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Starting a green business (or making an existing one greener) can often seem like a daunting task. As I start my own business, I am compiling a mental checklist of all small, simple things I can do in my day-to-day operations to lighten my footprint on the planet. By building environmentally conscious practices into my work flow from the start, I hope to start off on the right foot and keep taking steps toward sustainability.
There’s always more you can do, but the most important thing is to do something! Baby steps in the right direction are certainly better than going backwards or not moving at all. Thankfully, many green business practices are not only eco-friendly, but they’re friendly on the company budget as well. So even if the benefits to the planet are hard to see, benefits to your bottom line may be more visible.
Since I’m a habitual list-maker, here’s a handy list of ten simple things you can do to make your business a bit more sustainable every day.
By MC Milker •
April 10, 2008
When I met Priya Haji, co-founder of World of Good, at the recent Natural Products Expo in Southern California, her business was growing rapidly, helped in no small part by funding by social lenders.Bubbly and determined, she knows first hand the challenges socially responsible business face attracting capital.
“There’s a consumer-driven demand for this kind of ethical consumption, but the debt markets don’t understand that,” (She says).
Making the rounds of traditional venture capital firms can be excruciating for eco-entrepreneurs. Traditional firms excited by the opportunities inherent in pursuing green ventures are often less than thrilled when social responsibility is part of the plan.
A great way to end a meeting with a traditional investor or banker is to say, “Oh, by the way, I give away 10 percent of my profits to charity.”
By MC Milker •
April 6, 2008
Your growing business cares about the earth, promotes sustainability, produces eco friendly products and services but how green is your working environment? In the rush to build a business, the focus on making office space environmentally friendly may not be high priority. That’s not necessarily true for green businesses but, keeping up with the latest opportunities to go green may be.
Green Teams can help.
By MC Milker •
April 2, 2008
Sometimes forgotten by entrepreneurs hoping to open a green business is the burgeoning personal service industry. As more and more consumers express concern about environmental toxins, opportunities increase for entrepreneurs interested in providing greener, safer alternatives for some common household tasks.
Ranging from low initial investment services like housecleaning to highly regulated child care more and more consumers are seeking eco-friendly alternatives. Regulators, especially in green states like California, are aiding this trend, by introducing legislation that prohibits the use of toxic chemicals.
By Leah Edwards •
March 31, 2008
If you are a scientist or researcher with a great idea for a green business, you should check out what universities have to offer you (even if you are not in school).
As an example of the types of programs available, consider UC Davis’s Green Technology Entrepreneurship Academy (GTEA), which provides a free week-long intensive for science and engineering researchers. Yes, I did say free, and it’s held at Lake Tahoe, Nevada in July—a very nice plus.
According to UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship Assistant Director, Nicole Starsinic, the GTEA combines classroom learning with a team project, which pairs scientists with business school students and professionals. A number of venture capital firms, law firms, and other professionals, which are listed in the Academy’s schedule, devote time in the hope of discovering the cleantech Google.
By Olga Orda •
March 29, 2008
Image source: http://timblair.net | Lights out for Sydney, Australia 2007
An http://greenprinteronline.com dispatch.
Earth Hour is tonight, March 29th from 8 to 9 pm. The idea is to turn off the lights as a symbolic gesture that us citizens, business owners, uber-corporations (hello, Google’s black screen, hello McDonalds in Toronto saving 10 000 kilowatt hours) local governments and non-profit groups are taking climate change seriously.
Despite gripes that Earth Hour falls on the NCAA basketball regional, it’s lights out for over 23 major cities worldwide like Toronto and Bangkok.
Part of planning a new business venture is figuring out how you will manage day-to-day operations and make decisions. One thing ecopreneurs like myself should consider when faced with a business decision is sustainability. And I don’t just mean the long-term viability of your business (although that’s an important consideration as well). I’m talking about the impact your business decisions will have on the environment.
It’s important for green businesses to be exactly that: green. This means you go the extra mile to examine the environmental consequences of every aspect of your business. That’s a lot of responsibility, so it requires careful consideration every step of the business planning process. Before you even open your doors for business, you should have a plan in place for running your business as sustainably as possible. Green businesses may even want to include a sustainable development section in their business plans.
By Cassie Walker •
March 27, 2008
We’ve all heard about the greening efforts of some pretty big companies, including GE and WalMart. But what’s behind the press releases and green logos? Though some corporate efforts may be greenwashing, many companies, both large and small, are making solid verifiable moves toward sustainability.
A panel held at UCLA this month, dedicated to sustainability in business, put this issue in the spotlight and revealed some useful information for companies looking to reduce their footprints. A few key points:
By MC Milker •
March 26, 2008
Macy’s recent turn to the green side, highlights an underserved niche in the natural products arena – clothing.
Macy’s newest campaign called “Turn Over A New Leaf,” kicking off April 20 and running through April 27, is “designed to support, educate and inspire sustainability and eco-friendly practices in everyday life,” says the retailer.
This spells opportunity for eco-entrepreneurs. While organic food and natural cleaners have gained some mainstream appeal, as awareness of the benefits of natural living grows, consumers look to use organic and green products in all aspects of their life.
So where is the biggest opportunity? I see a couple of areas in which green entrepreneurs might focus.
By Leah Edwards •
March 24, 2008
As Kristin Dispenza wrote on our sister blog Green Building Elements, one of the largest circulation home and design magazines, Metropolitan Home, has gone green. The April issue is all about green (the practical and the beautiful) design.
In an email to Ecopreneurist, Donna Warner, Editor in Chief of Metropolitan Home said, “For our April special ‘green’ issue, we wanted to sort through the hype and offer readers smart ways to incorporate green design into their homes. The issue provides tips and ‘how to’ advice from eco-experts on topics such as green renovation and also celebrates products for the home that will last forever, thanks to their extraordinary quality and enduring design.”
Although I love to flip through “shelter publications” as they are called, focusing on the pictures, my favorite feature in Met Home’s green issue is a five-way discussion called “Met Eco” among green architects, designers and planners about the products and techniques they recommend.
I am always on the look out for smaller companies whose time has come (now that almost all media sources are focused on the environment and green lifestyles). Some of the companies who caught my eye include:
One of the things I struggle the most with in getting my business started is what on earth to call it. The easiest way to name a new business is to use the owner’s name. Well, when your last name is practically unpronounceable, not to mention difficult to spell, that doesn’t seem like the best option.
As soon as I knew I wanted to own my own business, I started thinking of ideas for names. As I traveled for the last half of 2007, I took my business planning notebook along and brainstormed name ideas on long road trips. Now I have a few pages of ideas, and I’m as lost as ever. So I decided to seek out tips on naming a business, and although I haven’t made a final choice yet, I feel like I have a road map to guide my naming process.
