Organizations that “go green” do so in order to lessen the impact their operations have on the environment. Greening a business not only reduces wastes, conserves water and saves energy, but it can also result in the following:
- Reduced costs due to consuming less. This means less overhead and an improved bottom line.
- Reduced costs due to recycling and reusing materials and goods. In some cases, disposing of waste can be expensive, especially as landfill space gets smaller and smaller.
- An enhanced public image. Being socially and environmentally responsible is an attractive trait to both potential customers and employees. Going green is a simple way to gain a competitive advantage or even attract new talent.
Going green has many perks, and companies that have the organizational support to develop environmentally friendly initiatives should consider implementing a green plan. While it’s not always easy or practical to overhaul a company’s environmental practices, the following steps can simplify the implementation process of a green policy:
- Create a green implementation team to create organized leadership.
- Inventory your initiatives and your organization’s current environmental footprint.
- Create a short list of realistic and impactful green initiatives.
- Set clear goals and measure your performance over time.
- Establish an implementation schedule for your goals. This will help you determine what tasks need to be done, who is responsible for specific items and what resources are needed.
- Roll out your plan and communicate the results across your organization.
Greening a business is not something that happens overnight. Organizations should continually evaluate their green plan and look for ways to continually improve.
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