Onsharp

According to Green Futures, an organization researching sustainability, 30% of American consumers actively look for environmentally responsible businesses. These consumers brought $229 billion into the marketplace last year, and their numbers are growing.

The days when businesses rejected environmental concerns as too costly to think about are past. Now, even the biggest corporations have seen that going green can be a cost-saving measure - and a way to court the ever-growing percentage of consumers who care about environmental responsibility.

How can your business reach these consumers? By taking actions that demonstrate your concern for our environment. When these steps also save money, you're that much further ahead.

• Go paperless, or at least paper-light in your office. Printing out emails and creating hard copies of all documents - just so they can end up in the file drawer - is an outmoded habit.
• Use electronic billing services like SmartPay to cut out paper use, wastewater production, and energy wastage.
• Use GotoMeeting, Google Docs, or Adobe's Sharing applications to limit meetings requiring physical travel. By covering smaller issues with a shared screen, you cut down on fuel use.
• Recycle, and buy recycled products for your office.
• Avoid the use of toxic chemicals. New research shows that environment-friendly options for cleaning and office supplies can be just as effective.
• Use energy efficient vehicles and appliances in your offices.

Beyond taking these steps, you also have to make sure your customers know you're doing these things. Make it a point in your company newsletter, on your website, and in your conversations with customers. When you switch to electronic billing, take the opportunity to share how it shows your commitment to the environment.

You'll be doing the right thing, and your customers will reward you for it.