Sustainable business

Sustainable businesses are those that operate in a socially responsible manner. From recycling to living wages, these companies combine the big picture with the bottom line. Today’s booming green market proves they are not competing concepts. Indeed, sustainable business practices can create value for customers, shareholders and the environment.

Sustainability in action

At its essence, a sustainable business strives to minimize the environmental impact of chemicals, materials and waste generated by production and manufacturing processes.

Among the most common ways businesses enhance sustainability is by going paperless. When that isn’t feasible, some will choose ink-jet printers over their laser counterparts, which use more energy to produce the heat and pressure that affix the toner to the page. An ink-jet printer has an operating energy 90 percent less than a laser printer.

Some other ways that businesses can work toward sustainability is by ensuring the company and office building have a recycling program, as well as asking building maintenance to turn up the thermostat two degrees in the summer and down two degrees in the winter from where it’s normally set it. Also, local businesses can band together to form community groups whose efforts are directed toward making neighborhoods more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Finally, it’s a good idea to include review processes that assess where a business can eliminate waste and the use of non-renewable resources, as well switch to recycled and recyclable materials. This process should also review vendors to ensure their ethical standards account for sustainable practices.

ACCIONA's commitment

In addition to being a leading producer of renewable energy and sustainable clean water and infrastructure, ACCIONA is also a sustainable business.

When we built our North American headquarters, we recycled all of the demolished material that was recyclable. The carpet and fabric in the office is all made of recycled material, and the countertops are made of recycled glass. To conserve energy, we installed compact fluorescent lightbulbs as well as motion sensors so lights go off if no one is in the room. We kept the existing ceilings in place and installed bamboo flooring, a much more eco-friendly choice. Moreover, in addition to recycling, we limit the amount of paper used in our offices. We only print when it’s essential, and we use recycled paper from an environmentally conscious paper distributor.