Sustainability… a shift in “business as usual”?
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the First “Public/Private – Making Sustainability Work” Symposium at UTA’s School of Architecture. A small crowd attended… only about 90 people… which of course left myself and the other attendants wondering “Why so few attendants? This is great information!” This drives my point for today’s blog.
—->Why – as a nation, state, city… community or neighborhood – are we not rising up and embracing Sustainability as THE way, rather than just an option?
Sustainability is in its “fashionable” stage, according to Richard Hansen, Director of National Engineering for AECOM (the symposium’s sponsor). When subjects are fashionable – they are not embraced by the general population. Luckily the subject of Sustainability is on the brink of moving from being fashionable to being a mainstream way of thinking. More verifiable information is available than ever before. The public is becoming educated and will soon start considering Green Options, more often than not, when making decisions and creating solutions!
Some manufacturers are using cradle-to-cradle design. This concept re-thinks the designs of the Industrial Revolution… planning for the “afterlife” or “rebirth” of a product. If you are a manufacturer – do you consider what happens to your product when the consumer is finished using it for its primary purpose? Does it end up in a landfill? Is it recycled? Can it be reused?
Cities are planning communities with “placemaking” in mind – a term described by Wikipedia as describe the process of creating squares, plazas, parks, streets and waterfronts that will attract people because they are pleasurable or interesting. Landscape often plays an important role in the design process. Not only does “placemaking” create more enjoyable outdoor spaces, it targets to create neighborhoods in which people can live, work and entertain themselves – resulting in less commuting!
Behaviors are definitely changing, albeit slowly. Take a look at how you get to work? People are changing their commuting habits… carpooling, taking mass transit (although, not in Arlington, TX – as we have no mass transit system!) and riding their bikes. High gas prices are helping us change our behaviors, which is a silver lining of the oil crisis black cloud. According to Mr. Hansen, we must “adjust our personal habits and expectations” and make Sustainability the only option!
As a small business owner, you should be aware that – very soon – most customers will be actively considering your Sustainability Policies when deciding whether to do business with you. In fact, just the other day I overheard someone considering different hotels because their current choice didn’t recycle! Currently, 38% of Americans consider a company’s Sustainability Policies before making a decision! (according to Staples’ EcoEasy program) Those numbers are expected to rise dramatically in the coming years.
Green… environmentally conscious…Sustainability…. The lingo is everywhere and “business as usual” is shifting!
Green Business Advising is available to all businesses - not only manufacturers! ALL businesses can benefit from assessing their Business Plan with Green eyes! Contact our SBDC for Enterprise Excellence for more information. Staples (the office supply company) says it best with “Go green to stay in the black”!
Keep Sustainability in the center of your radar! Change is on the horizon… Don’t be caught off guard - LEAD THE WAY!
