“Recycling in many ways was the first and easiest area to make an impact.”
Werner Braum
North America Senior Vice President Ramada International Hotels & Resorts

“Recycling works because it’s based on a cherished American principle: free enterprise.”
William 0. Bourke
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Reynolds Metals Company

“Recycling makes you feel good about yourself; like when you leave the blood bank.”
Carole Newman Speedy Print, Inc.

Most Americans grew up considering the United States to be the land of abundance. Perhaps that’s why, until recently, they never gave much thought to throwing things away. With a cavalier attitude of “there’s always more where that came from,” our disposable society manages to send 450 million cubic yards of trash to the landfill every year. That’s enough garbage to bury 26,000 football fields in a layer of garbage ten feet deep. According to the Waste Recyclers Council, that’s enough trash to keep 50,000 trucks working daily to remove the refuse Americans toss away. An increasing awareness of the impact of trash on our environment, along with a severe and long lasting economic recession, has forced many Americans and most business owners to think twice about trash.

Most of what is found in the garbage bin at a business, as well as at home, can be salvaged, recycled and put to use, if these valuable materials can be intercepted before they reach the landfill. The most common resources businesses recycle today include paper, aluminum, glass, plastic and rubber tires. Some businesses have been successful in recycling oils, solvents, packaging materials, food, landscape debris and wood.

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Although it is not yet recognized by the American Dental Association as a separate specialty, cosmetic dentistry is becoming more and more popular. According to one estimate, cosmetic techniques accounted for more than half of all dental restorative work done in 1987, and signs are that the techniques are even more popular now. Cosmetic dentistry is the “artistic” side of the profession, in which new techniques such as bleaching, bonding, veneering, and re-sculpting have been developed to “brighten the smiles” of people with chronically stained, broken, or malformed teeth.

A word of caution: since cosmetic dentistry is not an approved specialty, and as such has no certifying board, there are no precise criteria, standards, and qualifications for becoming a cosmetic dentist. What can you do to track down the credentials of such a practitioner? Ask the dentist if he or she has taken classes in cosmetic dentistry—where and when? And make it a top priority to see examples of the dentist’s work. Check and double-check before entrusting your smile to major cosmetic renovation—and paying through the nose for no improvement.

Every company no matter how large or small does two things; they consume energy and resources and they produce waste. To make real progress in protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources, experts have offered a simple formula: reduce, reuse and recycle.While recycling seems to get all the attention and will be addressed at length in the next chapter, it should be the last step in the process. By reducing the amount of unnecessary packaging, the size and number of printed reports, the use of toxins and pollutants, the number of unnecessary trips using the company vehicle, the amount of mail sent, the number of memos generated, the number of copies produced at the copy machine, and the amount of energy to heat, cool and light the facility, a business can have a major impact on resource conversation and enjoy direct savings.

A simple directive to “cut back … make do with less” will not only help save the earth, but could save a business, especially during difficult economic times. By taking steps to reduce what you use, you also will be generating less trash and creating less pollution.

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Today’s consumers think of themselves as environmentalists. That’s the most important reason why saving the earth is good business. The people who buy your products and services expect you to do your part to preserve and protect the earth and its natural resources for 1 u lure generations.

Simply providing quality goods and services and adding to the economic growth and prosperity of our country is not enough. Most Americans also expect businesses to carry out their enterprise with little or no disruption to the environment. Our national values have changed and our collective vision has broadened. Today, if you want to attract and retain customers, it makes good business sense to incorporate sound environmental practices in daily business operations.
Will sticking biodegradable or recyclable labels on every product going out the door do the trick? Probably not! While companies who do so might be able to exploit the consumer’s newfound interest in environmental protection for a short while, it will be the companies that make a sustained commitment to saving the earth that will enjoy public support in the long run. The public’s concern for the environment is here to stay and smart companies will change their business operations to make sure they will keep their customers coming back.
The government also expects business to do its part. That’s another reason to take interest in the subject. Many states are enacting strict environmental protection laws. Regulations at the federal, state and local levels are being initiated to deal with hazardous waste, resource conservation, pollution prevention and recycling. Some states are taking a positive approach by providing tax breaks and other incentives for businesses taking specific steps to save the earth. Other states are taking a punitive approach to enforcing environmental protection by charging fines and, in extreme cases, shutting businesses down. Most offer a combination of rewards and punishment to stimulate compliance.
The important thing to remember is that public opinion drives government regulations. If business owners take voluntary action, they can beat the command-and-control approach of government regulators, who are sure to make their lives miserable and increase their stress levels, not to in    Milk. their creative approaches to solving environ-
mental problems.
Saving the earth also is good for the bottom line. Many companies have found that instituting selected programs in recycling, waste reduction, pollution control and conservation have lead to substantial dollar savings or have generated additional revenue. Resourceful entrepreneurs have established entire new companies as a result of the environmental movement. They have found ways to recapture, reuse or reconstitute resources that were normally sent to the landfill and have turned them into usable goods. Others have developed new items that meet the public’s demand for environmentally safe products and services. Ample evidence that cost savings are possible is documented in the success stories that follow.
Saving the earth can do wonders for a company’s public relations image, making people feel good about the business and its products and services. That’s another reason why saving the earth is good business. Employees like to work for companies that respect the environment. Existing and potential customers like to spend their dollars with companies that are viewed as environmentally sensitive. Corporate environmentalism can be turned into a competitive advantage, helping to attract quality employees and loyal customers.