- What is Going Green?

...What Does Going Green Mean for Businesses?

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Just what DOES Going Green mean?

Going green generally means to adapt habits and practices that will stop or reduce greenhouse gases from forming in the atmosphere. As greenhouse gases (mostly carbon dioxide) increase, global warming also increases.

One of the effects of global warming is the gradual but continual melting of the polar icecaps, which in turn raises ocean levels and eventually floods the low level coastal regions of the world. This cause and effect rise in sea level has already begun to SWALLOW several island beaches around the globe.

See this FASCINATING (but sad) CNN feature story about how several small South Pacific Island cultures are already threatened to be WIPED OUT due to the rise in sea level from global warming:

By the end of this century, catastrophic environmental conditions are predicted worldwide, unless global warming is stopped or slowed considerably.

The world is finally beginning to ask the question, ...what is going green?

Thanks mostly to media awareness, the world in general is finally BEGINNING to take notice as to the dire consequences of global warming (we can only hope and pray it's not too late). Going green at home and going green in business is a process that is taking baby steps, ...but little by little it's catching on.

Examples of major companies who have gone green (beyond what the law requires) are Walmart, Honda, Goldman Sachs, Continental Airlines, and Suncor, just to name a few. You can bet that with billion dollar companies such as these going above and beyond federal environmental regulations, that they researched "bottom line" benefits of going green, as well as environmental benefits. If it didn't make good business sense, I don't think they'd be doing it.

The good news is this...

As global warming, the energy crisis, and environmental concerns become more and more important to consumers, businesses are seeing this as an opportunity.

An opportunity to go green.

...And this benefits BOTH the environment and the business.

Why?

...The environmental answer is obvious. But it's also a marketing opportunity for the company to brand itself as green while at the same time answering the question "What is Going Green?" for their customers in a way that makes sense for that company.

Why Do Businesses Go Green?

1) Yes, some business owners and executives actually have a conscience.

2) (probably the biggest reason) ...A Public Relations opportunity to be seen as "environmentally conscious". Companies who go green can play up to the emotions of their customers, and say "Hey, buy from us. We're green, we care about our environment, and our non-green competition apparently does NOT."

3) Makes sense in reducing the company's energy consumption expenses.

4) Some companies have even found ways to sell "green products", adding even more to their bottom line.

What is Going Green?...
...The Entrepreneurial Perspective

Likewise, for the small business entrepreneur like you and me, answering the question, What is Going Green?, holds several answers for us, too.

Just like major companies, we entrepreneurs can go green by doing all of the same things mentioned in the Top 10 tips for going green mentioned above. For many of us small business owners, environmental responsibility simply means going green at home, since many of us have our offices at home. Just about everything mentioned in the tips for going green for businesses above also apply to going green at home.

But if you are an entrepreneur, the phrase "What is going green, and what business opportunities does a world going green mean for me?", should be tapping into your entrepreneurial creative juices!

The wave of the future in consumer products simply MUST include FAR MORE green products and green business ideas, right? I mean, not to be dramatic or anything, but the future of humankind on earth, in large part, depends on us consuming green, earth-friendly products, and doing so beginning NOW!

But we are in the absolute infancy of green business opportunities and green product demand. So whether you are an affiliate marketer promoting other people's green products or services (clean, re-newable energy sources and products, for example), or you have a fabulous green product idea of your own to get out to the marketplace, green business opportunities are one of the areas WIDE OPEN for getting into and making great profits.

What is going green, and what does going green mean for businesses large and small?

It means helping our earth get well by championing a green business / green product INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

Other Green Business Opportunity Resources: