Building a Green Business
April 19, 2008
A few weeks ago, a friend of ours asked if I would put together some thoughts on the challenges we have faced in creating a “green business”. The result: a three part series on why we decided to go green with some or all of it to be included in the next issue of Carolina Mountain Living…enjoy!
So you wanna go green?
First thing you need to do is ask yourself the question: “Why do I want to become a green business?” The second question you need to ask is: “What makes a business green?”
We purchase green coffee that is primarily Organic & Fair Trade. We designed a van that uses solar panels, propane, and bio-diesel to power our coffee equipment, which was right in line with one of our goals of being an “eco-friendly” business.
However, that didn’t make us a green business…at least by our standards. We believe that in order to be a “green business”, we need to focus on the amount of energy used and our carbon footprint, not to mention putting to use the three Rs of conservation: Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce.
Now the problem that a lot of people run into, especially in small business, is that it costs a lot to purchase the necessary technology to reduce the amount of energy you use to produce your product. From what we have observed, if you believe it is the right thing to do, you will go green…no matter what the cost. It’s a goal Bald Guy Brew is still working towards!
If you are going green because you will gain some type of market advantage over your competitor, then you are more than likely to bail when you see how much it costs! Why do I say that? Because it is stinking expensive, and it will take a very long time to recoup your initial investment. From a business perspective, that just doesn’t add up.
So Baldguy, tell me again why you decided to go green?
Well, to begin, we firmly believe that we have an environmental mandate to take care of what we have been entrusted with. (You’ll have to come by the shop for me to unpack that one…I don’t have enough space to pontificate!).
Secondly, appropriate technology is vastly superior to what was on the market several years ago. It was relatively simple and a little easier on the wallet when we put together our mobile espresso-coffee roasting unit. Trying to implement the same technology in our International Head-Quarters is quite a different challenge (more on that in the next issue).
Last but not least, it just makes sense! You’ve probably read or heard the statistics concerning the alarming rate by which we are devouring our natural resources…if not, trying searching the internet for “world energy resources and consumption” for several lengthy reads.
So there ya have it. As my buddy Forest Gump use to say, “That’s all I’ve got to say `bout that!” Next month, I’ll share some ways in which we put the three Rs to work at the Bald Guy Brew International Head-Quarters.
Comments
7 Responses to “Building a Green Business”
Got something to say?
It is the right thing to do. I will be tuning in for the rest of the series.
I like to know what—who I am trading with looks like. Get out that digital camera and give us a shot in front of the roaster. LOL—OMG—Take your pick!
I tried taking his photo and he hid. We should stage a revolt.
This is an interesting article and its high time businesses feel the responsibility to ‘go green’. I will link this page to our blog for reader reference. Small steps towards a giant leap.
i wanna buy coffe…..so how are you selling…hope to hear from you soon.
[…] a link to the article by “Bald Guy” is a small way to remember our prime duty towards environment […]
The BGB is a great place for coffee and conversation. The eclectic menagerie of customers is always a treat. The Green thing is just the way it rolls at the shop and everyone is very supportive of it. Ideas are constantly floating about how to improve on how it happens. Being a Green Business is a community endeavor with the BGB. By the way, Terry if you want see what the Bald Guy looks like, just take a look at the logo - that’s the man himself.