FD’s Los Angeles office recently surveyed Southern California business leaders to gain some insight on perceptions, outlooks and trends shaping companies communication in the economic downturn.
Included in the survey findings were qualitative insights into the green and environmental practices companies have been adopting and what they have been doing (or not doing) to communicate them to their stakeholders.
Here’s what we found:
More than 35% of businesses have adopted one or more of the following practices to reduce their environmental impact:
· Recycling in the office
· Changes in internal business practices (i.e. printing and purchasing habits)
· Reduced business travel
· Increased telecommuting
· Reduced energy usage
This comes as no surprise as everyone knows California leads the way when it comes to green policy and practice. What is surprising, however, is that these companies are doing next to nothing when it comes to communicating about what they’re doing—aside from telling their employees.
· Only 16% have incorporated it onto their Web site and less than 16% have communicated via an external marketing or public relations campaigns.
If you are walking the walk, you might as well talk the talk. We tried to put our fingers on what’s holding people back. We were able to identify a couple of myths that we’ve dispelled for you below:
Myth: Being green costs money.
Truth: Environmental practices don’t just give you a bang for your marketing buck, they are actually a great way to cut your costs. Making small changes, like decreasing your energy use and cutting back on disposable goods (paper, printing, etc.) is a breeze. Work with IT to set double-sided printing as the default and automatically switch computers off at night. Switch to energy efficient lighting or cut back on office space with increased telecommuting.
Myth: Employees don’t care.
Truth: Adopting environmental practices is a great way to increase morale, engage employees and make them feel good about what your company is doing—especially when things can seem so grim. Incentivize employees to suggest change that impact the bottom line and you’ll be amazed at the collaboration and solutions that ensue.
Myth: We aren’t doing anything that is worth talking about.
Truth: Communicating about what you ARE doing to lighten your environmental impact, even if its small, shows that you are aware, that you care and that you are taking a step in the right direction. In today’s skeptical society, if you don’t talk about being green, people assume you aren’t doing anything.
Bottom Line: Adopting green practices is a great way to cut costs. Communicating about them adds value. So, what are you waiting for?
Contact FD Element for some creative and cost-effective ways to cut costs while going green.
By Lindsey Jurca, Assistant Vice President at FD, Los Angeles
FD’s Los Angeles office recently surveyed Southern California business leaders to gain some insight on perceptions, outlooks and trends shaping companies communication in the economic downturn.
Included in the survey findings were qualitative insights into the green and environmental practices companies have been adopting and what they have been doing (or not doing) to communicate them to their stakeholders.
Here’s what we found:
More than 35% of businesses have adopted one or more of the following practices to reduce their environmental impact:
· Recycling in the office
· Changes in internal business practices (i.e. printing and purchasing habits)
· Reduced business travel
· Increased telecommuting
· Reduced energy usage
This comes as no surprise as everyone knows California leads the way when it comes to green policy and practice. What is surprising, however, is that these companies are doing next to nothing when it comes to communicating about what they’re doing—aside from telling their employees.
· Only 16% have incorporated it onto their Web site and less than 16% have communicated via an external marketing or public relations campaigns.
If you are walking the walk, you might as well talk the talk. We tried to put our fingers on what’s holding people back. We were able to identify a couple of myths that we’ve dispelled for you below:
Myth: Being green costs money.
Truth: Environmental practices don’t just give you a bang for your marketing buck, they are actually a great way to cut your costs. Making small changes, like decreasing your energy use and cutting back on disposable goods (paper, printing, etc.) is a breeze. Work with IT to set double-sided printing as the default and automatically switch computers off at night. Switch to energy efficient lighting or cut back on office space with increased telecommuting.
Myth: Employees don’t care.
Truth: Adopting environmental practices is a great way to increase morale, engage employees and make them feel good about what your company is doing—especially when things can seem so grim. Incentivize employees to suggest change that impact the bottom line and you’ll be amazed at the collaboration and solutions that ensue.
Myth: We aren’t doing anything that is worth talking about.
Truth: Communicating about what you ARE doing to lighten your environmental impact, even if its small, shows that you are aware, that you care and that you are taking a step in the right direction. In today’s skeptical society, if you don’t talk about being green, people assume you aren’t doing anything.
Bottom Line: Adopting green practices is a great way to cut costs. Communicating about them adds value. So, what are you waiting for?
Contact FD Element for some creative and cost-effective ways to cut costs while going green.
By Lindsey Jurca, Assistant Vice President at FD, Los Angeles