For many small business owners, thinking about creating an eco-friendly, green business is like that backpacking trip around Europe you’ve thought about for years—it’s a great dream, but let’s face it, it will never work.
You’re likely thinking – “I barely managed to incorporate my business. Worrying about “green” practices will have to wait until I have the resources to do it.
For one, the extra cost of being environmentally-conscious is a pain and the supplies add up quick. Also, it can be a hassle making sure your business and the companies you work with have similar goals and procedures.
So how can environmental sustainability financially improve your small business? More and more companies are finding a way.
Ian Boltin is a winemaker in Berkeley, California, and the owner of Eight Arms Cellars. Originally, Boltin’s primary focus was just making great wine, but as his business got on its feet he brought his real strength—marketing—into the mix.
During the two year period that he waited for his first batch of wine to ferment, Boltin became interested in creating a socially responsible and environmentally-friendly business. Soon after, he developed his “Go Green Drink Red” campaign, which advertised that when buyers purchased one of Eight Arm’s wines, a portion of the proceeds were donated to environmental programs working to preserve and renew our natural resources.
Eight Arms Cellars gave away $5,000 in its first two years, and will continue to in the future.
In addition to donating a portion of his profit, Boltin supplements the carbon footprint he knows his rented building makes by purchasing credits through Native Energy, a leading supplier in the U.S. carbon market, to counteract his emissions. Every product he buys for his company is purchased with environmental sustainability in mind—from the corks to the labels.
“[Going green] is easy to do and there are a lot of resources out there. I have found it really easy to find suppliers who share my same vision, and in this economy it’s great to support other local businesses,” says Boltin.
You may say, “Well this is nice, but going green can only work on small scale business.” To that, the fast food chain Chipotle says, “Try again.”
Chipotle is an example of an eco-friendly business that not only survived going green, but has thrived. Everything Chipotle does keeps sustainability in mind—grass-fed cattle, pesticide-free and fresh produce, and the architectural design of every restaurant—and does so without bringing much attention to the fact.
Chipotle’s motto is “Food with integrity,” and they believe that good products pay off.
It undoubtedly has…
In 2010, Chipotle was third on the list of the fastest growing restaurant chains with approximately 750,000 customers per day, and Consumer Reports ranked Chipotle as the best Mexican fast-food chain in 2011. That’s not a bad record for a green business.
Ultimately, business is about providing a product or service that customers want, and the bottom line, like it or not, is that a growing number of customers want businesses that invest in sustainability and green initiatives.
Although promoting environmental sustainability has its upfront costs, in the end, making a move to go green will pay off. Investing in our children’s future and sustaining a profitable business are no longer inconsistent with each other.
Bolton’s advice? “Be genuine about it; don’t use the greening of your business as a marketing strategy. Customers will appreciate that you are making the effort to run a business that is good for the environment and for the community you live in.”
Creating a green business may be a dream that can come true after all.
To read more about Eight Arms Cellars, and other businesses who’ve found that going green is a valuable investment, visit BusinessNewsDaily.com.