The Social Impact of a Company Going Green

Greening the workplace is a great way to save money.

Greening a business has many positive social effects. There are many ways to make an existing business more sustainable, or green. Among them are reducing energy and water use, reducing office waste and finding efficiencies in the manufacturing process.

Social Benefits

Greening a business shows that the owners care about people and the environment. By reducing waste and pollution, a business shows that it is socially responsible.

Boosts Employee Satisfaction

Greening a business means a happy workforce.

By reducing energy and water consumption or reducing waste in the manufacturing process, employers show employees that they have the triple-bottom line "Planet, People, Profit" in mind.

Long-Term Savings

Up-front costs associated with becoming more sustainable add about 3 percent to 4 percent to a project's budget, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. That's recouped by the energy efficiencies gained and lower energy costs over time, leading to substantial savings.

Reducing Waste

By reducing waste and finding efficiencies in the manufacturing process, companies can save big. Making a cleaner, greener product allows a company to invest those savings in social endeavors.

Public Expects It

Consumers are placing more pressure on companies to go green. Buyers are considering where the product comes from and its impact on society.

References

• Sustainable Business Strategies
• U.S. Green Building Council

Resources

• Business.gov: Green Business Guide