Sustainability

Green Business Trends: The Changing Shape of Corporations

Companies are turning green like never before – and we’re not talking money. Green business is now viewed as being cutting edge, environmentally-friendly, and an asset to future growth, all at once. And now is a great time to get involved. Small changes can have a big impact, so don’t think you need to have millions or even thousands dedicated to make a difference. As you’ll see, it’s all about creativity and personalizing solutions based on your specific industry. Read on for inspiration on ways that your company can turn over a new leaf, so to speak. Read more…

The Ultimate Consumers Guide To Wind Power.

This Ebook Offers A Non-technical Easy To Understand Approach To Wind Power. You Get An In-depth Tour Covering Every Topic From Selecting The Best Location To Choosing The Right Wind Turbine. Includes Candid Reviews Of Turbines Currently Sold In The U.s.
The Ultimate Consumers Guide To Wind Power.

What is Sustainable Development ?

Sustainable development is a broad concept that refers to meeting the needs of people without hurting the environment. The concept covers meeting economic, environmental and social needs of everyone without hurting anyone or anything in the process.

What is sustainable development? The concept was brought to life and named by The World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. Since it’s conception, the concept has become a major focus in the 1990s to the present time.

What is sustainable development related to hunger? The concept would attempt to make sure that all people have enough to eat no matter what their income is. Whether you are well off or live in absolute or relative poverty, you would legally have the right and the ability to purchase foods to provide you and your family with an adequate number of calories each day to maintain health.

What is sustainable development related to economics? All people in the workforce have a right to economic growth without undermining the environment, natural resources and the incomes of the next and future generations. Safeguards are put in place by the world government so that labor standards are put into effect along with mechanisms for compliance internationally. People that work with hazardous materials have rules to follow to keep themselves and the environment safe. People that work in high places must use safety equipment to ensure they don’t slip and fall. Accidents do happen; however, many times accidents are related to human error when the rules of safety are not followed correctly. Read more…

How to Find a Green Job

By: gbb.org News

Finding a green job can be difficult, but rewarding. Here is a list of resources to search for a green job.

Where to start:

• E: The Environmental Magazine’s list of booming eco-friendly job sectors is good place to start for inspiration.

• Grist, TreeHugger, EnvironmentalCareer.com, HotJobs, and Sustainable Business Green Dream Jobs‘ listings are drawn from throughout the country.

• Idealist.org Job Search specializes in nonprofits; search on “environmental & ecology” or “energy conservation & green living.”

• Green Jobs is all about the burgeoning area of renewable energy.

• The National Park Service has 16,000 permanent employees and another 10,000 seasonal jobs to fill each year, from Hawaii to Yellowstone.

• Business for Social Responsibility Jobs Board lists openings at such big names such as the Walt Disney Company.

• World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms connects volunteers with organic farms around the planet — not paid work per se, but a great way to see the world.

• Green Business Bureau’s Green Directory. Find a business that is commited to implementing green practices and holds a green business certification.

Green Business Certification. Why?

At GreenSmartNow.org, our mission is to foster environmental awareness among businesses and promote business practices that are both environmentally responsible and commercially beneficial. Our Green Certification Partner The Green Business Bureau  has designed a cutting-edge web-based and tool and program that provides businesses the road map they need to implement eco-friendly practices in the work place that will have a real impact on the environment and your business. 

Why Going Green Makes Business Sense  

1 Gain a Marketing Edge

By going “Green” you can differentiate yourself from your competitors and tailor your business to a growing base of green consumers. 

2 Gain New Customers

Eco-friendly is customer-friendly because your customers want to feel good about who they do business with. 

3 Bring Employees Together 

Creating a sustainable business will keep employees happy and excited about their workplace. People value working in a socially-conscious environment. 

4 Help Reduce Costs 

Protecting the environment means protecting your bottom line. You can reduce costs and grow revenue by following the simple green business solutions offered by the GBB. 

