Tackle Your Overhead by Going Lean and Green
Green is now the colour of business. Customers are choosing environmentally progressive companies as eco-conscientious businesses become the norm. Here are lots of ideas and tips to help reduce your eco-footprint while improving your bottom line. Remember, every little bit helps.
Start with an Environmental Assessment
Set a baseline by taking stock of your company's existing environmental impact. Look at previous years' costs to help identify what reductions can be made, and which reductions can have a positive environmental impact. In addition, research government-defined regulations to ensure your company is in compliance, and look to local businesses for examples of "going green."
Once you've identified areas where you can improve the company's environmental impact, engage your staff to develop a strategy. This will give employees a sense of ownership and will foster corporate conscience.
Reduce Your Energy Requirements
Prioritize energy conservation as part of your corporate culture. Lighting and office equipment are big consumers of power. Make it company policy to shut down at the end of each day. You can also pursue alternative power suppliers: search your area for providers of wind, solar, or low-impact hydroelectric power and make the switch.
Below are some tips to reduce energy consumption and save money;
- Switch to energy-saving CFL light bulbs
- Program your photocopying equipment to hibernate when not in use
- Turn down heating and cooling after hours
- Turn off power strips or unplug to cut down on "phantom" power draw.
- Some electronics, including computers, continue to use power after being shut off
Make Changes in Day-to-Day Operations
Appoint someone to be responsible for the coordination of these initiatives and give them the authority to create programs that promote change. Make sure your company's policies and procedures are updated to reflect the new standards, and lead by example to encourage compliance. Below are some ideas that your company may be able to adopt:
- Establish in-house recycling programs for waste materials (paper, glass, metal, plastics)
- Avoid unnecessary printing; e.g. agendas and minutes can be posted or e-circulated
- Offer presentations online rather than printed copies
- Print double-sided on recycled paper
- Have a central area for used office supplies to be reused
- Provide collector trays to reuse paper printed on one side (e.g. for fax-covers, draft copies, notes, etc.)
- Keep mailing and circulation lists up-to-date to avoid unnecessary mailings
- Collect and dispose of hazardous waste properly
- Require non-toxic cleaning supplies and fertilizers
- Use a waste disposal service that provides green alternatives
How can you green up your sales process?
- Reduce the number of outside sales visits. Sales people on the road cost you in non-billable hours and mileage. They also contribute to carbon emissions.
- Use web conferencing to maintain contact with customers
- Print marketing materials on-demand
- Provide an option to e-bill and a portal for paperless financial transactions
- Evaluate your direct marketing campaigns - do they provide a good return on investment or are they an unnecessary use of paper? Consider paperless email communications as an alternative.
Review your Suppliers
If your goal is to provide a more sustainable offering, you need to assess the materials and consumables used to produce and deliver your product or service.
- Investigate short-term renting, leasing, or borrowing as an alternative to purchasing equipment
- Ensure that quantities ordered can be used before expiration dates to avoid waste
- Source locally to reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions - and help the local economy
- Ensure products are certified under a recognized eco-labeling program, such as EcoLogo
- Choose suppliers that recycle their own products
- Ensure electronics and appliances are Energy-Star rated
- Encourage suppliers to use reusable or recyclable packaging
- Ask your disposal service suppliers to develop environmentally sound alternatives
- Your business is important and your requirements can encourage suppliers to change.
Delivering your Product or Service
Here your company can tighten its business operations to become more lean and green.
- Use recyclable packaging
- Avoid single-serve or disposable containers
- Reduce package sizes to decrease your shipping costs
- Coordinate deliveries to avoid redundancies
Long-Term Goals
Some environmental goals may not be immediately achievable due to current cash flow, but there will be a time when they make sense. Plan for the future to:
- Replace outdated equipment with environmentally efficient options
- Incorporate energy efficient fixtures, appliances, and fittings when updating facilities
Once your company has quantifiably improved its environmental impact, announce it. Update your website and include compliances in your marketing materials. If you have chosen to support an environmental organization, ask for their endorsement. When a customer has a choice of suppliers, your environmental strategy may tip the balance in your favour. Then a walk-by becomes a walk-in, a client remains loyal, a web search generates sales and customers recommend your company. What could be better for business?
By Entrepreneurship Expert Roger Pierce, www.BizLaunch.ca, June 2008