Synopses & Reviews
Everything you need to know to green your business and grow your profit.
• The truth about what climate change means for your business
• The truth about running lean and green
• The truth about future proofing your business
Simply the best thinking
THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
This book reveals 52 PROVEN GREEN STRATEGIES and bite-size, easy-to-use techniques that get results.
“This little book is inspiring in its range and practicality—not just for CEOs, but for every member of the enterprise…an exceptionally useful guide for ‘going green’ at any scale of enterprise.”
CHIP CONLEY, CEO, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
“In a world where green business advice is rampant, this is the one resource you need: a field guide that combines insight and inspiration with a solid, actionable path forward.”
JOEL MAKOWER, Executive Editor, GreenBiz.com
Introduction ix
Part I: The Truth About Green Business
TRUTH 1: What is a green business? 1
TRUTH 2: Why green your business? 5
TRUTH 3: How to approach greening your business 9
TRUTH 4: Why now? 13
TRUTH 5: Climate change and your business 17
Part II: The Truth About Green Strategy
TRUTH 6: Profit and purpose 23
TRUTH 7: How green is good enough? 27
TRUTH 8: Green regulations 31
Part III: The Truth About Green Operations
TRUTH 9: Secrets hiding in plain sight 35
TRUTH 10: Eco-efficiency: Good for business and the environment 39
TRUTH 11: Waste? Not! Eliminating non-product 43
TRUTH 12: EcoAudits can guide your course 47
TRUTH 13: Running lean and green 53
TRUTH 14: Carbon footprinting 57
TRUTH 15: Reducing your carbon footprint 63
Part IV: The Truth About Green Marketing
TRUTH 16: Green branding and messaging 67
TRUTH 17: Creating strong EcoLabels 71
TRUTH 18: Green marketing claims 77
TRUTH 19: Reaching conscious consumers 81
Part V: The Truth About Green Products and Services
TRUTH 20: What makes a product green? 85
TRUTH 21: Product take-back 89
TRUTH 22: Product to service 93
TRUTH 23: What makes a service green? 97
Part VI: The Truth About Green Design
TRUTH 24: Biomimicry–learning from life
TRUTH 25: Reducing your product footprints 105
TRUTH 26: Cradle to cradle 109
TRUTH 27: Design with nature 113
TRUTH 28: Innovation is at the heart of greening 117
Part VII: The Truth About Green Procurement
TRUTH 29: Environmentally preferable purchasing 121
TRUTH 30: Supply chain management and partnerships 125
TRUTH 31: Supplier scorecards 129
TRUTH 32: Clearing the rising bar 133
Part VIII: The Truth About Green Buildings
TRUTH 33: LEED standards for green buildings 137
TRUTH 34: The cost of green building 141
TRUTH 35: Green buildings improve productivity 145
TRUTH 36: Integrative design for green building 149
Part IX: The Truth About Green IT
TRUTH 37: Computers and electronics 153
TRUTH 38: Creating more effi cient data centers 157
TRUTH 39: How IT can drive greening 161
Part X: The Truth About Green Management
TRUTH 40: Engaging employees 165
TRUTH 41: Engaging stakeholders 169
TRUTH 42: Keeping score 173
TRUTH 43: Employee incentives 177
TRUTH 44: Environmental management systems 181
Part XI: The Truth About Green Finance
TRUTH 45: Profit, value, and risk 185
TRUTH 46: Reality-based accounting 189
TRUTH 47: Investing in green and attracting green investment 193
TRUTH 48: Carbon trading and offsets 197
TRUTH 49: Fiduciary duty 201
Part XII: The Truth About Green Futures
TRUTH 50: Certainty in the face of uncertainty 207
TRUTH 51: Scenario planning 211
TRUTH 52: Future proofing 215
APPENDIX A: References 219
Acknowledgments 228
About the Author 229
Note: Appendix B is available online at no charge at www.informit.com/title/9780789739407.
APPENDIX B: Resources
Synopsis
More and more businesses are recognizing that green business practices aren't just good for the world: They can increase profits, lower costs, and attract customers. In The Truth About Green Business, leading green business expert Gil Friend brings together more than 50 absolutely crucial facts and insights decision-makers must know to successfully "go green." This book doesn't deliver abstract theory or hype: it delivers quick, bite-size, just-the-facts information and plain-English explanations that executives, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs can actually use, no matter what kind of businesses you're running, or what your environmental and profit goals are. You will learn how to plan your optimal green business strategies... move towards green operations that operate more efficiently, waste less, and reduce carbon footprints... procure green products and services, and market your own... design and innovate products with less environmental impact... find or construct green buildings... bring green principles to computers and IT... engage employees, stakeholders, and managers in the green process... project the business value of green, and assess their results... and much more. Unlike some competitive books, this one's simple to read, simple to use, up-to-date, and complete.
