Partnerships are one of the most important aspects of your business. Collaborating with other companies can help your enterprise earn more credibility, gain more exposure and, significantly increase revenue. But partnerships are not always about money, they can also be about social responsibility or environmental awareness. Businesses that partner with green causes are not only enhancing their reputation with the public, they are also protecting the environment . In the past, companies would offhandedly write a check to an environmental concern and then sleep well that night content that they had “done their part for Mother Earth”. Today we can partner with a number of environmentally responsible causes that aim to lower greenhouse gasses, mitigate our collective carbon footprint, and then sleep well with the knowledge that the coming generations will live on a much cleaner, and healthier Earth. Here are 3 out of many green organizations you can partner/work with as a business or as an individual.
American Forests
The paper industry is one the of largest consumer of forests, hence AF was a logical choice for Bizcard when searching for partners. American Forests works hard to “protect, restore, and enhance the natural capital of trees and forests,” an endeavor that is part and parcel with the aims of Bizcard, both business and environmental-wise. Restoring the eco-system and educating the public about urban forestry are other causes that Bizcard proudly partners in, along with huge concerns like Microsoft, Anheuser-Busch, Eddie Bauer, and Ikea.
Eco Libris
There are companies, such as Eco-Libris, who try to work with all phases of the book industry, raising awareness to the wide-spread environmental impact of manufacturing and delivering paper books. Eco-Libris’ stated goal is to plant a tree for every book sold, thereby helping to offset the environmental impact of book manufacturing. Eco-Libris work with both individuals and businesses. You can tell Eco-Libris how many books you bought and it will “balance out” your impact by planting a tree for each book. They are currently partnering with Book Mooch, the online book-swapping community, where the only expense in book-swapping is the postage.
Green Highways
There is also the Green Highways Partnership. This collaborative effort involves the Federal Highways Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and many other federal, state and local agencies. Partnering with them in the effort to help mitigate the carbon emission of vehicles are lots of trade associations and other non-governmental organizations who work together to encourage road-building that is safer for the environment. They use recycled materials whenever and wherever it is suitable, and they are making a real difference in improving storm water management by preventing dangerous contaminants and toxins from leeching into our streams, rivers and watershed. The Green Highways Partnership has even worked with the US Postal Service to reduce use of (and emissions from) postal vehicles. They don’t limit themselves to the construction of roads; they also help to make the vehicles that use those roads more environmentally friendly.
The impact businesses and governmental agencies can have on saving and preserving our natural resources can be profound and far-reaching. From businesses to agencies to foundations and private individuals, a revolution of a different kind is being felt across cities, nations, continents. By partnering and utilizing alternative sources of energy and enlightened business practices, we can reclaim and cherish our Earth once again.