Greening the Supply Chain

The Green Supply Chain Defined

Today's article was written by: R. Michael Richmond - director of the Green Business [http://www.greenbusinessleague.com] League. You can find a Certified Green consultant at Green Consultant [http://www.greenconsultantdirectory.com]. Green Business League offers the very best Green Business certification based on the proven adoption of Green practices in the business operation.

It seems that there is a inevitability about going green as a business.  While some charge ahead and other hesitate, the greening of business will touch every level of the marketplace.  I believe that this process will eventually create a period that I have termed The Green Equalization that will drive a new generation of businesses to find a ay to be authentically green.   The public understanding will also mature with realistic green expectations by consumers and more discernment for products and services.  This generation will also reject the superficial attitude toward green that many companies presently use in their operations.  The marketplace will demand more green due diligence to validate the green claims of a firm rather than ignorantly accepting the promotional claims of a product or service.

This kind of authentic green is not easily acquired, however.  The environmental emphasis has basically been singular focused on the marketing end of nearly every business.   It is common for these businesses to pay little if any attention to the purchasing side of the operation.   This separation of commitment will eventually become a marketing error in its own right.  This is where the green supply chain debate enters into the big picture of business ethics.  We are seeing more and more industry articles or conferences making a point an issue of green ethics in the overall operation of a business.  Obviously, if a business wishes to sell green, it should also make it a policy to buying green as well.

Ethically, every business needs to practice what they preach, claim via marketing.  The rampant lack of Green Ethics is demonstrated in a very obvious fashion when the businesses are asking the public to buy their green product or service, but the company does not do the same in their own operation.  The concern for Green Practices heralded by the Green Business League applies here.  The simple solution is for all businesses to apply Green practices throughout the business scheme.  In simple terms, the green expectations found in the marketing department should also be seen in the other practices of your business, and that includes the purchasing department or protocols.

Going green is not just a better way to sell your services or goods.  It is a commitment to a national and world crisis that we all face in this generation.  This issue need not be anti-business to be environmentally honest.  There is, however, often a gaping hole of commitment in what many firms bring to this table regarding environmentalism.  In a parallel effort, the EPA has come out with its Environmentally Preferred Purchasing guidelines.  This initiative mirrors a good part of the green supply chain ideas.  It should seem obvious where all this is going, if you're paying attention.  We are seeing the maturity of the public and business to an environmentally-committed protocol that is ready to "Walk the walk as well as talk the talk."

It may surprise some that installing green practices in any size business is not just about the physical building.  Under better thought, going green is primarily about the operation, programming, or daily practices.   It should not matter if you rent, lease or own the facility.  Any business that envisions the future, needs to begin a thorough process of greening the company from front to back.  Frankly, this is more involved than anyone might think because it takes more commitment than merely changing out your lighting with CFL bulbs.   This should involve the assistance of a Certified Green Consultant, who is a trained professional who not only understands how to take a business green, but can assist the client with acquiring the necessary points for each as a certified green business.  Using a one hundred point scale, the business can earn its Green Business Certification which is something that can be legitimately promoted.  This happens when there is a real integration of green practices and certification by an independent resource. There are a variety of efficient ideas that come with going green now that were not available before.  The process can be a big cost savings as well as a valid market credential.

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