5 Protect the Environment 

With so many corporations irresponsibly wasting resources and dumping contaminants into our air and water supply, the planet needs a hero. It doesn’t matter if your business is Mighty Mouse or the Hulk. By doing your part to save the earth, you give society someone to look up to. 

Please click here or use the Green Biz Certification link above to learn more about this valuable step in greening your business

Companies Increasingly Turn to Environmental Actions to Cut Costs

Fom Blog: gbb.org

While this recession has broken the mold in many ways, one surprising outcome is that corporate environmental activity has survived, even thrived during as companies increasingly turn to environmental actions to cut costs, comply with customer demands, and remain competitive, according to the annual “State of Green Business” report produced by GreenBiz.com

You may be inclined to think that the difficult economy of the past two years may have caused companies to put their green initiatives on hold. But, in a recent survey of CEO’s conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, more than 60 percent of CEOs said their companies are moving forward with green initiatives and believe those efforts will improve their company’s reputation. Overall, the recession had little impact on the green momentum: 61 percent of companies with green initiatives saw no effect of the recession on their strategies and 17 percent raised such investment each year.

These companies recognize that consumers’ concern for the environment has morphed into behaviors that are at least somewhat recession-resistant. When public relations firm Edelman surveyed 6,000 global consumers, they found that 87 percent believed it was their “duty” to contribute to a better environment and that even in a recession, 55 percent would pay more for a brand if it supported a cause in which they believed. Plus, as is the case with most corporate priorities, going for green makes sense in financial terms.

When it comes to your invoice, bill or statement, some simple and smart green initiatives can also provide meaningful financial benefits to your company. You can “get green (money) by going green”. Here are some tips:

• Consider changing the layout of your customer document from landscape to portrait. This will reduce the page count and potentially reduce mailing costs.
• Aim to maximize every sheet. Put some thought into your design and layout and consider options such as duplex printing. Again you will reduce production and delivery costs.
• Turn your invoice, bill or statement into a valuable marketing tool. It is the only “must read” document your customer receives from you. You have a captive audience…what are you telling them? Are you taking full opportunity of your upsell and cross sell opportunities? Done right, you can significantly increase your revenues while eliminating the costs associated with direct mail marketing campaigns and other, less effective, sales initiatives. You may even be able to eliminate certain bill inserts, by using effective messaging on the bill, or statement.
• What about converting more customers to electronic documents? This is the ultimate in cutting paper usage, as well as saving on supplies and postage.

These are just a few of the many “go green” opportunities that can translate into cold hard cash for your company. So go ahead…be green!

How to Green your Business

Here at GreenSmartNow.com we are always on the lookout for informative articles on Going Green and Greening our economy for a better world. We are particularly devoted to helping others start Green Businesses. Please click and read the article below.

How to Green your Business | Bukisa.com#.

What is Hubze? Who is Hubze?

By MGJack: www.hubze.mgjack.com

Just imagine this. Would it not be great to have only ONE place you had to go online to be social? Right now many of us have to perform the overwhelming task of signing onto and posting to all our social networking sites. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FriendFinder, Ning and all these other social networks…and the truth is…it is a lot of work. I mean should social networking not be fun and easy to do so we in fact do it. Add to that the fact that many of us use social networking as a business application promoting our business and building are brands.

How do we fix this? Enter Hubze. Hubze plans to simplify your life by giving you a platform where you only have to go to ONE place to enter any content. One place to blog, update, share, chat, email, market and search. One place to simplify your online life.

Hubze is not going to be just another social network. Hubze is not going to be just another online marketing system. Hubze is going to be the ONE STOP SHOP you need! And at Hubze simplifying your online life is only the beginning.

