Target Zero Carbon: An approach for small businesses
How to make your payment ecology!
STEP 1: it is on:
Every time you drive your car, you contribute to global warming. The same is true for turning on a light energy unless you buy from other sources.
This article will help to offset carbon emissions. It is not that expensive to do, and help to pay for some costs incurred by your business environment.
Explore our carbon footprint was not as easy we thought it would. I had heard of potential carbon offsets for some time, and we wanted to do, but we do not know how. Most of the information used to determine the carbon generated is geared towards the consumer, not the small manufacturing company.
We found these sites particularly useful in trying to find numbers and have those links might save you hours of time:
http://www.carboncounter.org/
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/
http://www.carbonfund.org/site/
Using these sites, our ten-person company produces carbon emissions from these six sources. The figures are in metric tons:
1. employee travel: 28.9 tons
2. Employee Business Travel: 13.44 tons
3. Gas Shop (welding): .11 tons
4. vehicles Company: 6.02 tonnes
5. Electricity: 2.43 tons
6. Natural gas: 0.47 tons
Our impact is greatest journeys of employees and travel. The electricity is low because ninety percent of our energy comes from green energy sources. CFLs are used in the plant.
The question is, once you are able to understand your offset, how do you make it your advantage? It comes with whom you choose to work with for your offset.
STEP 2: Choose your organization
You can go online and see a number organizations that provide various opportunities for compensation. On this basis, you can actually see what you'll pay for your offside.
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/carbon_offset_wind_credits_carbon_reduction.htm
There have been rumors in the press as to whether the money given to certain organizations for offside are actually used for this end. Search your choice as well.
The company I chose to work with is not on this list. Forest Guardians, an organization based New Mexico Environment, has been involved in tree planting programs around streams beds in New Mexico, which supports most biodiversity. Just as I was about to choose where to offset my carbon, the Deputy Director, Carol Norton, called me and asked if I wanted to work with them. I was a supporter of theirs for many years.
Their mission is:
"To protect and restore native Wildlands and fauna of the American Southwest through fundamental reform of public policies and practices. Our objectives are to protect and restore native biodiversity and watersheds of the American Southwest, educate and mobilize citizens to support protection forests, rivers, deserts and grasslands of this arid region, defending the principles of conservation biology in plans for ecosystem restoration degraded watersheds; enforce and strengthen environmental laws; support communities in efforts to protect their land and practice and promote sustainable use of natural resources. "
As I know that the organization has the integrity, I can be assured that the money is actually made out of carbon we use through the planting of trees. Also, I saw a greater ability to access their network.
One thing that particularly appealed to me about Guardians Forest is that their compensation addressed entire ecosystems. Second, they were willing to work with me in a press release. Going green is the right thing to do, but costs money. So if you can, working with an organization that will give you publicity. Request a link on their site and see if they will write about thing about you in their newsletter.
In this regard, it is great if you can find a local organization, because they will be more responsive and accessible.
STEP 3: Write a press release
The important thing now is to get the support of the community who shares your environmental values. It is a huge advantage, because socially responsible jewelry, even as leaders in our industry, like Martin Rapaport has the opportunity to become the brand luxury. Many people in our country, perhaps as much as twenty percent are interested in supporting companies that are socially responsible.
You need to make these people know you exist because you need their support. Being socially responsible for the money.
Write lot of press releases and I would just write the boring. Here is an example of what I consider a bad press.
Then I realized that the editors see hundreds of these a day, probably, and they are looking for press releases, which are interesting and even provocative.
My last release was on the way I went to a supplier of Fair Trade in Bali even if it costs more than the people with whom I worked in India and Thailand.
I had the attention of an editor of a important trade magazine has been offended by my calling a red-blooded "Diamonds herring." I wrote a long response to his protest. Ultimately, he really appreciated my point of view. I realize that it was like playing with fire and fortunately, I have not been burned. The statement was echoed by JCK.
Here is my press release for my zero carbon. I confess, it's a bit crazy, and I can modify it to some publishers who I know would not be in it, but for a general release, it might well attract the attention of some people.
Also, here are some press that we use:
http://www.prweb.com/
http://home.businesswire.com/
http://www.i-newswire.com/
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/
http://www.pr.com/
After you release your information to these sites, go to Google Alerts and trace where it is collected. Simply enter your search terms in the box provided and select the frequency you want updates. Google will then you send email to the email address you provide, with all instances of the search term used for the selected time.
You can then go through them one by one and see how you found or someone else using that term. These are great because although they may take a little time to explore, they can be Troyes treasury marketing. If you go about this, please return to this information on the site and share, especially if you are able to find more go to zero carbon. We are always looking for ways to improve.
About the Author
Marc Choyt is President of Reflective Images, www.celticjewelry.com, a jewelry company that practices socially responsible business.Marc authors www.fairjewelry.org a movement website for consumers and jewelers supporting green and fair trade jewelry. He also originated The Circle Manifesto, www.circlemanifesto.com, a business model based on indigenous traditions.
MARC Commuter SB at St. Denis
