Goes Green

The buzz word for businesses nowadays is to go green. Every business aspires CSR friendly is promoting GREEN, either through action or reflected from the corporate vision statement. However, at times CSR initiative turns out to be another PR exercise. What went wrong? It is simply due to capacity problem.

It is a challenge to differentiate the Not So Green (PR exercise), Normal Green (CSR initiative) or Very Green (A culture) of an establishment. It has no standard guidance as well. It is very much up to the public perception of what establishment has done. Public has own value judgement on the Green Performance of an establishment, and with better information and knowledge, the criteria for judgement is getting higher and higher now. Hence, the terminology of Goes Green is also subjected to stringent evaluation.

The common saying of "Being green can be profitable" is vindicated with some success stories. Establishments like The Body Shop, Ikea, The Natural Conservatory, Ecofuture have shown that money making is possible even the green operations are applied.

So, the question is how and where to start especially for the SMEs? We can buy energy efficiency products, use green perishables, save water when possible, reduce paper and stationery usage, reduce resources consumption in every possible way and if not possible then to recycle every recyclable items, procure reused items, use energy saving appliances, unplug unnecessary electronics, commuting emissions, reduce travelling and using more ICT assisted business tools, plan out logistics and travelling plan and more importantly getting the involvement of the employees and bosses. Total participation and value believe up hold by everyone is critical success factor.

It is important to at least started with the above or else the slogan of Goes Green will remain as a lip service. This is the major internal enemy of sustainable development movement. While it is good to have many businesses openly calling for going green, it is also danger of having many NATO (No Action Talk Only) around.