Make the choice to have them produced from organic cotton or an alternate fiber such as hemp, bamboo, or even
recycled PET bottles, and let people know why its better for the planet.
This article with Mark Ellis of ECO360 talks about the movement.
19. Greener product distribution:
If your product gets delivered to customers, how can you lower the environmental impact of the transportation? Alternative fueled vehicles or bicycle delivery are two ways to address green delivery of products. This
may not be a viable option in some areas due to availability or a big cost difference, but for those with the option, it can become another selling point for your products.
25

25 Tips to Green Your Marketing - Document, Track, and Announce
20. Set goals and document your green progress:
Public accountability can add loads of credibility to your green marketing, so
assess your business current state of green and set goals to further your
sustainability efforts. Have you made large strides in reducing your carbon
footprint? Have you lowered paper consumption and transitioned from
disposable kitchenware to reusable kitchenware. Track your sustainability
progress on your website and in email updates with your customers.
21. Get green certification for product:
Does your product qualify for a green label? Get it certified and add the certification logo of an organization
to your marketing materials, along with an explanation of what it means to your customers.
Do some research to find out which certifications are meaningful and relevant, instead of taking on the cost
and paperwork for labels that your customer doesnt recognize and understand. Confused by the world of
eco labels? Check out this basic Guide to Eco Labeling to get started.
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22. Feature your green efforts prominently:
All things being equal, consumers prefer to buy from companies that are
ethical and environmentally friendly. If your business has a strong environmental commitment, dont keep it a secret. Only buy FSC certified wood?
Made from local organic produce? Showcase your commitment on your
website and in your marketing collateral, like Rainbow Play Systems does.
23. Join green business associations:
Membership organizations such as the Green Business Bureau will not only help your business go green, it
provides tools to help you assess your eco footprint, come up with tailored plan to reduce your environmental impact, and allows you to display their GBB certification badge. The Green Chamber of Commerce is an up
and coming green business association. Headquartered in San Francisco, it provides members with business
resources, promotion, networking & educational opportunities for green business leaders.
Green America, a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1982, is one of the
oldest green business associations, and has active program promoting Green Business,
Fair Trade, Green Energy, Social Investing and more.
Many associations provide listing in their members directory, which has SEO benefits
for your website. For an additional web directories, check out this list of
10 Green Business Directories and Networks.
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24. Make the green aspects of your product easy to understand:
By being clear about the environmental benefits of your product or service, youll give customers another reason to choose your business over a competitor. Are your ingredients 100% biodegradeable? Is your product
more energy efficient than generic brands? Is it made from post-consumer recycled materials? A comparison
chart of your brand versus competitors on your website or packaging makes it easy for buyers to evaluate
your product at a glance.
25. Follow the guidelines for environmental marketing claims:
Are your green marketing claims valid? Make sure youre not trying to 'green wash', and that youre within
the FTC guidelines for environmental marketing claims. Its better to be honest about the green benefits of
your product rather than make environmental claims that cant be substantiated.
Customers will appreciate you more for your honesty. Green wash has become so
prevalent that many organizations, like Greenpeace, have gone to great lengths to
educate consumers on the loads of trickery
Here are some real-world examples of corporate green washing. Check out these
sites for more information companies doing it right, and who are the worst
offenders:
Stopgreenwash.org by Green Peace
Greenwashingindex.com by Enviromedia
Corpwatch.org
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR BUSINESS
Page 28-40
PASSION AND PLANNING

1. WRITE A GREEN MISSION STATEMENT
30
PROFIT
2. INTEGRATE GREEN INTO THE PLAN
30
13. COMBINE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
36
3. APPOINT A SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR
31
14. USE WASTE AS A RESOURCE
36
4. CONDUCT A LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT
31
15. ELIMINATE ALL DISPOSABLES
36
16. MAINTAIN ALL EQUIPMENT
37
PEOPLE
5. EDUCATE EMPLOYEES
32
17. MATERIALS AND SERVICES MADE GREEN
37
6. BUILD A COMPANY CULTURE
32
18. MATERIALS AND SERVICES SOURCED LOCALLY
37
7. ENCOURAGE RIDESHARING
33
19. PAPERLESS BANKING AND BILLING
38
8. JOIN GREEN BUSINESS GROUPS
33
20. DITCH THE FAX MACHINE
38
21. CHOOSE GREEN PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICES
38
PLANET
9. CHOOSE RENEWABLE ENERGY
34
22. USE TELECONFERENCING
39
10. CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS
34
23. MAKE AN EVERYDAY ITEM GREEN
39
11. CLEAN WITH GREEN PRODUCTS
35
24. ON-SITE RAINWATER COLLECTION
40
12. GREEN THE AIR
35
25. GREEN YOUR COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING
40
29