More than 50 bite-size, fast-paced insights and actionable techniques for every entrepreneur, executive, or manager Covers everything that matters, from strategy to operations, supply chains to marketing, IT to finance, and beyond Easy to read, up-to-date, and practical: distills the entire field of green business into what you need to succeed!Synopsis
Everything you need to know to green your business and grow your profit.
The truth about what climate change means for your business
The truth about running lean and green
The truth about future proofing your business
Simply the best thinking
THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
This book reveals 52 PROVEN GREEN STRATEGIES and bite-size, easy-to-use techniques that get results.
This little book is inspiring in its range and practicality not just for CEOs, but for every member of the enterprise an exceptionally useful guide for going green at any scale of enterprise.
CHIP CONLEY, CEO, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
In a world where green business advice is rampant, this is the one resource you need: a field guide that combines insight and inspiration with a solid, actionable path forward.
JOEL MAKOWER, Executive Editor, GreenBiz.com
Introduction ix
Part I: The Truth About Green Business
TRUTH 1
What is a green business? 1
TRUTH 2 Why green your business? 5
TRUTH 3
How to approach greening your business 9
TRUTH 4 Why now? 13
TRUTH 5
Climate change and your business 17
Part II: The Truth About Green Strategy
TRUTH 6
Profit and purpose 23
TRUTH 7 How green is good enough? 27
TRUTH 8
Green regulations 31
Part III: The Truth About Green Operations
TRUTH 9
Secrets hiding in plain sight 35
TRUTH 10 Eco-efficiency: Good for business and the environment 39
TRUTH 11
Waste? Not Eliminating non-product 43
TRUTH 12 EcoAudits can guide your course 47
TRUTH 13
Running lean and green 53
TRUTH 14 Carbon footprinting 57
TRUTH 15
Reducing your carbon footprint 63
Part IV: The Truth About Green Marketing
TRUTH 16
Green branding and messaging 67
TRUTH 17 Creating strong EcoLabels 71
TRUTH 18
Green marketing claims 77
TRUTH 19 Reaching conscious consumers 81
Part V: The Truth About Green Products and Services TRUTH 20 What makes a product green? 85
TRUTH 21
Product take-back 89
TRUTH 22 Product to service 93
TRUTH 23
What makes a service green? 97
Part VI: The Truth About Green Design
TRUTH 24
Biomimicry learning from life
TRUTH 25 Reducing your product footprints 105
TRUTH 26
Cradle to cradle 109
TRUTH 27 Design with nature 113
TRUTH 28
Innovation is at the heart of greening 117
Part VII: The Truth About Green Procurement
TRUTH 29
Environmentally preferable purchasing 121
TRUTH 30 Supply chain management and partnerships 125
TRUTH 31
Supplier scorecards 129
TRUTH 32 Clearing the rising bar 133
Part VIII: The Truth About Green Buildings TRUTH 33 LEED standards for green buildings 137
TRUTH 34
The cost of green building 141
TRUTH 35 Green buildings improve productivity 145
TRUTH 36
Integrative design for green building 149
Part IX: The Truth About Green IT
TRUTH 37
Computers and electronics 153
TRUTH 38 Creating more effi cient data centers 157
TRUTH 39
How IT can drive greening 161
Part X: The Truth About Green Management
TRUTH 40
Engaging employees 165
TRUTH 41 Engaging stakeholders 169
TRUTH 42
Keeping score 173
TRUTH 43 Employee incentives 177
TRUTH 44
Environmental management systems 181
Part XI: The Truth About Green Finance
TRUTH 45
Profit, value, and risk 185
TRUTH 46 Reality-based accounting 189
TRUTH 47
Investing in green and attracting green investment 193
TRUTH 48 Carbon trading and offsets 197
TRUTH 49
Fiduciary duty 201
Part XII: The Truth About Green Futures
TRUTH 50
Certainty in the face of uncertainty 207
TRUTH 51 Scenario planning 211
TRUTH 52
Future proofing 215
APPENDIX A References 219
Acknowledgments 228
About the Author 229
Note: Appendix B is available online at no charge at www.informit.com/title/9780789739407.
APPENDIX B
Resources
"
About the Author
Gil Friend is founder, President, and CEO of Natural Logic, Inc. Natural Logic provides advisory services in strategy, implementation, and performance measurement that help companies and communities prosper by embedding the laws of nature at the hearts of enterprise.
