“If companies understand the true cost of environmental factors to their bottom line, they are more likely to do something about it on their own.” - Janet Ranganathan, World Resources Institute

As promised, I’ll be posting responses over the next few weeks to each of the 2008 trends I previously posted and how you can take advantage of each trend in the context of your business. I’m going to start with “The Green Life” trend.With the rise of popularity in “going green” NOW is the time to build-in environmentally and socially responsible policies for your company. The costs associated with going green have long been a significant barrier, but 2008 marks a time when costs have significantly shrunk and going green is more affordable and more admired than ever.So, you’ve heard the hype and you’ve seen even the Fortune 500s jump on the bandwagon. If you’re committed to making this year the year that your company gains a foothold in environmental responsibility, the following tips will help point you in the right direction (and don’t worry, no tree-hugging required!).Tips for decreasing your environmental impact while lowering your expenses:

• Recycle your office paper (approx. 70% of office waste is high-grade white paper)
• Review and adjust (if necessary) you and your employee’s transportation arrangements (go Hybrid for the company car, carpool, get a closer office location, use public transportation, work from home for all or part of the week, etc…)
• Recycle your printer ink
• Turn off/place in sleep mode computers, printers, copiers, etc… when gone
• Lower the thermostat and put on a sweatshirt (added benefit: a cooler environment means more alert and less sleepy employees)
• Use energy efficient light bulbs
• Buy energy efficient office equipment

Tips on how you can tell the world about your newfound “greenness”

• Give green gifts to clients, partners, vendors, etc… (check out The Green Office and CNNMoney’s Picks)
• Seek out eco-labels (e.g. GreenGuard, Green Seal, Energy Star, Scientific Certification Systems, Forest Stewardship Council, etc…)
• Adjust your company literature and marketing materials to reflect your new green policies

Finally, if you’ve gotten really excited about going green, you just may decide that starting a green business may be the only way to satisfy you!