Why go green with your business?

Yes, going green does protect the environment, but it can also be good for your company as well. Here are a few of many reasons why:

1- For your employees:
Setting a positive example for employees which boosts morale and company loyalty. Companies with a good environmental profile have more committed, motivated employees, and provides a cleaner and healthier work environment.

2- For your company’s reputation and increase sales:
Gaining a competitive advantage by differentiating yourself as a Green company. People love organizations that care. Studies show that consumers are more attracted and loyal to companies that regard the environment. A natural effect of positive public image is guaranteed to increase sales.

Take Walmart and Target as an example. After incorporating green initiatives, including recycling, enhancing transportation to reduce gas, and increasing stocks of green products, they actually recorded a 20% increase in sales! (www.wamda.com).

3- For cutting cost:
Cut cost and save money through energy efficiency and waste reduction. Improving efficiency and cutting costs can save your business hundreds of thousands per year! While some cost reductions (like paper costs) can be seen instantly, others will be enjoyed in the long-term; (like installing energy saving lighting for example).

Generally speaking, some of the benefits green businesses enjoy include (www.wamda.com):
15% reduction in paper consumption & costs.
20% reduction in water consumption & costs.
30% reduction in energy consumption & costs.
Note that these percentages are average, and may decrease or increase depending on the level of each business’s green efforts.

4- For the environment:
Of course that’s the first reason why we should all go green. But why is saving the environment important for your company? Well simply because you wouldn’t have one if there is too much industrial damage and no ressources for you to run your business.

Here are some business-environment facts you may not be aware of (www.wamda.com):

The average business consumes 3.6 tons of paper/year – The equivalence of a large garden full of trees. Assuming an average sized city has 100 businesses, imagine the amount of land they use up every year.

The average business consumes 480,000 m3 of water/year – This equals 2 million, 400 thousand barrels of water! The sad thing is: more than 20% of that water is not needed.

The average business consumes 1,175,000 KWH/year – that’s enough to power 65 average sized homes for a whole year! Now get this, businesses account for 40% of all energy consumption in a country.