Businesses Going Green

Over the past three weeks, I’ve been looking at businesses attempts at going green. Some businesses go green either from an external pressure forcing them in that direction or they choose to because they believe that it is the right thing to do not only for themselves, but for society too. Examples of outside factors that push businesses to go green include NGOs and consumers protesting  a company’s actions. Examples of factors that could cause a company to change its mind on its own to go green include enhancing the brand’s reputation, reducing energy, and because it strengthens employee engagement. 

An example of a company that went green on its own accord is Interface, the carpet tile company. Interface began in 1973 when its founder Ray C. Anderson recognized the need for flexible floor coverings that would facilitate emerging offices. In 1994, Ray set the company on a new course, moving them away from the traditional industrial model and toward a business focused on sustainability, using numerous recycling methods. This whole change was driven by the fact that Ray read The Ecology of Commerce which made him realize that the company needed to be moving on a more sustainable course. A big part of Interface being sustainable is their whole recycling program. Interface has made it possible for you to return your old carpet tiles and then they take apart that tile and reuse the parts that are able to be reused. Interface made this change to a sustainable company based off of an epiphany that its leader had and was able to stay in business due to their dedication towards being sustainable.

An example of a business that had to be pushed to go green is what Greenpeace did to pressure Apple to become green. Greenpeace ranked Apple close to the bottom of the list of companies that recycled electronic waste. To change this, Greenpeace gave tools to Apple customers to voice their concerns about their products. Apple fans created web sites, t-shirts, and blogs to put pressure on the company. Apple took its time responding and their CEO at the time, Steve Jobs, gave a lackluster apology. It wasn’t until recently that Apple started to take steps towards recycling the electronic waste that it produces. 

I believe that in the near future, companies will have to start taking steps and measures towards going green in order to maintain revenue and retain customers. Today, people are getting more and more interested in their favorite companies’ attempts at being sustainable and going green. It is up to those companies to decide that they will change no their own accord or change after being scrutinized by their customers.