Many of the suggestions in this guide can reduce operating costs. Improved efficiency means less waste, which should translate into cost savings. Reducing paper use, for example, saves money. A typical office disposes of about 350 pounds of wastepaper per employee per year. Switching from single-sided to double-sided printing can cut this figure – and corresponding expenditures and environmental impacts – almost in half.
New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture of General Motors and Toyota which produces $2 billion worth of North American automobile purchases, incorporated material efficiency, energy conservation, solid waste reduction, and recycling efforts in their environmental programs, saving the company approximately $4.5 million in 1999. NUMMI now requires their suppliers to use reusable shipping containers for the shipment of parts, which reduced their consumption of cardboard by 60% in 1999, accounting for $2.5 million of the company’s savings that year while also avoiding 11,000 tons of waste.
By reducing the basis weight of its ATM receipts from 20 pounds to 15 pounds, Bank of America saved more than just paper; this simple move also gained the bank additional savings in transportation, storage and handling costs, to the tune of $500,000 a year.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the 16th busiest airport in the US, increased its recycling from 100 tons diverted in 2001 to 900 tons diverted in 2005, saving $178,000 in waste disposal fees in just one year.
By taking steps to divert recyclables from its waste stream and increasing the efficiency of its energy and water use, this processing and distribution point of the US Postal Service has totaled savings of $500,000 a year.
By redesigning its packaging to incorporate reusable plastic totes for chocolate shipments, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was able to avoid the purchase and disposal costs 580,000 cardboard boxes, totaling savings of $520, 000 a year.
An environmentally intelligent team is also a good example for your community. Once your team initiates a program to enhance its environmental performance, find ways to publicize your work and encourage others to participate in this important program.
A program to protect the environment can boost employee morale. Club employees and their family members are aware of these issues and may be involved in similar initiatives in their homes, schools, and churches. Using less-toxic products and incorporating “green building” techniques can also reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.