Although there are robust and technical environmental audits, often small companies don’t necessarily need such detail to understand their environmental impacts. Smaller companies can conduct sustainability assessments that are more geared to their business. Assessments not only review the footprint of organization operations but will also identify opportunities to improve environmental stewardship, save money, improve productivity and increase customer and employee loyalty.
To conduct your own sustainability assessment, reach out to each department or division of a company and hold informational interviews. Although more information can be gathered through in-person meetings, an organization can also conduct an assessment via an online survey. Develop a series of questions that ask specifically what each area is doing to reduce resource use and minimize environmental impact. Some organizations also like to assess the social side of business and determine how employees are engaged in the community and the non-profit organizations they support.
Here are is a list of some sample questions to ask by each sustainability topic area:
Waste Management: Is recycling provided as an option? If so, what percentage of the employees participates in office recycling?
Suppliers and Purchasing: Are office supplies purchased made from post-consumer recycled material? How many of your vendors are local suppliers? Has your purchasing department developed in guidelines that take into account green businesses practices?
Paper Reduction: What paper reduction policies and/or practices has the company done? Is the company’s marketing giveaways made from recycled material and/or recyclable?
Energy Conservation: How has your company tried to reduce energy? Do you own any energy star equipment? Does staff turn off equipment in the evenings?
Water Conservation: How has your company tried to reduce water? What water saving devices are installed in your facilities?
Toxins and Chemicals: What types of cleaning chemicals are used in your office? Is there any toxic or hazardous material located at the facilities?
Transportation: If you have a transportation fleet, what measures have you taken to reduce driving?
Employees: Does the company have any communications educating employees about conservation of resources?
Philanthropy: How does your company contribute to the community? Donations? Volunteer programs?
Have you ever wondered what to do with your old credit cards, reward cards, gift cards and other plastic type cards in your wallet? With over 10 billion new cards place in circulation every year, most are thrown in the trash contributing more than 75 million pounds of PVC (plastic resin) in the landfill every year. In addition, with credit card fraud an ongoing issue it is usually not safe to throw these cards away in the trash. Now there is a company that recycles this plastic and destroys these cards responsibly.
Earthworks System is a PVC recycling company that began accepting plastic type credit, gift and reward cards for recycling in 2008. They target retailers who hopefully will send in large quantities of cards but they now allow individuals to mail them in too, knowing that these cards often don’t get back to the company who distributed them.
Earthworks grinds up old cards (ensuring they are disposed of safely) and crafts them into PVC sheets used to make new plastic cards. Retailers can then purchase Earthworks 100% recycled PVC material to make new cards. You can tell if it is a Earthworks card on the back just above the magnetic strip.
Your old plastic cards (both individuals and businesses) can be mailed to: Earthworks c/o Halprin Ind.
25840 Miles Rd. , Bedford, OH 44146.
Type of cards accepted; ID cards, credit cards, driver’s license, library card, rental cards, membership cards, reward cards, shopper discount cards, and retailer gift cards.
Many companies in the beginning of the New Year purchase new electronic equipment. It is important to discard e-waste appropriately by using e-waste vendors that are certified by the Basel Action Network e-Stewards program. This system of certification is an independent audit that ensures recyclers do not throw e-waste into landfills and to only send to developing countries that have responsible and safe means of destruction and disposal.
There was a responsible electronics recycling act (HR 2284/ S. 1270) that was introduced in Congress in June of 2011. This Act would prevent the export of non-functional or shredded electronic scrap to developing countries and make it illegal to dump electronics into the landfill. It has been passed down to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment but as of today, the status is unknown.
Two great videos on the issues of e-waste;
Story of Electronics: Produced by the same organization as the Story of Stuff. An easy 20 minute video on where electronics go once they have no use.
60 Minutes Wasteland: First aired in 2009 and again in 2010, this gripping and telling investigative reporting on e-waste issues in China.
Go to eco-officiency’s website to learn about recommended places to recycle or donate unwanted computers and electronics.
