Small-business owners often think of ‘going green’ as a double-edged sword. On one hand, many think of going green as the right thing to do to support the environment and the local community. Yet many also see it as an extra expense that cannot be recouped.
As a small-business owner, what should you do? Is the amount of time and money you’ll spend on going green worth the investment?
The answer is: Yes. Go green. More and more companies are going green every day.
Most small-business owners do not know that environmental management can be beneficial to the company in ways that go well beyond helping the environment:
· From an internal operations perspective, going green can actually reduce costs and help avoid liabilities, as well as present unexpected business opportunities if your company can provide an environmental solution to others. You can even go so far as to obtain certification from an independent third party so you can include their logo or “ecolabel” on your product and other green marketing materials. Ecolabeling helps market your product to green-conscious consumers.
· From an external perspective, by going green your company is that much more attractive to investors, lenders, insurers, customers and employees.
Environmental management is quickly becoming a bottom-line benefit – and a proverbial win-win – for small businesses.
Not All or Nothing
Environmental management is not an all-or-nothing proposition. There is so much that can be done to go green – from buying green products to recycling to using green technologies to moving to solar power. The multitude of options can seem overwhelming.
Yet, there is a tangible approach to environmental management that can be easily mapped out and implemented according to how you prefer to do business. It involves, simply, developing an Environmental Action Plan.
How do you develop this Environmental Action Plan? The place to start is the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has put together a workbook designed specifically to help small businesses go green. This workbook is called the Small Business Environmental Management Plan Workbook and can be found and downloaded at the Business.gov web site. » Read more: Environmental Management – How Going Green Can Boost Your Bottom Line