You dont run your business just for kicks. You do it for an income, to create revenue for yourself and your family, and to have an effect on the world.
Going green doesnt have to run counter to that purpose going green in your
business can go hand in hand with making more money through cost savings,
increased sales, reduced waste or by increasing the value of your product of service.
In some cases, reducing costs through efficiency or waste reduction can allow your
business to invest in other green technologies not affordable previously. You can
green your business and save money, then spend some of that to green your
business further.
Communicating your green message also helps to create a compelling argument for customers to choose your
company over a competitor, and might just lead to opening up new markets for your products or services.
In fact, going green might be the determining factor you need to increase sales or decrease costs, making it
an important piece of your business plan.
The key element to remember is that you can build on every little step you take in the direction of going
green, taking your business' sustainability efforts to new levels at every point within the business. From
concept to production to sales and delivery, going green builds healthy, sustainable businesses.
30

25 Tips to Green Your Business - Passion and Planning
1. Write your environmental mission statement:

Craft a green mission statement and display it prominently, periodically reviewing
it for relevancy. Having a clear vision helps to define how and why you try to be
greener and it helps to communicate it to customers as well.
Even if you have been doing business for some time, writing out a plan of intent
can help in many ways. From generating positive press to better integration with
your company culture, writing a mission statement is the first step towards implementation.
2. Integrate green into your business plan:

Start designing green into your business from day one. Include the environmental aspects of your product or service in your business plan. If you
have been in business for a while, take the opportunity to review the
practices of the past and see what can be shifted. There are too many factors to take into account in the beginning. A review of past actions and
practices can give you a better idea of how to shift your business into the
green.
31

25 Tips to Green Your Business - Passion and Planning
3. Appoint a sustainability director:

Assign one person in your business the responsibility for coordinating
your green efforts. With one person accountable for sustainability,
youll be better able to track your green projects. In the past few years
the emergence of a C-level officers such as Chief Sustainability Officer,
has emerged as a viable field. In response, service and training companies have begun to offer courses and certificates to truly add value to
your team.
4. Conduct a life-cycle assessment for your product:

Taking to the time to do a cradle-to-grave assessment of your product can net in some pretty powerful results. Also called sustainable product cycling, this method allows your product to keep out of the landfill as
long as possible.
Your manufacturing process might have unnecessary steps or materials, and assessing the life-cycle of your
products and processes can help to identify cost or time savings.
Currently, one company certifies products and services as Cradle to Cradle (C2C).
With hundreds of products listed, its worth checking out how to take advantage of
this mindset of product creation.
32

25 Tips to Green Your Business - People
5 Educate employees on green practices

Those of us who are passionate about being green take for granted the fact that other people might not be as
educated about environmental and ecological practices. So educate your employees. Let them know what the
practices are in a simple and easy to follow format. Throw a contest or idea fair and let them share what they
know or understand about being green.
6. Build a company culture conducive to reuse and

recycling:
Making recycling and reuse the norm within your business
means it will flourish without having to force those habits
on people. Its never easy to build company culture. Because
of the upsurge of interest in being ecologically sound, many
people can come together over common practices. This not
only creates an environment where green attitudes flourish,
but may help make positive connections between your employees.
33

25 Tips to Green Your Business - People
7. Encourage ridesharing and alternative transportation:

Giving employees incentives to share rides or ride their bikes, coupled
with telecommuting options, will help to green your business.
Many states or cities even support a Bike-to-Work week and will provide incentives, such as a free bagel breakfast, for any employee willing to bike the commute.
Try a google search with the terms Bike to work week [your town]
8. Join green business groups:

