Environmental Stewardship : Examples of How Businesses Adopted the Go Green Movement

Calls for environmental awareness began 30 years ago, yet it took a few more years before people paid heed to the global warming warnings of climate scientists. Actually the movements raising environmental consciousness made huge progress only after major corporations agreed to practice environmental stewardship. While “Go Green” became a popular slogan, it was also a movement that called on investors to support only corporations that show concerns for the environment and the planet as a whole.

What Exactly is Environmental Stewardship?

Inasmuch as the world has changed massively in line with technological advancements and scientific methods, industries must take responsibility in addressing the negative environmental impact of such changes.

Environmental stewardship is the voluntary action of business entities, whether large, medium or small scale, to adopt methods and processes that go beyond minimum regulatory requirements. The primary purpose of which is to ensure that their respective activities will have positive effects, not only in the environment in which they operate but to all affected communities as well.

Implementing and practicing environmental stewardship will also bring about positive benefits for a business entity, such as:

• Adding value to products;
• Cost reduction as results of streamlined operational activities and efficient logistics;
• Competitive advantages amidst growing consumer concerns for the planet.
• Among other things, promoting positive environmental influence and reducing potential liabilities for non-compliance with latest industry regulations.

Examples of Environmental Stewardship Strategies, Approaches and Activities

Environmental stewardship starts with establishing corporate environmental policies and mentoring workers and collaborators about the concepts and principles on which the policies are founded. Some of the most common examples of environmental policies include the following:

1. Efficiency in Energy and Water Usage

• Implementing efficient usage of energy and water in all aspects of the business to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions particularly CO2. The policies must be implemented whether for onsite and offsite activities that include actions like:
• Material Conservation,
• Reusing and recycling operational wastes;
• Upgrading company transport equipment to electric or hybrid vehicles or by shifting to cleaner burning fuels;
• Minimizing employee commuting trips by way of flexible work schedules, telework or work-from-home arrangements.
• Shifting to renewable energy by installing solar panels or by purchasing electricity and heat from suppliers of green energy

2. Hazardous Materials and Pollutants

Reducing the production of hazardous and other pollutants to cut down the environmental impact of the business. As much as possible, businesses must purchase and use only environment-friendly materials and ingredients or develop suitable alternatives.

3. Oher Sustainable Actions

Other sustainable actions such as requiring vendors and marketers to likewise adopt and implement sound environmental practices. The company’s advertising agency for one should consider using digital signage monitors a.k.a. electronic signages that act as a more dynamic and effective way of attracting target consumers, to raise brand awareness resulting in increased sales.

Instead of using banners and billboards that take longer to create but last only for shorter life spans, digital signages have greatly improved aesthetic appeal and can be updated with relative ease rather replaced.