Unit 3 Finding the Opportunities

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Unit 3Finding the Opportunities
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Moving in a greener direction What can you do?

• Develop new product ideas
• Refine production methods
• Make your operations environmentally friendly
• Review your marketing practices

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Developing new product ideas

• Primary sources of new product ideas
• Personal needs
• Personal knowledge of the needs of others
• The media
• Research in Business Data Bases
• Business Journals and books
• Our Heritage
• Travel and Networking experience

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Emerging but critical sources of new business
ideas

• Resource shortages
• Increasing cost for resources
• Rising energy costs
• Changing regulations
• New customer attitudes and needs
• Increasing cost of travel
• New technology

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Local Opportunities
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Local examples of Green Enterprise

• East Coast Converters developed the Billy Boot
  garbage bag from recycled resins
• Enviroplastic Lumber uses a mixture of post
  consumer and post industrial plastics to create
  an assortment of products ranging from lobster
  pots to mailboxes
• Inland Technologies recycles glycol used in the
  deicing process
• Wildland Tours develops ecotourism
  for small groups
• Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders Association
  members construct Enviro-Homes

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National Examples

• The development of Bio diesel and biomass fuels
• Future Aqua Farms integrates aquaculture and
  hydroponics to utilize fish farming wastes
• Beach Laundromat uses solar energy and energy
  recovery to reduce costs
• Vision Quests Windelectric produced ten million
  kwh of electricity for the Alberta market

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International Examples

• Product stewardship legislation in Germany
  results in the development of new technologies
  for dealing with mixed plastics
• Scottish Tourism encourages pollution prevention
  and energy conservation in tourist establishments
• Florida Power and Light implements business wide
  recycling program

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Production Phase
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Review the production process
Monitor the supply chain
Analyze delivery controls
Scrutinize storage facilities
Examine the path to the customer
Tour the production facility
Evaluate packaging
Create waste map
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Green production

• Implement a waste reduction and resource recovery
  plan
• Upgrade old inefficient equipment
• Train staff to be energy and resource conscious
• Mistake-proof equipment
• Reduce energy demand
• Stop energy leakages

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Green production--continued

• Find local product sources
• Share resources
• Reuse production components
• Implement critical maintenance schedule
• Start an employee awareness program
• Reduce production wastes
• Look for alternative materials
  that are environmentally friendly

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Green production--continued

• Find alternate energy sources
• Monitor delivery and return
  damaged goods immediately
• Create more economical packaging
• Reduce inventory
• Recycle wherever possible
• Look for complementary products

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Implementing a waste management plan

• Write a mission statement
• Be clear about goals
• Be sure employees are aware of your goals
• Consider an energy audit
• Maintain current data on quantities of waste and
  energy use in each section of your business
• Implement an employee awareness and reward
  program
• Monitor and evaluate progress

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A Waste Prevention StrategyCradle to Cradle
Design

• Cradle to cradle design plans for
  end use and restoration of product
  materials to the
  environment .
• Life Cycle Cost Accounting and other related
  accounting procedures consider all costs
  associated with a product from the raw materials
  stage to final disposal or disassembly.
• Where environmental stewardship or extended
  producer responsibility programs are in place,
  the company must consider costs that may not be
  part of the companys expenses until some time in
  the future.

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Marketing
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Marketing strategies

• Much of todays advertising is still in print
  format
• Posters, Business cards, brochures etc are all
  heavy consumers of paper
• Use the Internet.. Besides web pages, use ad
  banners on other sites, e-newsletters and e-mail
• Use on product advertising
• Develop customer loyalty through common
  interests
• Focus on consumer relations over advertising
• Communicate simply avoid environmental jargon

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Marketing Strategies

• Take advantage of charitable events
• Create useful items that carry your message
• Use long term advertising eg. Bus shelters,
• Direct your marketing efforts avoid the
  scattergun approach
• Develop complementary marketing techniques
• Use interactive marketing strategies
• Take advantage of eco-labeling
• Develop strategic alliances

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Environmental Concerns in a Throw Away Culture

• Most consumers have greater knowledge of
  environmental issues than in the past
• Unlike in the past, consumers have become
  accustomed to the comforts of a throw away
  culture
• Consumers want to make minimal changes in their
  lifestyle to accommodate environmental
  concerns

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Considering the Environmentally Aware Customer

• Many are willing to spend a little more
• Most are looking for minimal effort demand
• Most prefer to purchase green products in places
  where they normally shop
• Many consumers are cynical about environmental
  claims in advertising
• Green products must be comparably priced
• Commercial sales may be subject to green
  procurement rules

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Demographics Green Consumers

• Late thirties and early forties
• Executive professionals and college graduates
• Higher than average incomes
• More women than men
• Young adults are most
  responsive to green marketing
• Green consumers make up about
  40 of the Canadian market
• 3 are willing to pay price premiums for green
  products

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Other Considerations

• High profile of environmental concerns including
  climate change and contaminated soils
• Shortage of resources
• Concerns about waste
• Greater accountability for advertising claims
• Environmental education programs
• Quality and the competition
• Investigative and scientific television programs

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Operations
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Environmentally Conscious Operations

• Reducing heating costs
• Office waste reduction
• Energy saving lighting
• Aggressive recycling practices
• Implement a waste management team Choosing and
  maintaining environmentally friendly business
  premises

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Energy saving practices

• Insulate attics and floors
• Caulk windows and doors to prevent heat
  from leaking
• Install compact fluorescent and T-8 bulbs
• Install occupancy sensors or programmable
  thermostats
• Turn off appliances and equipment when not in use
• Reduce travel by holding online meetings and
  conference calls
• Keep equipment and vehicles well maintained

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Energy Audits

• An energy audit is a good way to get an energy
  reduction plan started
• Energy audits should be followed up with quality
  data gathering practices and frequent follow-up
  with staff and management
• A repeat audit should be conducted
  if the business expands or
  production processes change

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Waste management in the office

• Use double sided copies whenever possible
• Use e-mail and online applications
• Fax directly from a computer
• Reduce margins and line spacings on draft
  documents
• Display paper conservation hints near copiers and
  computers
• Display notices in a central location rather than
  sending a memo to each worker
• Use a white board to leave short messages
  for staff

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Environmentally friendly work environments

• Use a good ventilation system
• Keep temperatures even and prevent drafts around
  windows and doors
• Make sure lighting is appropriate
• Reduce unnecessary lighting
• Keep copiers and other equipment clean and in
  good working order

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Environmentally friendly work environments

• Avoid the use of harsh chemical based cleaners
• Ensure adequate air space around equipment
• Keep offices and other work spaces free of fumes
  or dust from production areas
• Properly dispose of expired products and chemical
  containers including ink and toner cartridges