What is a green business?
Green businesses—or, green companies—embrace sustainable operations, production, and sourcing. The goal of green business is to eliminate any negative impact on the environment, at both a local and global scale.
Most often, eco-friendly products create the foundation. That means the supply chain is a crucial component: ingredients and materials are safe, nontoxic, and ethically sourced. For instance, many green companies choose fair-trade products that aren’t produced using child labor.
Likewise, green businesses offer goods and services that make it easier for their customers to live an eco-friendly life. Recycled products, sustainable facilities, and educational programs are common examples, but green companies span almost every industry.
Corporate social responsibility is another cornerstone, where the focus extends beyond products to support the health, development, and well-being of people: namely, employees, customers, their communities.
Not only does a green business make the world a better place, but they serve and target an ever-increasing segment of customers dedicated to ethical consumerism. This overlap makes going green not only good for the environment but also good for business.
Unfortunately, all that can feel like a tall order—especially if you run your own small business and haven’t built it on green foundations.
So, what can you start doing today?