9201 University City Bvld. 258 Cameron Building, UNC Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
Phone No: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115
(Link to EAO Newsletter Archive)
March 2009
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Profitable Greening? |
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Going green is not just a concern for the large corporations. It has to start somewhere. With 25 million small businesses in the world today and more starting up every day, they can help just as much as the large corporations can. Below are ways that small business owners are now…”Going Green”
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Energy Efficiency – Small businesses are responsible for half of the economy in the United States, and, with more and more of them going green, you can imagine how much they are contributing to a better environment. |
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On-Bill Financing - This is a utility-based method of providing seamless 0% financing through the monthly power bill for small energy efficiency improvements. It allows small businesses the opportunity to address energy costs as "controllable", thus helping the bottom line. |
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Micropower- "Micropower" technologies are small, modular devices that generate electric power on a relatively small scale and are designed to produce power close to where it is actually used. |
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Fuel Efficient Vehicles – Companies using smaller more fuel saving cars save dollars in their pocket. With gas prices close to $2.00 and the possibility of rising even more beyond that at any time, fuel is the easiest and cheapest way to save. |
 http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/_dl04.jpg |
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Maintenance - The simplest tasks are often the most important. Small businesses can get a good start on cost control simply through proper maintenance of existing equipment.
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The phrase “Triple Bottom Line” was first used in 1989 by John
Elkington, the co-founder of a consultancy focused on sustainability.
Whether referred to as either “TBL” or “3BL”, Triple Bottom Line
is an increasingly recognized concept of adding social and environmental
values to make an organization more economic and profitable.
Triple Bottom Line reporting is becoming an accepted way for businesses
to demonstrate that they have strategies for sustainable growth.
It is a form of reporting that takes into account the impact your
business has in terms of social and environmental values along with
financial returns. Below is
a breakdown of 3BL and how each applies.
www.johnelkington.com/
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This is also known as Human Capital. It
means treating not only your employees right but
also the community where your business operates. In this part of
the Triple Bottom Line model, business not only ensures a fair
day's work for a fair day's pay, but also plows back some of its
gains into the surrounding community through sponsorships,
donations, or projects that work towards the common good. |
This is Natural Capital. A business will strive to minimize its
ecological impact in all areas - from sourcing raw materials, to
production processes, to shipping and administration. It's a
"cradle to grave" approach and in some cases "cradle to cradle"
(i.e. taking some responsibility for goods after they've been
sold). For example,
a 3BL business may offer a recycling or a take back program. A
3BL business will
also refrain from the production of toxic items. |
This is more about making a honest profit than making a profit
at any cost - it must be made in harmony with the other two
principles of People and Planet.
While many major corporations used to sneer at the idea of a
Triple Bottom Line reporting system, some have taken the
initiative with a positive flow on effect to their suppliers.
Because supply chains are also accountable to the overall impact
of a company, they also come under scrutiny in the triple bottom
line audits. A good example of this is how some big box stores
are "greening" up their act and in doing so, demanding that their
suppliers use less packaging or banning certain ingredients from
products. |
| Read more on Triple Bottom Line |
| Sustainable Environmental Solutions |
| Sustainable Development |
| Culture Fourth Pillar |
| Principles of Sustainable Development |
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The 4 P's
Getting Green does not just stop at the Triple bottom line any more. Recently added in conjunction with the Triple Bottom Line is “California Green Solutions” 4 P’s of green marketing, which include; Promotion, Product, Price and Place.
Green marketing redefines promotion by incorporating more two-way (or multiple dimensions) communication. Implementing all this communicating includes promotions, advertising, marketing materials, signage, white papers, websites, videos, presentations and a hundred other variables.
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 http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3i7d49b23ff1cbe31ac01a819bd93fe1e8 |
Low energy use has been encouraged since the Energy Star program was launched during President Carter's administration. Today, energy use has expanded with distributed energy-grid products such as solar and wind power generation, take-back programs for electronic products that include toxic materials; and increasing energy, water and air conservation features. All these features are translated into benefits by the marketing department: health, lower operating costs, compliance with environmental laws, and happier customers.
Pricing is the holy grail of profitability, but green marketing looks at pricing beyond the traditional "sales price of the product". New strategies include pricing products with service contracts. Some products are leased instead of sold. Green pricing is not about the dollars as much as it is about structuring the mutually beneficial exchange of results for rewards. Sometimes rewards are not money -- but credibility, references and a base from which to provide ongoing services. Creative pricing is not a marketing function as much as a finance function.
Logistics has exploded in volume since globalization of manufacturing, and the Internet has changed the way business operates. Place is no longer just a wholesale chain or a company owned retail outlet. Place includes the Internet, global supply chains, multiple niche markets, and your local community.
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GreenBiz.com has an annual special report which revealed that
last year more companies were doing more to improve the
green economy, but were doing so at a slower rate.
Green
building is on the
rise, spurring
new technologies that save energy and money while creating more
healthful workplaces.
The
automobile industry, for example, is in competition against
other auto manufacturers to introduce electric vehicles.
Leading retailers and product makers are reinventing
their products in support of green practices.
Businesses like these are setting the example for more
businesses to follow green activity. |
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New
green businesses are necessary to help sustain a healthy planet.
For 15 years, Environmental Waste Solutions (EWS) has
been helping companies both small and large, with solutions for
waste removal challenges and have provided them with
opportunities to take action through green initiative.
Did you
know that there are laws in place in most states that require
all new public buildings to incorporate recycled or renewable
materials and energy-saving green technologies?
As a result, many new businesses are responding to the
growing demand for green building components. |
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Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small Business The Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business provides non-regulatory, client-confidential pollution prevention assistance to small businesses in the greater Charlotte region. The EAO is designed to assist regional businesses in their efforts to voluntarily prevent pollution. The EAO staff can provide timely assistance for pollution prevention planning, including information about industry-specific case studies, waste-specific case studies, and new technologies. The office provides links of resources to needs between the region's business community, government, municipality, and university. If there is a particular issue or question you would like to see in an upcoming edition, please send an e-mail to EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu. Contact Information: Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business: 9201 University City Blvd. 258 Cameron Building, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28233-0001 Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115 Email: EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu Services: · Assistance with Air Permits - Assistance for small businesses in completing paperwork for EPA air permits. · Educational Materials - Educational pamphlet, brochures, flyers, and other materials to relate facts on pollution prevention. · Educational Outreach - Develop educational outreach campaigns and presentations for the public or employee training. · University Resources - Library information, faculty expertise, student projects and research at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Top Page |
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