Your Children Are Watching - Your Business Depends On It

In a world where the new generation is inheriting a planet which is in a worse state of health than ever before in history, small business owners needs to asking what they are doing to limit further environmental damage and repair damage already done. This is not only imperative from an environmental angle but also for future business. Our youngsters, Generation Y, are now very aware of environmental concerns and will choose to associate with those products and services which honour their need for a healthy planet.

This awareness among children is best shown through the Nickelodeon 2015 campaign being flighted around the world - take a look at the Nick 2015 site. Our children are more aware of the environment that we ever were and they are beginning at a young age to think about choices related to the environment. These are our future customers. If we don't get our act together now, what choice will they make about our product or service when they are economically independent?

Some questions to ask :

1) Are you recycling? Does your office have a recycling program? Even home offices can implement this.

2) Are you leveraging technology in a way that reduces the number of trips you need to make in your car or by plane? A round trip from Joburg to Cape Town releases 0.3 metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere! (Go to BeGreenNow to calculate your travel emissions)

3) Do you switch off your PC and other office equipment when you are finished working?

4) Do you use recycled paper for your stationery?

5) Do you screen your suppliers to ensure that they too are adhering to environmentally friendly practices?

Once you have established yourself as an environmentally friendly business, market yourself as such. Use your position as an earth-friendly enterprise to your advantage in your marketing material. Let your customers know that you have made some changes to your business practice and allow them to tell their friends.

Your future customers are watching you - they don't really care what you offer, so many others offer similar products, they care about how you conduct your business and how you relate to your customers. Positioning your business as environmentally friendly is a great way to win them as your customers.