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Going Green: What's in it for you?

It's a sentiment that is largely hush-hush in the business community, but lots of entrepreneurs, managers and directorssecretly think "what's in it for me?" when they are approached about the issue of going green.
While those who speak the loudest on environmental issues would have you believe that this way of thinking is shameful, it is actually quite reasonable, especially since business-minded people are trained to ask this question in every situation. The answer to "what's in it for me?" can help a board to make the decisions that steer a company into multimillion-dollar deals and similarly it can provide the assurance to the entrepreneur who might otherwise waiver on his path to success.
So instead of fighting the urge to ask the question you really want answered, go with an approach that has never failed and find out why your company should pay attention to green issues. Besides the obvious beauty pageant answer that "it saves the world", you will find that there are some very convincing and rational reasons why it is the smart thing to do.
Green Processes Can Actually Be More Cost-Effective
The major thrust behind any green initiative is to use fewer resources. This can happen as a result of a more careful allocation of materials or by implementing recycling systems that reuse instead of dump the output from various processes. Using fewer resources inevitably means spending less money which translates into higher profit margins.
Your Customers Are Becoming More Environmentally Conscious
PriceSmart is just one local example of a company that recognises this trend and has decided to act on it by providing reusable tote bags for their customers. This also saves them money because they no longer need to supply take-away bags. Supermarket chain Hi-Lo has also started making reusable bags available to their customers.
Beyond this simple example customers are becoming more informed about ways to help save the environment and they want to do their part. All sorts of organic products have sprung up on the market and they are getting attention because people are interested in anything green.
Shareholders Place Value on Green Companies
Noting the trend in consumer awareness and the potential for profitability, shareholders also keep a keen eye out for news that companies are implementing green processes. So your green image can even trickle down to your share price if you make a point of publicising it tastefully and highlighting the benefits to those who need to know.
Certainly the reverse can also be true and you need to look no further than the example of BP to see the devastating effects that harming the environment, intentionally or unintentionally, can have on your company image and its stock price. You may be tempted to rely on the excuse that the local and regional stock markets are not that sophisticated, but this would be a mistake. Even if there is an information lag reflected in stock market prices at present, do you want your company to be at the back of the line when things improve or to be positioned comfortably at the front?
Instill a Sense of Pride in Your Employees
Employees who work for organisations that make environmental policy a cornerstone of their company value system naturally feel better about themselves. They stand taller, they proudly display their shirts emblazoned with company emblems and they are eager to talk about the good that they are a part of with their friends. Green initiatives can do more than contribute to the environment; they can also give a huge boost to employee morale. So now that you have some answers to the burning business issue behind going green, hopefully you can try to find ways to make your company more environmentally friendly. Remember that eco-friendly doesn't have to mean "more cost," it can and often does equate to "more profit".
This article was written by Natalia Jones for the R4 Initiative OrganizatioN. The R4 is a non-profit group whose mission is to raise the bar on environmental awareness and recycling in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Visit www.r4initiative.org to find out how you can help.

WASTE RECYCLING CENTRES
Ace Recycling Limited - 638-3946
Carib Glassworks Ltd (Glass Recycling) - 662-2231
Caribbean Tech Disposals Ltd (Recycling of Electronic Equipment) - 625-8324
Kab Environmental & Recyclers Co Ltd - 665-8971
Secure Recycling Limited (SRL) - 684-SAVE (7283)
Studley Park Industrial Waste Disposal Facility - Scarborough, Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago Solid Waste Management Co. Ltd - 625-6678 (Trinidad); 639-3558 (Tobago)
Technical Systems Ltd - 697-1267
Trinidad Recycling & Trading Company Ltd - 665-3855
Waste Disposal Ltd - 625-6746
Waste Plastic Recovery Ltd - 625-5546

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