Join green business networks, such as Green America to learn from other successful green businesses or to
form partnerships or collaborate with them. In an effective network, any cost associated with joining will
probably more than pay for itself through increased knowledge, customers, or collaboration. In addition to
membership, a number of green business networks also offer green certification programs.
By meeting their certification guidelines, you can qualify to display the associations badge on your business
website and other marketing materials. Some organizations have strict guidelines, others are more lax. Its up
to you to decide which association you want to be affiliated with. Typically, the stricter the guidelines, the
higher the trust.
34

25 Tips to Green Your Business - Planet
9. Choose renewable energy:

Power your operations with renewable energy, or consider investing in alternative
power for your business. In many places, an alternative energy option is available
from the power company, usually for a small price premium above regular rates. If
using green energy can be a bigger selling point for your business, consider thinking
of the premium as part of your marketing budget.
10. Consider alternative materials:

When sourcing materials make sure to investigate the not-so-obvious alternatives, considering the ecofriendliness of each one. It might be that the greener option doesnt have a significantly higher cost associated with it, and can be used as a green marketing hook.
A good place to start is by greening your product packaging. Currently, you can find many sustainable product
packaging options that can replace the more commonly used Styrofoam and plastics. Recycled cardboard CD
covers are a great example of an eco alternative to plastic jewel cases.
Do some research on which material you use most frequently to find out if there is a green option. Perhaps
there is even a hole in the market that you can fill.
35

25 Tips to Green Your Business - Planet
11. Clean green:

Purchase eco-friendly alternatives for cleaning and maintaining your business office and manufacturing site. In some industries, it may not be possible to get around the heavy industrial cleaners, yet. However, more and
more green cleaning services are cropping up, making the shift to a
nontoxic office a whole lot easier.
No green cleaning service near you? Maybe you should consider starting an
eco cleaning service of your own.
12. Green the air:

Clean the air in your operations by using live plants, and consider installing an air filtration system to protect
employees and customers. Some plants do a better job of ridding the air of pollutants and toxins than others.
Heres a great list of house plants that do a great job in keeping indoor air clean and pure.
Encourage employees or customers to bring in plants for your office, and ask the resident green thumb to
take on watering responsibilities. Or, you can rent office plants, and the plant rental company will handle the
watering for you.
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25 Tips to Green Your Business - Profits
13. Combine manufacturing processes:

Does your business have multiple steps in manufacturing? An audit to see about combining two or more processes may save you money and energy in the long run.
14. Use waste as resource:
What types of waste does your business generate? Can any of it
be repurposed or used in any way as a resource for the company? What about for another business? In the beer brewing industry, for example, spent grain is used to feed livestock, and
make mulch.
Heres a creative idea for you: turn trash into a resource by
using a waste management broker like RecycleMatch to help
you buy, sell, or give waste and recyclables.
15. Eliminate all disposables from company operations:
What items do you regularly purchase for your businesses that are considered disposable? Can they be replaced with a durable or permanent option? Investing in a longer-lasting version might also be a way of
cutting your costs over time. A big part of thinking green is long term sustainability.
37

16. Maintain all equipment for maximum efficiency:

How long has it been since youve last cleaned out the fans and filters
on your equipment? Do you have a regular maintenance schedule for
your devices? Well maintained equipment will pump up your energy
and time efficiency.
17. Source your materials from green suppliers

Investigate your options for sourcing your materials and give more weight to green businesses. Purchasing local or from a green business doesnt always carry an extra cost in fact, it might make more sense in terms of
overall impact to make those choices. Again, it can all be a part of your business unique selling points.
18. Source materials and services locally:

Can you source the materials or services needed for your business from the local area? Local sourcing helps
eliminate any excess transportation impact, while supporting businesses located nearby. It also helps connect
you to the community in which you live and strengthens your business.
38

19. Paperless banking and billing:

Choose paperless statements from your bank, your suppliers, your utilities, and pay your invoices electronically to save on paper waste. Its a small change, but really adds up in the long run. Many companies give incentives to use paperless banking such as additional website features and small discounts.
20. Ditch the fax machine:

