How many eco actions does it take for them to count? According to the post, Does Size Matter for Ideas?, “the basic logic we use is the bigger the idea, the bigger the value, but often that’s not true. There’s a myth at work here: the assumption that big results only come from radical changes.”
As it appears in our sustainability consulting, that same misconception of ideas applies to eco action and sustainable business practices. Some falsely believe that to significantly reduce environmental impacts, it requires massive effort. As the post suggests, “rather than worrying about the size of an idea, which most people do, it’s more productive to think about the possible leverage an idea has. To do this requires thinking not only about the idea itself, but how it will be used. An idea can have a different amount of leverage depending on where, when and how carefully it is applied.”
Consider how leveraging a single idea regarding energy efficiency adds up. IBM saved $26.8 million in energy expenses in 2009 as a result of companywide conservation efforts that surpassed corporate targets. Cisco Leveraged TelePresence to cut emissions by 45 Percent. And, SAP realized approximately €185 million in cost avoidance as a result of focused sustainability initiatives.
Granted, your business may not be an IBM, Cisco, or SAP with worldwide facilities, but, at a minimum, your business occupies office space. There are numerous opportunities for your small business to capitalize on company conservation efforts delivering benefits to both the bottom line and the environment. In fact, more and more leading companies are becoming increasing aware of the cost savings and long-term benefits associated with implementing sustainable changes in their organization. Managing and planning a company’s operations to reduce environmental impacts can result in reductions in resource consumption, emissions, and waste streams.
Article by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Company; appearing courtesy 3BL Media.
