Green Business

Why Green is Still Gold

By Kelly Spors - Apr 2, 2012 - 3 Comments

My fellow Small Biz Trends columnist Joel Libava recently wrote a thought-provoking post asking: Are Green Businesses Still Golden? He points to some possible signs that the green business movement may be sputtering, such as the temporary shutdown of Chevy Volt production and solar panel maker … Read More

The Benefits and Controversy of White Roofs

By Kelly Spors - Mar 26, 2012 - 7 Comments

Much ado has been made in recent years about the benefits of installing white or “cool” roofs. The idea: Light-colored materials reflect heat, while dark roofs, such as those made of asphalt and tar, absorb heat, driving up air-conditioning consumption in order to offset it. So, in other … Read More

Are Green Businesses Still Golden?

By Joel Libava - Mar 20, 2012 - 13 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get the feeling that the excitement surrounding the green business movement is starting to lose its luster. Before I share some of the reasons why, read The State of Green Business from Kelly Spors, as it will help set the table for this post. … Read More

Is Business Sustainability Moving Fast Enough?

By Kelly Spors - Mar 15, 2012 - 5 Comments

Last week, I wrote about how small businesses have been slower overall than their larger counterparts to adopt green business practices for a variety of reasons. But there’s a larger, more worrisome concern: Many environmentalists and sustainable business advocates worry the overall charge … Read More

Small Businesses Lag on Sustainability: What To Do About It

By Kelly Spors - Mar 9, 2012 - 16 Comments

All the recent headlines about corporate sustainability initiatives are encouraging: Fortune 500 companies are embracing environmental sustainability like never before, investing millions of dollars in greener operations and making sustainability a key part of their business strategy. “Nearly … Read More

Helping Customers Throw Away Your Products Responsibly

By Kelly Spors - Mar 1, 2012 - 2 Comments

Even if you sell the most eco-friendly products on earth, you can’t control how consumers eventually dispose of them. Do they end up in landfills? Get recycled? Donated or resold? Recyclable plastic, after all, does little good if consumers toss it in the trash can. A good solution is to … Read More

The Dangers of Wooing the Green Consumer

By Kelly Spors - Feb 23, 2012 - 4 Comments

Businesses trying to establish their products or services as "green" often make a potentially lethal mistake: They think their target market is “green consumers.” Those people who seek out eco-friendly products, shop at Whole Foods and drive Toyota Priuses. They play up the eco-friendliness of … Read More

How Much Is That Incandescent Costing You?

By Kelly Spors - Feb 16, 2012 - 7 Comments

Many small businesses have already switched to energy-efficient lighting but there are still plenty of holdouts. Some business owners don’t like the look of twisty compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), or they find LEDs and CFLs light too glaringly bright. Higher upfront costs of new lighting … Read More

4 Ways to Be More Authentically Green

By Kelly Spors - Feb 6, 2012 - 7 Comments

Business owners are often natural sales people. They love to talk about their successes – and yes, occasionally glaze over their setbacks, their shortcomings. It’s human nature, in fact. But when it comes to green business, there are risks to downplaying your weaknesses or only trumpeting … Read More

4 Sustainability Trends Among Retailers

By Kelly Spors - Jan 31, 2012 - 1 Comment

Retailers face major challenges when it comes to sustainability. They source products made all over the world. They use lots of energy to keep stores well lit and comfortable. They sells products that could one day end up in landfills. But a new report from the Retail Industry Leaders … Read More

What’s the State of Green Business?

By Kelly Spors - Jan 23, 2012 - 5 Comments

What are corporate sustainability leaders worrying about these days? Are businesses still investing time and money in green initiatives like they did a few years ago? GreenBiz recently unveiled its State of Green Business 2012 report. The 84-page report goes into great detail about the current … Read More

How to Start a Business Recycling Program

By Kelly Spors - Jan 17, 2012 - 2 Comments

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to be an eco-friendlier business is often overlooked: Recycling. Chances are your business sends more items to the landfill than it has to. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 75% of solid waste thrown away is recyclable. The good news, … Read More