What are the best ways for businesses to help improve our environment?

Question

What particular environmental issues do you think need to be addressed the most? and how?

Answer 1

If it's a production company, I would recommend using LCA(Life Cycle Analysis) through which you’ll analyse in detail the products and processes and the environmental issues related to them. It has four phases: initiation, inventory analysis, impact assessment and improvement assessment.

The practical tools used as a result of LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) might be: reduction of waste, increase of re-use, increase of recycling, use of local supply (when possible), decrease of energy use, using renewable or sustainable sources of energy, using sustainably sources of raw materials (when possible), change of input material, change of technology, change of production to environmentally friendly products, which can be recycled or re-used more easily. It might be necessary to re-organise the whole production line (use of good operating practices) and re-think the organisation’s structure. Decrease of transport costs: it might be beneficial both economically and environmentally to set up couple of smaller factories instead of one giant (dependant on product). Finally it might be advisable to move into ISO 9000 or ISO14000 (it really depends on the size and type of the organisation).

In parallel with the above processes it’s possible to help the environment through funding or supporting a charity, sending our workers to doing voluntary work for e.g. a nature conservation organisation, and also by choosing staff from the local area (it’ll decrease the impact of travel, it’ll save time of workers for their families). Companies can also support the environment by supporting home based working.

Both for production and service companies: they might help the environment by using energy saving devices and equipment (e.g. energy saving bulbs, automatic systems of light control, toilet rinse control). The latter will save water as well. Putting signs on computers, printers, copier and fax machines to switch them off when not in use. We can use natural lighting when possible and replace the old HVAC system to a new, more energy sufficient one. A company can set up collection point(s) for such recyclables as mobile phones, mobile phone batteries, batteries and metal cans; and it can set up collection point(s) for recyclables produced by its own office as well.

Answer 2

Set an example for others to follow, and publicize the h**l out of it.

Answer 3

That depends on the business.  If we're talking about a small shop of some kind (clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc)  they could put out marked trash bins for recyclables.  Especially if you're in a high traffic area, it would bring attention to the waste problem and your shop.  Also, try to quit using so much paper!!! As much as possible, use email for sales notices (it will cut your costs). and use recycled paper.  Sell recycled or "green" products!  If it's a food business, same thing.  there is so much wasted paper in this country!  i just can't believe how many people think their message is the most important so they have to plaster it all over the place-on paper!  Newspapers-use recycled!!!  If it's big business, the production process always leaves a bad environmental impact.  Get a committee together to address problems and create solutions.  Constuction companies, cut back on that garbage!  Especially by your crew and their lunches, I passed one yesterday on a road my watershed group cleans twice a year.  They left plastic bottles and paper bags along the road?!!!  I'm sure I can think of more but I have other work to do.  This could get you started.  Oooh, just one more, ask schools to pleeeaaasssse!!!! cut back on the paper stuff sent home!  Most of it never see a parent.

Answer 4

i think, business recycle things. becouse the main problems now is people are lazy to recycle their things.

Answer 5

the indoor toxins....17,000 chemicals are used for our cleaning products...and only 30% are tested on human's...breathe that in...hmmmm might as well light up a smoke..