Taking Your Business Green

A green business is a business that cares about its profitability while at the same time is constantly attentive to the impact the business has on the environment.

As noted in a recent report UCLA’s newsroom, contrary to the idea that environmentalism hurts economic performance, a UCLA-led study has found that companies that voluntarily adopt international "green" practices and standards have employees who are 16 percent more productive than the average. Professor Magali Delmas, an environmental economist at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Sanja Pekovic from France's University Paris–Dauphine conducted a study how a firm's environmental commitment affects its productivity.

"Adopting green practices isn't just good for the environment," Delmas said. "It's good for your employees and it's good for your bottom line. Employees in such green firms are more motivated, receive more training, and benefit from better interpersonal relationships. The employees at green companies are therefore more productive than employees in more conventional firms."

The higher-productivity effect stems from employees' appreciation for their workplace, Delmas said. In addition, educating employees about a firm's environmental commitment and requiring employees to work together across departments come into play to reduce the organization's environmental impact.

The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has made available an outline including links to resources that provide information on how to make your business more “green.” The following is a partial list of what the SBA has made available at its website. 

Become Energy Efficient

The Small Business Guide to Energy Efficiency includes tips, advice, and resources to help you save on energy costs: from energy saving tips to information on grants, loans and incentives available for making energy efficient upgrades to your facilities.

Adopt Environmentally Sound Business Practices

• Develop an Environmental Management System to enable your organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.
• Comply with Environmental Regulations
• Conserve water
• Explore Green Commuting Options
• Reduce your business’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Improve Your Waste Management System

• Learn how to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle within your business
• Identify whether your business produces Hazardous Waste
• Check your municipal and state waste management websites for more information

Invest in Renewable Energy

• Review this site on Renewable Energy for Small Business Owners
• Browse the Guide to Renewable Energy to determine what system is best for your needs
• Search DSIRE for an energy rebate program in your state
• Join the EPA’s Green Power Partnership for opportunities to increase renewable energy use

As Lifescript observes, small and large businesses need to impress consumers and clients by implementing “green” practices. Make it a company-wide goal to decrease impact on the environment. Encouraging every person in the company to present ideas makes everyone accountable and interested in the office going green. Larger companies may seek outside consulting firms who specialize in eco-friendly business practices. The greening of the company may take place in stages with a plan of action put into place.