When you do business with a company - whether it's a shop you frequent or a nonprofit you donate to - your hard-earned cash supports their business practices. So, as you commit to going green, you may find yourself wondering, "Do the organizations I support align with my desire to lead an environmentally friendly lifestyle?"
As you dive into investigating your favorite organizations to determine whether they're walking the walk when it comes to being environmentally friendly, there are some important questions to consider.
An organization's ability to control its space and impact may partially depend on its size, industry, and circumstances surrounding the services or products it provides. For instance, a large credit union like PSECU can commit to building and maintaining an eco-friendly headquarters. Our headquarters are LEED-certified. However, a small nonprofit that operates purely off donations may not have the financial ability to construct its own building or control the materials used to build a space it rents.
Though it can vary greatly by industry, there are specific designations, labels, or certifications that companies can apply for and attain to show their commitment to good environmental stewardship. This can range greatly from how a building is built, what ingredients a company uses in its products, or how much electricity a product needs to run properly. For instance, items like washing machines and light bulbs can be ENERGY STAR certified to show that they help consumers save energy.
It's easy to say something is environmentally friendly, but is the company providing specifics? Are they providing a listing of what chemicals are used in their products or are they just saying they’re eco-friendly? Are they using containers made from recyclable or reusable materials or just putting a tree on the label?
While the questions above are mostly about the products or services an organization provides, there are many ways an organization can support the environment outside of the product or service it provides. That means it's important to take a holistic look at the company when determining whether you want to support it with your hard-earned cash.
From the components of the product itself to the machinery (if applicable) used to assemble it, businesses' choices often reflect just how committed they are to going green.
Whether it's packaging for individual products or the way a company chooses to pack and ship orders, these factors can give you insight into how sustainable an organization is striving to be. For instance, are they ensuring that they're using recyclable oversized envelopes rather than ones that must be thrown out?
Some shops, especially those that serve a more local population, take deposits for glass containers that are refunded once the container is returned (this is common among some farmers markets or dairies). Or some may offer discounts if you bring back a glass container to be refilled rather than purchasing a brand new one (this can be seen at some local candle or soap shops).
It may seem small, but a gesture as simple as providing a bike rack can show that a company supports its employees in going green. Whether it's a place to lock a bike, a forum for coordinating carpools, or charging stations for electric cars, look for a business that empowers employees to make environmental choices. Many businesses may offer these conveniences for environmentally conscious customers as well.
Does a business have recycling bins? Are they encouraging employees and customers to separate waste and recyclable goods? Look for regular recycling bins as well as places that allow you to separate things like cardboard and paper, plastic and glass, and compostable items (i.e., food scraps).
Most businesses will inevitably end up with items that they don't need – whether it's a grocery store that has a surplus of meat they won't sell before it expires or a business that goes through a rebranding and has shirts or other items with an old logo on them. How an organization handles these unneeded items can point to their level of commitment to sustainability. For instance, rather than waiting until the expiration date to ditch food, some grocery stores coordinate with local food banks to ensure no food goes to waste. And rather than throw out items with an old logo, PSECU worked with a local nonprofit to donate clothing, blankets, rain ponchos, and hand warmers to support those experiencing homelessness in the Harrisburg, PA area.
Now that you know what to look for, you're ready to show some love to organizations whose business practices align with your desire to go green. Here are some ways you can support them and encourage other businesses to go green, as well.
As cliché as it may sound, money talks. Where you shop and spend your money makes a difference. By financially supporting organizations with sustainable business practices, you're helping them maintain the efforts they've made to go green.
Tell your family and friends about businesses you support and why. Pointing out that they've made choices that align with your commitment to going green may help influence those around you to consider those factors as well.
Outside of conversations with family and friends, interact with the sustainable organizations you love on social media channels you use. Leave reviews, tag them, and/or post about how they're environmentally friendly to help build awareness among others in the community.
Connect directly with the organization you're supporting to let them know that you've chosen to do business with them because of their environmentally friendly practices. Businesses pay attention to who contacts them and why, so voicing your support of the sustainable choices they've made signals to them that consumers care and want to see these practices continued.
Looking for a way to manage your money while honoring your commitment to going green? Check out our resource center to learn more ways PSECU can help you bank green every day.