A systems ecologist and business strategist with nearly 40 years experience in business, communications, and environmental innovation, Friend combines broad business experience with unique content experience spanning strategy, systems ecology, economic development, management cybernetics, and public policy. Tomorrow magazine called him “One of the country’s leading environmental management consultants–a real expert who combines theoretical sophistication with hands-on, in-the-trenches know-how.” He is a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Alliance, Sustainable Berkeley, and the California Sustainable Business Council and serves on the executive board of OpenEco.org and the advisory boards of CleanFish, WattBot, Green World Campaign, and (past) San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Clean Tech Advisory Council. Friend served in the California Governor’s Office, developing early sustainability policies and programs, was a founding board member of Internet pioneer Institute for Global Communications, was founder and Executive Director of Foundation for the Arts of Peace, and was cofounder and codirector of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a leading urban ecology and economic development “think-and-do tank,” where he pioneered the current “green roof” trend more than 35 years ago.
Friend lectures widely on business strategy and sustainability policy and writes “The New Bottom Line” (www.natlogic.com/new-bottom-line) offering strategic perspectives on business and environment. He has contributed chapters to several books, including Worldchanging: A User’s Guide to the 21st Century, Sustainable Enterprise Report, Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook, Sustainable Food Systems, and Stepping Stones, and is the author of the forthcoming book Profit on Purpose: Risk, Fiduciary Duty and the Laws of Nature. He holds an M.S. degree in systems ecology from Antioch University, has a black belt in Aikido, and is a seasoned practitioner of “The Natural Step” environmental management system.
Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Part I: The Truth About Green Business
TRUTH 1: What is a green business?
TRUTH 2: Why green your business?
TRUTH 3: How to approach greening your business
TRUTH 4: Why now?
TRUTH 5: Climate change and your business
Part II: The Truth About Green Strategy
TRUTH 6: Profit and purpose
TRUTH 7: How green is good enough?
TRUTH 8: Green regulations
Part III: The Truth About Green Operations
TRUTH 9: Secrets hiding in plain sight
TRUTH 10: Eco-efficiency: Good for business and the environment
TRUTH 11: Waste? Not! Eliminating non-product
TRUTH 12: EcoAudits can guide your course
TRUTH 13: Running lean and green
TRUTH 14: Carbon footprinting
TRUTH 15: Reducing your carbon footprint
Part IV: The Truth About Green Marketing
TRUTH 16: Green branding and messaging
TRUTH 17: Creating strong EcoLabels
TRUTH 18: Green marketing claims
TRUTH 19: Reaching conscious consumers
Part V: The Truth About Green Products and Services
TRUTH 20: What makes a product green?
TRUTH 21: Product take-back
TRUTH 22: Product to service
TRUTH 23: What makes a service green?
Part VI: The Truth About Green Design
TRUTH 24: Biomimicry–learning from life
TRUTH 25: Reducing your product footprints
TRUTH 26: Cradle to cradle
TRUTH 27: Design with nature
TRUTH 28: Innovation is at the heart of greening
Part VII: The Truth About Green Procurement
TRUTH 29: Environmentally preferable purchasing
TRUTH 30: Supply chain management and partnerships
TRUTH 31: Supplier scorecards
TRUTH 32: Clearing the rising bar
Part VIII: The Truth About Green Buildings
TRUTH 33: LEED standards for green buildings
TRUTH 34: The cost of green building
TRUTH 35: Green buildings improve productivity
TRUTH 36: Integrative design for green building
Part IX: The Truth About Green IT
TRUTH 37: Computers and electronics
TRUTH 38: Creating more effi cient data centers
TRUTH 39: How IT can drive greening
Part X: The Truth About Green Management
TRUTH 40: Engaging employees
TRUTH 41: Engaging stakeholders
TRUTH 42: Keeping score
TRUTH 43: Employee incentives
TRUTH 44: Environmental management systems
Part XI: The Truth About Green Finance
TRUTH 45: Profit, value, and risk
TRUTH 46: Reality-based accounting
TRUTH 47: Investing in green and attracting green investment
TRUTH 48: Carbon trading and offsets
TRUTH 49: Fiduciary duty
Part XII: The Truth About Green Futures
TRUTH 50: Certainty in the face of uncertainty
TRUTH 51: Scenario planning
TRUTH 52: Future proofing
APPENDIX A: References
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Note: Appendix B is available online at no charge at www.informit.com/title/9780789739407.
APPENDIX B: Resources