Hubze is all about what it’s founders call “Elegant Organization” This concept allows you to bring all of your social interactions into one place. Twitter, Facebook, Direct Matches, Linkedin, BetterNetworker, Myspace, etc. and post to all of them at the push of a button from one single platform. The Hubze MeCard is only the tip of the iceburg here and will be the first of many other services to come. Recently Hubze let out of the bag that they will provide a service that will allow anyone to customize the look and feel of there Facebook page similar to the customization folks enjoy in MySpace. The HubzeCard will always be a free service for all who sign up. For more information on Hubze and to get the HubzeCard service free go to: www.hubze.mgjack.com  for full details. You must be invited by another Hubze member like me so Click and join for FREE.

Companies Increasingly Turn to Environmental Actions to Cut Costs

Reposted from : gbb.org

While this recession has broken the mold in many ways, one surprising outcome is that corporate environmental activity has survived, even thrived during as companies increasingly turn to environmental actions to cut costs, comply with customer demands, and remain competitive, according to the annual “State of Green Business” report produced by GreenBiz.com

You may be inclined to think that the difficult economy of the past two years may have caused companies to put their green initiatives on hold. But, in a recent survey of CEO’s conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, more than 60 percent of CEOs said their companies are moving forward with green initiatives and believe those efforts will improve their company’s reputation. Overall, the recession had little impact on the green momentum: 61 percent of companies with green initiatives saw no effect of the recession on their strategies and 17 percent raised such investment each year.

These companies recognize that consumers’ concern for the environment has morphed into behaviors that are at least somewhat recession-resistant. When public relations firm Edelman surveyed 6,000 global consumers, they found that 87 percent believed it was their “duty” to contribute to a better environment and that even in a recession, 55 percent would pay more for a brand if it supported a cause in which they believed. Plus, as is the case with most corporate priorities, going for green makes sense in financial terms. Read more…

Recycle by Mail

By: gbb.org

There are now more recycling options than ever for conscious consumers looking to responsibly dispose of unwanted stuff. Many of us have access to curbside recycling for the basics and several retailers offer convenient take-back programs.     

Still, it can be hard to figure out what to do with often overlooked things like plastic hotel key cards, wine corks, and CDs. Luckily, a simple trip to the post office can accomplish a lot.   

Plastics and Packaging

• Earthworks recycles PVC plastic cards (hotel keys, gift cards, etc.) and turns them into sheets that new cards can be made of. Drop cards in the mail if your retailer doesn’t already take them back. Address is: Earthworks, c/o Halprin Industries, 25840 Miles Road, Bedford, OH 44146. Magnetic strips are okay. Don’t send credit cards or those that contain paper backing.

• Recycline’s Preserve Gimme 5 program collects clean plastic containers that have a #5 stamped on the bottom (yogurt cups, ketchup bottles, sour cream containers, and more). Recycled plastic is transformed into razors, bowls, and many other cool products (that you can also send back when you’re done with them). To maximize eco-benefits, the company suggests using ground shipping.

• TerraCycle creates shower curtains, totes, and funky fashion accesssories out of old energy bar wrappers, drink pouches, and other packaging. It recyles wine corks too. In some cases, you need to mail in large quantities so look for a drop-off location or send in your neighbors’ stuff too.

Apparel and Shoes

• Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program has collected almost 22 million worn out athletic shoes since 1990. The shoes are ground up and turned into athletic fields. Nike’s prefers that you drop off shoes at participating stores, but you can also mail them.   
   
• Patagonia’s Common Threads Garment Recycling Program turns your old Patagonia clothing into new garments. Visit it website for specifics on what they take back and where you can send it.    

E-waste

• Battery Solutions sells boxes that you can fill up with batteries (both rechargeable and non-rechargeable), cell phones, PDAs, iPods, and others. The $24 fee includes a pre-paid FedEx shipping label.  

• GreenDisc recycles CDs, DVDs, video and audio tapes, and their cases. You can also send in most computer related waste-anything from printer cartridges to mice to laptops. It costs $6.95 to process up to 20lbs of waste.

• Waste Management’s Think Green program sells recycling kits for batteries, CFLs, fluorescent tubes, and electronics.  Prices vary depending on item. Fill the box they send you and mail it in.Source: Lori Bongiorno