December usually is the time for giving donations to the community and other non-profit organizations around the world. Philanthropic gestures are considered one important aspect in supporting the social side of corporate sustainability. A company can donate directly or take part in match programs with employees’ favorite non-profits. Here are a few programs to consider;
Colorado Gives Day is December 6, 2011. It is a local movement to help raise funds for al Colorado based community non-profits. All donations can be made through Colorado Gives website. Last year over $8.7 million dollars was donated to local Colorado charities.
1% for the planet is another non-profit organization that supports corporate philanthropy. America averages about 1% of sales to nonprofit organizations. 1% for the plant is helping environmental groups around the world; this was started by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia. This organization now has 1393 companies committed to giving 1% of their sales to over 2500 environmental organizations worldwide. All companies can become a member and take the pledge to give 1% of their sales to non-profit organizations.
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)is a government run donation program where donation pledges are made by government personnel. Each U.S. government agency has a CFC contact and there is an extensive catalog available for employees to make pledges to various non-profits.
These quizzes are 10 questions each and do a good job to see if you really know your stuff. Don’t worry if you get the answer wrong, it will give the correct information so you can get 100% the second time around. Topics range from various rooms and mechanical aspects in your home to topics such as organic gardening, plastics, water, travel and energy.
These quizzes are fun and easy to take. Consider using them before sustainability trainings or integrate them into your green team meetings.
Earth Aid, is a software company that is helping consumers reduce their utility bills. The company recently named one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in energy by Fast Company magazine, provides an incentive to members when they reduce energy to also accrue points. Customers establish an account on Earth Aid which is connected to a user’s utility information including power, water and gas companies. Available to U.S. customers in all 50 states, it is a great way for consumers to be mindful of resource conservation and get some free products from Starbucks and other local businesses.
For more information and articles about Earth Aid:
There are some great green apps now available that can help consumers make conscious choices on products and services and improve their green footprint. All these apps are free:
Find Green: This app provides a directory of green retail establishments in your area. It uses the GPS system on Android phones and can direct you to the nearest green establishment from where you are located.
Good Guide: An app that the developers have been working on for years and is very well regarded. You can scan the barcode of a product with your smartphone and it will provide you a sustainability ranking of that company and product.
Fooducate: An app that provides more information on ingredients and labels of food products. It has a rating scale and does offer alternative products that might be better or healthier for you.
Animal Free: Is able to help consumers know which ingredients contain animal products. This is useful for those individuals who want to be completely animal free.
Ecorio: This app also uses the GPS system on your smartphone to track your carbon footprint as you travel. Then, it also provides a quick way to purchase carbon offsets through Google.
PedNav: This is an app that helps plan the best route and transportation option with the activities of your day. It encourages walking and biking instead of a vehicle and helps route the best way to travel.
For a more extensive listing of Green Apps, see Treehuggers list of over 100 green apps.
Green credit cards usually are co-branded with non profit organizations and promises to give a donation percentage or carbon credit with every purchase. It is an interesting model and one way to give back that doesn’t require a lot of time.
Do you have good intentions to donate but just can’t find the time? Well, a new service, SwipeGood rounds up all of your credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and allows you to donate the difference to the charity of your choice. Talk about easy! They have over 300 charities listed and your dollars can be divided to multiple charities. You can also sign up one credit card or multiple credit cards. Here is an article from Fast Company about the organization.
It is important to get an overview of what green initiatives a company has already started along with the areas that have the potential for improvement with regards to environmental and social responsibility. Reach out to each department or division of a company and hold information interviews. Although more information can be gathered through in-person meetings, an organization can also conduct an assessment via an online survey. Develop a series of questions that ask specifically what each area is doing to reduce resource use and minimize environmental impact. Some organizations also like to assess the social side of business and how engaged they are in the community and supporting non-profit organizations. Eco-officiency has developed an assessment tool with a series of questions for each major department of an organization that can be downloaded at www.eco-officiency.com under the Resources tab.
Although there are robust and technical environmental audits, often small companies don’t necessarily need such detail to understand their environmental impacts. Smaller companies can conduct sustainability assessments that are more geared to their business. Assessments not only review the footprint of organization operations but will also identify opportunities to improve environmental stewardship, save money, improve productivity and increase customer and employee loyalty.
Assessment Tools | eco-officiency February 7, 2012 | 
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