I have often wondered what exact requirements make a business green. Even buying products can be confusing. With so many choices on paper products just in toilet paper, it can be a little overwhelming.
Fortunately, if you are thinking of going Green and live in the Bay Area you can contact the Green Business Program Coordinator in your county to find out how to put “green” into action. There are a list of people to contact at the Bay Area Green Business Program website. Once you go Green, you can gain recognition. In this day and age, if people know you are Green, you’re bound to gain more support and kudos from consumers.
According to Green Biz, currently there are over 30 businesses in San Francisco recognized as Green, and over 1,000 businesses and public agencies in the Bay Area that have been Green since 1997.
Here are some simple steps to become Greener.
- Buy only recycled-copier paper with a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content.
- Stock your bathroom with post-consumer recycled products such as your toilet paper, facial tissue, and paper towels.
- Set up your printer to copy double sided.
- Clean with less toxic products (like Simple Green.)
- Use efficient lighting systems to save energy (try buying compact fluorescent light bulbs.)
These tips can be found at Green Biz and also the Natural Resource Defense Council.
NRDC even lists a mass of companies, the percent recycled, percent post-consumer, the bleaching process, mercury avoidance, and companies which protect Endangered Forests. A few companies that are at the top are: Seventh Generation, Green Forest, 365 Everyday Value, and Earth First.
The companies you want to AVOID and ban are anything run by Kimberly Clark, such as Kleenex, Cottenelle, and Puffs. Georgia-Pacific runs Brawny, Sparkle, and Vanity Fair napkins and paper towels, which have zero percent recycled paper. Their Mardi Gras and Zee Napkins however, have 10-30% post consumer products and avoid mercury. Find it at http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp.
So here’s to being Green!
