Big Picture

It's a brave newly green world out there! We know reviewing goodness and greenness can seem tricky, but you’ve got all the right tools: eyes, ears, optimism, and a strong gut. Green is personal, so your opinion is the most important element in our IzzitGreen chemistry.

We've developed community based guides to help you navigate this green journey. In a search for a simple way to break down any business into bite-sized chunks, we came up with this rhyme:

What goes IN? What comes OUT? How's it RUN? What they CARE ABOUT?
What kind of footprint, and how large, does each chunk leave on the planet and the people living in it?

Factoids n' Stuff

• The business of America is business. –Calvin Coolidge
• In America, small businesses account for 54% of all sales and 55% of jobs. (source)
• "85 percent of U.S. consumer business companies have active sustainability initiatives." (Entrepreneur.com 2008 Hot List)
• 55% of US economic activity comes from the service industries (US Census Bureau Service Annual Survey)
• "Businesses generate up to 45 percent of this country's waste." (Inform, Report: Waste at Work)

What Goes In?

Businesses generally need stuff: napkins, furniture, beverages, tools, you name it. All that stuff has to come from 'somewhere'. What is that stuff, and how did it get from 'somewhere' to your local business?

What Comes Out?

Whether they offer a service or a product, something usually comes out the door with you. What ends up in your belly or in your hand? What ends up in a dumpster, a storm drain, or a recycling truck?

How's it Run?

A lot goes into keeping a business going, like heating, lighting, transportation, insulation, cleaning products, and employees. Is the business operated in an effective, eco-friendly way? Is it located in a green building? Is it using resources and energy efficiently?

What They Care About

Because going green is a process, effort matters. What goals and ideas motivate the business? Are they aware of the effects of their business practices and their place in the community?

What to Ask

• What do you do with your (food, tea leaves, packaging, cleaning products) when you are done with them?
• Do you use any products that are toxic, and how do you dispose of them?
• Do you measure or track your waste?
• What do you do to conserve energy?
• What do you do to conserve water?
• Do you recycle? If so, which items?
• What's the greenest thing you’ve ever done?
• What are you doing to connect with the local community?
• Do you have any plans to make your business greener in the near future?

What to Do

You can still be a green customer, even when patronizing a business that isn't as green as it could be. Here are some things you can do:

• Tell the business what you think. If enough people ask for something, they'll do it.
• Only take what you really need. Disposable cups, bags, flyers, towels, napkins…if you use less the business—and you—will throw away less.
• When you open doors, make sure they close afterwards. Keeping doors firmly shut helps businesses reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Eat there instead of getting take-out or delivery to save on packaging and transportation.
• Get there by foot, bike, or public transportation if you can.

Find Out More

• The Triple Bottom Line Blog – Balancing people, profit, and planet in the business world.
• Greening Your Business: A Primer for Smaller Companies – A guide from GreenBiz.com.
• Green Your Business: Small Business Trends – A guide from Buisiness.gov.
• City of Boston Environmental and Energy Services – Local information about Boston’s energy resources.
• EPA's Information on Commercial and Industrial Waste
• EPA Business Planning – information about how to manage waste, recycling, and other environmental issues for small businesses
• "It's becoming much easier to go green" – SF Chronicle article on sustainable initiatives business owners are taking; includes "10 steps to green your small business"
• The Ecopreneur – blog about sustainable business practices and customer responsibility