SEE NEWER POST (added February 2012): Sustainable Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethical Finance, and Sustainable Economies
While the majority of businesses still have a long way to go to be environmentally sustainable, it’s clear that interest in greening the business world is on the rise. One of the many signs of this is the growing number of Sustainable MBA programs cropping up around the country (e.g., the Presidio Graduate School’s MBA in Sustainable Management, Dominican University’s Green MBA, and at least 20 others). Another indicator is the gradual greening of massive companies like Walmart, which recently developed a Sustainability Index to assess the sustainability of its supplier companies. We’re also seeing the emergence of “green” banks, such as New Resource Bank. And some cities and counties have established Green Business certification programs for local businesses.
Given the significant environmental, social, economic, and health impacts (as well as the political influence) that many companies have, it’s critically important that we support and create businesses that implement responsible and sustainable policies and practices—businesses that reflect our values and whose practices and products aren’t compromising the length or quality our lives.
Among U.S. companies, a few that have shown early and exceptional leadership in sustainability are: Patagonia (the recreation/outdoors outfitter), Interface (the commercial carpet company), Seventh Generation (household products), and Straus Family Creamery (organic dairy).
Two of the many recent books on green business are:
- Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose–Doing Business by Respecting the Earth, by Ray C. Anderson (the founder and chairman of Interface, Inc.). He also wrote the excellent book Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise, back in 1998.
- Green Recovery: Get Lean, Get Smart, and Emerge from the Downturn on Top, by Andrew Winston
And a seminal book on green business is:
- Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins. This was published in 1999. Ray Anderson credits Paul Hawken’s 1994 book, The Ecology of Commerce, with inspiring his initial epiphany and shift towards sustainability. For other books on green business, click here.
These are some of the major online hubs for news and information on green business:
- GreenBiz.com
- Sustainable Industries
- CSR Wire (Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Newswire)
- SustainableBusiness.com
- Green America: Responsible Shopper Guide and Green Business info
- Fast Company: Ethonomics articles on CSR and green innovations
Also, author and consultant Andrew Winston has a good green business blog.
And last but not least, the following are some of the most prominent groups and networks that help companies improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and their environmental performance:
- Business for Social Responsibility
- Ceres: Investors and Environmentalists for Sustainable Prosperity
- Global Reporting Initiative: Sustainability reporting framework
- Social Venture Network
- The Natural Step
SEE NEWER POST (added February 2012): Sustainable Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethical Finance, and Sustainable Economies
The following are key online resources for information on federal, state, and local environmental tax credits, rebates, and other financial incentives. Most of the incentives that are available are for installing energy-efficient equipment or renewable energy (e.g., solar) technologies.