Opt to send incoming to faxes to your computer instead of
printing them, and send your faxes that way as well. Its one
less piece of equipment to maintain and supply power to. Most
new printers allow a Scan to email feature which works just as
well, or better than, a plain fax.
21. Choose green phone and internet service:

Explore the option of getting your phone and internet services from a green or socially responsible company.
Making the choice to patronize another green business says a lot about a company, and can be used prominently in your green marketing efforts. Progressive organizations like Credo Mobile allow you to put your
money towards ecological issues by funding non-profits and political organizations.
39

22. Use teleconferencing instead of physical meetings:

Does your company really need all those face-to-face meetings, or could they be held virtually? Use teleconferencing or video calls to conserve on transportation, and explore the many free options available to you,
such as Skype or Free Conference Call.
23. Make an everyday item green:

Is there something we use all the time that could be made
more environmentally friendly? New niches pop up all the
time, so dont be afraid to explore green options of mundane
objects. When it fits in with your business products and services, creating a more ecological version of something simple
could become another profitable product.
Some recent examples have been, stainless steel reusable
water bottles and paperboard take-out containers in place of
Styrofoam.
40

24. On-site rainwater collection:

Install rainwater collection equipment for watering your landscape. Low
-cost alternatives might be landscaping with water harvesting in mind,
or finding used 55 gallon barrels instead of purchasing new containers.
Either method can be used to collect enough rainwater to support the
watering needs of your landscape plants, company vehicles, or building
and street washing.
Grey-water systems are also an amazing way to go green, and spend
less on watering.
25. Green your commercial landscaping
Green landscaping techniques such as Xeriscaping (dry gardening) or Permaculture can significantly reduce the costs of landscaping while improving soil, and reducing waste. Landscaping with methods that are ecological
take advantage of your local environment to provide plants that need little
or no watering, and little cleanup. Combine that with the suggestion
above, and your landscaping bills will drop while, at the same time, increase your green image.
41

75 Tips To Green Your Business

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75 Tips To Green Your Business

Make the world a better place

75 Tips to Green Your Business

25 TIPS TO GREEN YOUR OFFICE......................................................................................Page 5-15

75 Tips to Green Your Business

What is the Triple Bottom Line?

75 Tips to Green Your Business

Taking the First Step Towards Sustainability

75 Tips to Green Your Business

75 Tips to Green Your Business

14. WORK A 4 DAY WEEKTELECOMMUTE

1. REQUEST A FREE ENERGY AUDIT

15. COLLABORATE WITHOUT PAPER

2. TURN OFF LIGHTS WHEN NOT IN USE

16. ELECTRONIC BUSINESS CARDS

3. USE FEWER LIGHTS

4. USE ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING

17. BUY RECYCLED PAPER

5. PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT

18. PURCHASE REFILLED TONER/INK

6. TURN OFF COMPUTERS

19. PRINT ON THE BACK

7. INSTALL POWER STRIPS

20. STOP STAPLING

8. ENERGY EFFICIENT MODELS

21. FURBISH WITH USED FURNITURE

9. FLUSH LESS WATER

10. INSTALL A WATER DISPENSER

22. CHOOSE GREEN POWER

11. PASSIVE SOLAR

23. RECYCLE YOUR E-WASTE

12. DITCH THE DISPOSABLES

24. SET UP A RECYCLING CENTER

13. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH

25. ASSIGN A SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER

75 Tips to Green Your Business

1. Request an energy audit from your local power utility.

Professional energy audits:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

3. Use fewer lights:

4. Switch to energy efficient lighting:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

75 Tips to Green Your Business

9. Flush less water down the drain:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

12. Ditch the disposables:

13. Bring your own lunch:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

14. Work a 4 day week or telecommute:

16. Use electronic business cards:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

75 Tips to Green Your Business

21. Furbish your office with used furniture:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

24. Set up a recycle center:

25. Assign a sustainability manager:

75 Tips to Green Your Business

13. UPCYCLE YOUR AD MATERIALS

2. PURSUE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

14. ECO-FRIENDLY BUSINESS CARDS

3. OFFER A DIGITAL MAILING LIST OPTION

15. GREEN YOUR GIVEAWAYS