Sustainability is a powerful movement that is beginning to affect
all businesses, large and small. Simply defined, a sustainable
business is one that meets the needs of the present generation with
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. Our sustainable business specialist,
Diane
Wolverton can help you address these issues for your
business. You’ll discover processes and practices you can add to
your business operations that will make your business healthy for
you, your employees, customers and the environment—now and in the
future.
Topics addressed include:
1. Company Mission: Your company mission guides your business day by day. Does it address sustainability?
2. Energy Usage: Learn how to reduce your “carbon footprint” on Earth and also save money.
3. Waste: Most business owners never consider the amount of waste their companies create and the impact that waste has on the environment. We will explore practical ways to reduce the creation of waste as well as discover alternative uses for it.
4. Your product’s sustainability quotient: Sustainable companies need to spend time, energy and resources to make sure their products and raw materials are sustainably produced.
5. Marketing to the sustainability-minded consumer: According to LOHAS, the sustainability market will reach $845 million by 2015. Learn how to effectively enter and succeed in this marketplace and how to network with sustainably-minded associations, become listed in green directories, eco-label and eco-package you products, and compete for green awards and certifications that will help you to build your brand among this customer segment.
6. Workplace environment: We’ll examine the “hard” and “soft” aspects of creating a healthy, happy and productive work environment. The “hard” aspects include the physical location: natural lighting, fresh air, non-toxic chemicals used in paints, cleaners and fabrics and ergonomically friendly workspace. The “soft” aspects include such things as wellness programs, exercise and meditation rooms, family friendly policies, health benefits and workplace culture.
7. Your company as part of community: Buying local, sharing space, providing your “waste” as material for other companies, and participating in low-impact development practices are a few of the ways that a company can reach out to the community as a good and sustainable neighbor.
8. Measuring success: Measuring the effectiveness of sustainable business practices requires the use of triple bottom line accounting. The "triple" refers to profit, people and planet. A sustainable company must implement these new ways of measuring and we will discuss new models that show how it is done.
Sign up online for an appointment with our sustainability specialist. Or, call WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz at 1-800-348-5194.