GREEN BUSINESS VIEWS

Posts Tagged ‘sustainable’

Sustainable Business. Admittedly, one of my big issues in this industry is the misuse and lack of definition of the terms that we use. The word sustainable is a little better understood, but nonetheless badly used words in the grand dictionary of environmental terms. To start the process, it may be best to provide a terse definition for sustainability, and that is “Resource Management.”

The most popular definition of sustainability can be traced to a 1987 UN conference. It defined sustainable developments as those that “meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”(WECD, 1987). Robert Gillman, editor of the In Context magazine, extends this goal oriented definition by stating “sustainability refers to a very old and simple concept (The Golden Rule)…do onto future generations as you would have them do onto you.”

This parallels the Great Law of the Iroquois Indians that stated, “In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation… even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.” This belief parallels the concept of sustainability in a generation that had more than enough natural resources at their disposal. It should never be about how much we have to spend, but how well we spend it. The concept of stewardship infers that we really don’t own things but are temporary caretakers of whatever we presently control.

The sustainable business is frankly an important aspect of the overall picture since industry, business, or commerce uses a lot of resources with enough capital to be waste. A sense of expediency prevails in this community that creates a a “Whatever it takes” mentality. This needs to change, and it is changing albeit far too slow for the environmental crisis that we face. Therefore, the sustainable business model means a more responsible company that does not allow expedience to rule when given the choice between waste and conservation of our resources.

We know that the recycling mantra is, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle;” but the depth of application goes well beyond the trash container behind the building. It happens at every level of the business process. It involves energy, water, and waste management. It is a call to step into the modern era of business opportunity with a truly “Paperless Office.” It considers more than the marketing department boasting of Green merits, and promotes the Green purchasing processes of the company.

Does it come as a surprise that a “Sustainable Company” may not be a “Green Company?” Going Green is primarily about the “Health Impact” of the business, which starts with the Indoor Air Quality and considers the numerous issues that impact the indoor air and all that we do to essentially poison it.

Eventually, it becomes obvious that when we understand the depth and extend of the environmental issues, our present skill set, knowledge base, and limited activities are not enough to properly solve the problem. It is at this point that the astute business will seek out a Certified Green Consultant who can act as an outsourced Green Adviser to any company. If properly trained, the Certified Green Consultant will add another fantastic value to the company he or she serves. Going Green will literally save a growing business thousands upon thousands of dollars in ways most can’t imagine. Going Green is more than a health issue, even as being sustainable is more than preservation of resources. To the smart company, it is a huge money savings that pays sizable dividends year after year.

In a growing marketplace of web-based Green certifications that require only a fee of several hundred dollars and a promise to Go Green, the Green Business League offers a Green Business certification that is “Earned, and not Bought.” Do not be lured by shallow and hollow certification options. Only the Green Business League offers a program represents a honest program of Green Business certification.