Everyone nowadays mentions going “green.” But what, exactly, does that mean? The term itself is used so loosely and covers a broad array of topics, that it’s hard to pinpoint exactly 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 order to provide a product that will positively affect the environment. This can mean they’re seeking to have as little negative impact as possible or they’re specifically making a product or offering a service that really improves our environment.
Guidelines for Creating a Green Company in Hawaii
The basic guideline for creating a green company is called the triple bottom line. This guideline demands that ecological and social effects be taken into consideration and often put ahead of profits when creating a product/service. A model Hawaii green company functions on three axes: people, planet and profit.
What Ecological Considerations Should Hawaii Green Companies Make?
Pollution prevention. Work to minimize the quantity of toxins used in a product along with proper mitigation of toxins at the conclusion of the manufacturing/cultivating process.
Recycling. The decrease in waste is emphasized throughout the entire process. Waste from the actual creation of a product as well as 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 usage 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 minimum.
Sourcing. Truly green companies in Hawaii source their products from green suppliers and make usage of natural or organic raw materials. This in turn helps support the green community at large, pre-established Hawaii green companies and encourages other businesses to think about going green.
Green Business Trends in Hawaii
Green marketing. Also called greenwashing, the word refers to spinning PR to make a company appear eco-friendly. Consumers be forewarned. To ensure authenticity, do your own research.
Green buildings. Once an unavoidable cause of negative environmental impact, by making use of government incentives more green companies in Hawaii are building (or re-building) their offices to be environmentally friendly.
Managing e-waste. More and more green companies are educating themselves on the way to properly recycle and dispose of office electronics in HI.
Transparency. Due to the recent trend of greenwashing, authentically green companies are educating their consumer about their product from start to finish in an effort to help them make the decision. Information about where the product is sourced from and what vendors the company works with, is readily and eagerly shared with everyone.
Popular Types of Green Companies in Hawaii
- Thrift/clothing shops.
- Green construction
- Lodging (hotels, camping parks, etc.)
- Restaurants
- Transportation (ZipCar, Honda, etc.)
- Energy (solar, wind, biodiesel, etc.)