EnviroHumanImpact

Ever think of yourself of the CEO of yourname.com?  You are essentially the person who makes the financial decisions of how to make and spend money and where to locate yourself, what to do, etcetera.  Basically, you are your own company, but in addition to being the CEO, you also happen to be the janitor/housekeeper, cook, and secretary.  But what’s a janitor, if not but a steward of the physical space of which he or she is in charge?

You are your life’s steward of the physical space in which you live, meaning you eventually have to do your dishes, clean the toilet, and vacuum or mop the floors (unless you have a maid and/or are spending your days in a world of filth).  But I digress.

You likely have thought about ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle during your janitorial (or, stewardly, if you will) duties — who are we kidding?  You’re reading an article on EnviroHumanImpact.com — of course you have thought of it!  But the point is that many individuals are increasingly taking responsibility for their sustainability (or lack thereof) by adopting more sustainable procedures, products, and habits in their daily life.  But are companies, in turn doing the same?

Some, remarkably, are, and others already have!  Some companies have taken a huge step by creating the position for and hiring a Chief Sustainability Officer (sometimes called a Chief Green Officer).  According to wikipedia, “As of 2005, nearly all of the 150 largest companies in the world had a sustainability officer with the rank of vice president or higher, and numerous MBA programs had incorporated sustainability training.”

While this is obviously a step in the right direction, having someone whose job is to literally push a company toward greater sustainability, rather than having someone put some green dressing on the company, a VP ordering up a few recycling bins on an ad hoc basis or marketing putting a green sign or statement into publications and public spaces, why does it feel as if this is not yet enough?

Probably because it has not fixed the problem of sustainability, and it often feels as if most large companies are not embracing a greener movement beyond any greenwashing effect they may be seeking.  So it’s important to have Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO), and if you invest in individual stocks, you may want to consider whether or not a company has hired a CSO or not before you buy their stock.

Greener businesses are very essential to the puzzle of a sustainable future because of the mass amount of money spent by corporations and the enormous role they play in our national and world economy.  Look for an increase in CSOs at more and more companies.

What makes this most significant? Looking at this from the perspective of whether or not companies will embrace greener, more sustainable practices often depends on the bottom line.  If it has not been regulated (or if the regulations are not or are only rarely/weakly enforced) and it does not improve their financials, a company usually will not take the step.

That is the great part of more sustainable practices!  Although many of the upgrades often have large initial investments, over the longterm, those investments usually pay off by reducing operating costs and increasing profits.

Think about a company that gradually adds solar panels to its buildings or has wind farms.  Beyond its greener image to the public, it literally can supply more of the needed energy needed, saving power over time.  Or think of a company using lighter shipping methods.  If the customer pays shippng, they’re likekly to appreciate the savings.  Or, if the company subsidizes (offers free) shipping, or burries it in the cost, there is still likely to be a savings for each item shipped.

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