Sustainable Business Practices

• Do well at the same time as doing good (being a sustainable business)
• Meet the increasing demand from customers to be green
• Become more eco-efficient and therefore cut costs of energy, transport and waste
• Become more carbon proof – pay less for resources necessary to doing business and charge less for materials purchased by customers
• Become more productive - do more with less
• Generate increased loyalty and trust from stakeholders and customers
• Heighten their profile as a responsible corporate citizen and therefore improve their public profile – do the right thing
• Generate new markets and networks
• Gain a comparative advantage in the market place
• Become more viable as a business in which others may wish to invest
• Ensure ongoing regulatory compliance in an era when this pressure will heighten rather than lessen

Carbon proofing businesses – the not-so-dirty dozen!

1. Reduce energy consumption
2. Use renewable energy sources
3. Adopt a sustainable procurement policy which ensures the purchase of carbon-proofed goods from suppliers
4. Reduce, re-use or recycle waste
5. Redesign transport arrangements
6. Redesign water use strategies
7. Encourage and support staff, suppliers and customers to work and live sustainably
8. Run awareness and action programs for staff, suppliers and customers
9. Join www.greenstreet.net.au as a way of connecting and monitoring progress in the business
10. Set up a Green Street Business Precinct via www.greenstreet.net.au
11. Set up a Green Street program in the business by enrolling in the Green Street Champion’s Preparation Program for workplaces
12. Set up a Sustainability Plan that focuses people on taking practical action