GREEN IS THE NEW BUSINESS COLOR

[Anonymous]

Green is the New Business Color
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/58862
Ever wonder if one person can make a green difference?
The answer is a resounding Yes! If you will:
Reuse paper printed on one side for drafts and graphics
Use shredded paper for packing
Turn in ink cartridges to Staples for $3.00/ea coupons (use three per purchase)
There are a lot of businesses across the country creating greener enterprises for local communities and the world.

Value of Greening Your Business
Even
before the worldwide success of Al Gore´s “An Inconvenient Truth”, an
international study about ´green´ or “Cause-Related Marketing” (CRM)
reported:
81% of consumers agree that they are more likely to buy a product or service that is associated with a cause they care about.
77% of consumers said “Cause-Related Marketing” positively changed both their behavior to and perception of a company or brand.
67% of consumers think that more companies should be involved in CRM.

Green Business Today
California-based
Give Something Back sells business products for less and donates the
profits back to the community. Fifteen years and more than $3 million
in donations later, over 13,000 customers have chosen Give Something
Back leading to their nationwide expansion. Inc. Magazine has named
them one of the fastest growing privately held companies in
America.Their corporate headquarters is outfitted with a solar roof and
stocked with biodegradable cleaning products. Green also means: solar
panels, high efficiency lighting and low flow toilets. Plus recycling:
paper, batteries, toner cartridges, aluminum cans and cardboard. One of
the largest environmentally responsible companies in the San Francisco
Bay Area, Give Something Back is one of the growing number of
enterprises (large and small) certified as a Green Business.

Green Office Products
Give
Something Back features recycled products including folders, calendars,
pens, and recycled papers that match or beat the quality of
virgin-fiber papers. They encourage their customers to continue the
green cycle, by participating in their toner cartridge recycling
program, and by choosing products that are recyclable or biodegradable.
One person can buy office products with recycled content which saves
trees and water pollution.

Green Is the Color of Money
In
fact, CEO´s in businesses both large and small are realizing that
greening their business affects the bottom line in a big way. Oracle
Corporation invested $10,000.00 in restroom lighting and sensor
upgrades and as a result is saving $100,000.00 each year at one site.
The cornerstone of Subaru´s new ad campaign is that their U.S. auto
manufacturing plant has been designated a Nature Preserve and creates
zero landfill! But, what can one person do to get green?

Turn Electronic Waste into Green
BuyMyTronics.com
in Colorado started with an idea to keep broken and used iPods out of
landfills. When founder Brett Mosley’s iPod broke, it dawned on him
that there weren’t many eco-friendly or economically rewarding ways to
deal with it.BuyMyTronics.com currently accept iPods, Cell Phones /
PDAs, iPhones, Zunes and Game Consoles with a quick, easy online system
which delivers your payment by check to you or by PayPal. Soon, they
will pay you to recycle: Laptops, Digital Cameras, GPS Devices and
Camcorders with the same focus of keeping used and broken electronics
out of our landfill waste!

Changing Your Profession and Industry
Allison
Bliss sees a growing green trend in the clientele of her marketing and
communications agency (www.allisonbliss.com). Allison is attracting
clients that share the same mission as her company: use business to
support their community and the planet. For example:The Renaissance
Entrepreneurship Center, (www.rencenter.org) has begun a conversion of
their lighting system to the new energy efficient fluorescent lights.
Working with PG&E to qualify for a 40 percent rebate on costs, the
expectation is that it will take two years before they see big cost
savings.Operations Director, Lisa Kirvin explains: “We want a lighter
footprint by incorporating green practices and to set a positive
example for our clients since we own our building. Besides, it´s just
good business and our supporters are eco-conscientious in their own
business practices, too.”At Locke and Key Executive Search employees
are implementing environmentally sound practices at work with green
construction. Plus:

Cut back on commuting by walking and biking to run errands.
Get
as paperless as possible: when receiving a mailed/faxed resume, they
request a soft copy and recycle the original.They do get bank
statements on paper, but all bills are handled online.

Bottom Line Green Benefits
Gain
market share by outreach to specific markets through non-profits: Avon
sponsoring breast cancer fundraisers.Enhance distinctive brand image
& increasing credibility: Newman´s Own donates over $100 million in
profits to charity.Customers contribute to their community with
purchases, while increasing your sales: Give Something Back succeeds
with green philanthropy.Retain and motivate employees: Environmental
concerns are a priority at work and home for upcoming
generations.Energize the company mission for corporate social
responsibility: These companies´ employees are excited about creating
green savings and best practices.

One person at a time, we can make a green difference right now.
Although
Kermit the Frog and Ray Charles once sang “It ain´t easy being green”,
there are now more environmentally friendly large and small options
available than ever before. Do it for you, your family, community and
your business!

[Author]

May 5, 2008 at 4:47 PM