Green Certification for Small Businesses
Green Certification for Small Businesses
This is not a question of if, but a question of when and that question is going to be answered in the very near future. This is the reason that so many large corporations are taking a proactive role in applying new green policies.
The holy grail of ESM is the ISO 14001 family of environmental certifications and most third party audit companies are already being pushed to their limits to meet this demand. ISO 14001 may be the gold standard and all businesses in this country should aspire to this level of environmental commitment, but very few have this luxury. The reasons are simple, ISO 14001 is a complex and expensive program that only a select few companies with very deep pockets can incorporate.
While ISO 14001 might be the perfect choice for the "Nike's", "kodak's or the "Intel's of the world, not many of the small businesses that make up the backbone of this country can afford to participate.
Why this is so important to every small business owner is also very simple, its called trickle down environmental economics. ( if you'll allow me to coin a phrase) I'll give you the perfect and most recent example of how this works. Late last year, Wal Mart announced that they will be requiring all 60,000 of their vendors to incorporate some level of EMS into their businesses. Sure you can chose not to participate, but can your small business loose Wal Mart as a customer.
What are the options for small businesses if ISO is out of reach? There are several programs currently available to every small business and more are turning up each day. Even though I am the director of one such option, GreenScene EMS, I feel its my duty to present a broader plate of options. In consideration of this article, I don't feel comfortable promoting organizations that I'm not familiar with so I am going to offer only one alternative beyond my own. The first step for any small business is to research their local or federal EPA office. The EPA has a number of programs that small businesses can apply, some that are self-audited and simple, some that are complex and require a third party. But, all of these programs are available at a fraction of the cost of ISO.
Now, more than ever, small businesses in this country need to start planning for the rise of environmental issues related to their business. Your customers are already demanding it, your employees are demanding it, but most important are the higher standards and regulations that will be imposed by local, state and federal governments.
Jay Welsh
Executive Director
AE Media Group
Green Certification for Small Businesses - To learn more about this author, visit Jay Welsh's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Almost on a daily basis, we hear of another major corporation applying an environmental management system (EMS) to their operation. The reason is simple, change is coming and its coming faster than you think. As the new administration takes office in early 2009, one of their top priorities will be to study Europe's "cap & trade" programs and determine what will work here in the United States.
This is not a question of if, but a question of when and that question is going to be answered in the very near future. This is the reason that so many large corporations are taking a proactive role in applying new green policies.
The holy grail of ESM is the ISO 14001 family of environmental certifications and most third party audit companies are already being pushed to their limits to meet this demand. ISO 14001 may be the gold standard and all businesses in this country should aspire to this level of environmental commitment, but very few have this luxury. The reasons are simple, ISO 14001 is a complex and expensive program that only a select few companies with very deep pockets can incorporate.
While ISO 14001 might be the perfect choice for the "Nike's", "kodak's or the "Intel's of the world, not many of the small businesses that make up the backbone of this country can afford to participate.
Why this is so important to every small business owner is also very simple, its called trickle down environmental economics. ( if you'll allow me to coin a phrase) I'll give you the perfect and most recent example of how this works. Late last year, Wal Mart announced that they will be requiring all 60,000 of their vendors to incorporate some level of EMS into their businesses. Sure you can chose not to participate, but can your small business loose Wal Mart as a customer.
What are the options for small businesses if ISO is out of reach? There are several programs currently available to every small business and more are turning up each day. Even though I am the director of one such option, GreenScene EMS, I feel its my duty to present a broader plate of options. In consideration of this article, I don't feel comfortable promoting organizations that I'm not familiar with so I am going to offer only one alternative beyond my own. The first step for any small business is to research their local or federal EPA office. The EPA has a number of programs that small businesses can apply, some that are self-audited and simple, some that are complex and require a third party. But, all of these programs are available at a fraction of the cost of ISO.
Now, more than ever, small businesses in this country need to start planning for the rise of environmental issues related to their business. Your customers are already demanding it, your employees are demanding it, but most important are the higher standards and regulations that will be imposed by local, state and federal governments.
Jay Welsh
Executive Director
AE Media Group
Green Certification for Small Businesses - To learn more about this author, visit Jay Welsh's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
|||
Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
|||
John AlexanderJohn has taught keyword research and SEO skills to small groups of business owners and Webmasters from over 80 different countries world wide since 2002. John is also the Director of Search Engine Academy ; Co-director of Training at Search Engine Workshops offering live, SEO Workshops with his partner SEO educator Robin Nobles, author of the very first comprehensive online search engine marketing courses at SEO Training Online and the SEO Workshop Resource Center. I look forward to hearing from you! - Visit John Alexander's Website |
|||
Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
|||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Jay's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Marketing ScoreCard Integrity Guide Solving Problems Human Potential Institute The Leadership Edge |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Productivity Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2009 | |
 |
Top 50 Business Plans
Top Business Plan Blogs | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||