Green business practices are now becoming more than a buzzword; they are an essential part of your overall business strategy. The environmental impact of businesses takes a toll on the finite natural resources and limited space in our ecosystem. Either we face our challenges now, or the future generation will have a tougher time dealing with the consequences.

The trajectory for business growth is also growing rapidly beyond our shores. “According to the World Bank, we expect global economic growth of 3.3 percent to 2015; 3.0 percent from the U.S. and 7.9 percent from China, a region that uses three times more natural resources than the rest of the world to create each unit of GDP.”

Transitioning into a sustainable business takes time, but it all starts with the first few steps. Here are some green business practices you can start today.

• Make recycling mandatory – The impact of mid-sized to large companies that make recycling mandatory is exponential. However, there are still businesses that are lax about this rule. Doing so creates a conscious effort from every team member which transfers to the employees’ lives outside of work.
• Seek alternative energy sources – Generating power through green alternatives offer bottom line financial cost incentives such as tax credits. The federal government allows you to deduct 30% of your solar power system costs from your federal taxes through an investment tax credit (ITC). Read more about Corporate Tax Credits and how they apply to your business.
• Make it official – Having strong green business practices in house is beneficial, but being officially certified by a legitimate program offers many other benefits. If you are based in California, The Green Business Program provides certifications that can benefit your marketing outreach and network.

As a certified San Francisco Green Business, we at ARTÉMIA Communications practice what we preach. We have met numerous business contacts through the network, and also seen it improve our marketing initiatives. We are also one of the first service-oriented companies that is triple ISO Certified, with an emphasis on ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. To find out more about how your business can benefit from being green certified, download our presentation to discover what it is and why you need it.