| you study history, you see that the challenges | | | | goods, and Nike gets press for grinding up and |
| society faces are cyclical in nature. If you get | | | | recycling its old shoes into safer playground |
| nostalgic for the good old days, watch the local | | | | materials for children. But beware: eco-savvy |
| television station that rebroadcasts shows from | | | | consumers can sniff out an overinflated claim. |
| the 70’s. You might notice the hot issues | | | | That’s why it’s important to have |
| look awfully familiar: saving the environment, the | | | | documented results, and this is where your ERP |
| energy crisis, race relations, immigration. | | | | system can help you. Use it to track the amount |
| The buzz words have changed: global warming, | | | | of waste reduction in your manufacturing process, |
| carbon footprints, diversity. But the issues remain | | | | or if you are adding more warehouses to cut |
| as thorny and controversial as ever. In the case | | | | down on fuel-driven distribution costs, use it to |
| of global warming, arguments rage on, with | | | | separately track and compare costs. With |
| standard bearers on both sides questioning each | | | | verifiable results there will be no need to be |
| other’s agendas, and the very validity of | | | | humble about your green contributions. |
| the issue itself. | | | | • You can enhance your image and |
| Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of | | | | reputation by taking a leadership position on this |
| belief and philosophy, one thing seems to be clear: | | | | issue. Perhaps you could rank your suppliers based |
| “going green” has become a | | | | on their eco-sense, or use more green products. |
| mandate for business. It’s time to take | | | | Use your Accounts Payable systems to give your |
| stock and consider how to approach this issue. | | | | vendors a “green” rating and then |
| Your business systems – ERP, Accounting, | | | | track purchases according to this rating to later |
| Human Resources - can help you turn this | | | | report results. This can give your company a |
| challenge into an opportunity. | | | | competitive advantage, and make it stand out for |
| As you use your IT and software technology to | | | | all the right reasons. |
| track the direction your carbon footprint is taking | | | | • This is an ideal opportunity to get your |
| you, consider these benefits to going green. | | | | employees involved. Going green is a grass roots |
| • Despite the perception that greening a | | | | operation, so turn to your employees for ideas |
| business is expensive, going green and staying in | | | | and suggestions on how to run the business in a |
| the black are not actually mutually exclusive. Very | | | | more eco-friendly way. In addition to giving them |
| basic, easily achieved green practices can help the | | | | a sense of ownership, it will increase their pride in |
| environment and improve the bottom line: turn | | | | the company they work for. Not only might you |
| off lights and computers when not in use, recycle | | | | be amazed at the quality of the suggestions, but |
| paper. Look for creative ways to reduce, reuse | | | | you will probably get a lot more cooperation in |
| and recycle. Use your accounting systems to | | | | making the necessary changes. Make sure you |
| track the costs of a lighting retrofit versus the | | | | set up automated systems to allow tracking of |
| reduction in your utility bill. If you are more | | | | suggestions, participation in cost-saving programs, |
| ambitious, look into having your staff do more | | | | etc. Many human resources packages can track |
| telecommuting. Tools like web-cams, internet chat | | | | an employee’s input, which can then be |
| instant messaging, and online project management | | | | used in evaluations or as a basis of additional |
| applications, can make telecommuting a more | | | | monetary compensation or non-monetary perks. |
| effective solution. | | | | We may have new jargon to describe the |
| • Being ecologically responsible has | | | | problem thirty years from now, but chances are |
| become something of a marketing tool. More and | | | | we’ll still be grappling with the issue. |
| more consumers are looking for companies that | | | | Certainly for the time being, going green is not |
| are known for their green products or practices. | | | | going away. It might make sense to use all the |
| Even Wal-Mart has become famous as the | | | | tools in our toolbox to tackle this one now. |
| world’s largest producer of organic cotton | | | | |