Everyone nowadays talks about going “green.” But what, exactly, does that mean? The phrase itself is used so loosely and covers a large range of topics, that it’s hard to pinpoint precisely what makes a green company “green.” In the simplest of terms, green means earth or eco-friendly. Therefore a green company is one that employs the utilization of practices, principles, and policies in an effort to provide a product that will positively affect the environment. This can mean they’re trying to have as little negative impact as possible or they’re specifically making a product or offering a service that truly improves our environment.
Guidelines for Creating a Green Company in Arizona
The basic guideline for creating a green company is referred to as the triple bottom line. This guideline dictates that ecological and social effects be taken into consideration and often put ahead of profits when creating a product/service. A model Arizona green company functions on three axes: people, planet and profit.
What Ecological Considerations Should Arizona Green Companies Make?
Pollution prevention. Work to minimize the amount of toxins used in a product along with proper mitigation of toxins at the end of the manufacturing/cultivating process.
Recycling. The decrease in waste is emphasized throughout the entire process. Waste from the actual creation of a product and also from staff is limited. Recycled materials are employed when appropriate and the product itself ought to be easily recycled.
Water and energy conservation. The amount of water and energy used during distribution and manufacturing are kept to a minimum. The utilization of either of these sources is done so in a reserved and strategic manner. This can turn out to be particularly beneficial for a company as energy costs run high. Alternative, renewable sources of energy allow a company to hold overhead low and waste and pollution at a low level.
Sourcing. Truly green companies in Arizona source their products from green suppliers and make usage of natural or organic raw materials. This in turn helps support the green community as a whole, pre-established Arizona green companies and encourages other businesses to look at going green.
Green Business Trends in Arizona
Green marketing. Also known as greenwashing, the word refers to spinning PR to make a company appear eco-friendly. Consumers be forewarned. To guarantee authenticity, do your own research.
Green buildings. Once an unavoidable origin of negative environmental impact, with the help of government incentives more green companies in Arizona are building (or re-building) their offices to be environmentally friendly.
Managing e-waste. More and more green companies are educating themselves on how to properly recycle and get rid of office electronics in AZ.
Transparency. Due to the recent trend of greenwashing, authentically green companies are educating their consumer about their product from start to finish in order to help them make the decision. Details about where the product is sourced from and what vendors the company works with, is readily and eagerly shared with the general public.
Popular Types of Green Companies in Arizona
- Thrift/clothing retailers.
- Green construction
- Lodging (hotels, camping parks, etc.)
- Restaurants
- Transportation (ZipCar, Honda, etc.)
- Energy (solar, wind, biodiesel, etc.)