Summary: One thing small business owners can do to become a green business is to cut down on the amount of paper they use. Find out how you can go green by decreasing the amount of paper your company uses.

---

OK. So I know most business can’t go completely paperless. But chances are that your business can significantly cut down on its paper consumption (going green by contributing less to deforestation issues to save trees).If you work independently as a freelancer, chances are that you can cut down almost entirely on your printing, not only helping the environment, but saving money on ink, toner, and paper as well. This is the boat I fall into, which was easy for me as I work entirely online. Even if you don’t, you can still work towards becoming a green business by making some simple changes.Digital Filing

I keep all of my client files on the computer, and when I chose to go this route I also backed up all of my old print files onto my hard drive and backup discs. I can pull them up, add notes, make changes, etc. at any time without having to ink up paper or re-print new copies of something. I also find that digital files are wonderful when you’re looking for something. You can do a simple search using a tool like Google Desktop, and find what you’re looking for in a snap.

Digital Faxing

You no longer have to waste paper to receive faxes. You can use any number of fax-to-email options. People send you a fax in a traditional way, and you’ll receive the file via email (which you can digitally review or file away). In addition to helping you go green, it gives you the convenience of being able to access faxes from anywhere, such as when you’re away on a business trip.

Article continues below.

Digital Invoicing

When I invoice clients, I do so entirely online. I’ve never mailed an invoice. I usually use online billing through my payment processor / online account, and when someone wants to pay via check or money order, I simply email them the invoice in a Word file, and save a copy to my client files on my computer.

Re-use Paper

When I do need to print something (as a writer, for example, sometimes it’s simply easier to edit from a print copy), I always try to re-use the paper – print on the reverse side the next time I have to do something similar. These kinds of projects are rare for me, but they significantly cut down on the paper I would otherwise use.

If you run a larger business than just yourself, consider recycling used paper from your employees (obviously not confidential materials though), by having them turned into note pads. I remember my old college used to do this – they’d make recycled flip note pads for the office staff and professors to use for scribbling notes. They’re great for things like to-do lists, notes, or phone messages.

Digital Bookkeeping

With the wide variety of accounting software available, you can even keep all of your financial records on your computer instead of keeping the books in paper format.

What other things do you do to cut down on the amount of paper you’re using in your efforts to go green with your business?

Summary:Is green marketing to the environmentally conscious markets here to stay, or is it just a temporary fad? Should your business go green, and if so, how can you keep green marketing ethical and in line with your business values?

---

Most of the Marketing Fad or Fab features here in the past have dealt with Internet marketing and online advertising. This time we’re going to talk about the eco-friendly trend in green business, and more specifically the concept of green marketing.

How it Works:

To put it simply, a business is utilizing green marketing tactics when their marketing message is targeting the eco-conscious members of the target market. For example, a Web hosting provider markets itself as environmentally friendly to prospective customers by touting the fact that their facilities (where your website would be physically hosted) is run by wind or solar power. Another example would be in food marketing, where you’ll find products marketed as organic or pushing the fact that it’s from local farmers (meaning less preservatives and less waste in transporting the food). Essentially, the marketing campaign revolves to some degree around appealing to a consumer base trying to be more environmentally friendly.

Fad or Fab?

Fab – While my overall outlook on green marketing is a positive one (it’s consumer-driven and often altruistic to at least a degree), I do think there’s a flip-side where certain green marketing techniques are simply fads.

First, there’s greenwashing – false claims about environmental issues to raise concerns with the public – convincing them there’s a problem that may not even exist, and then pushing your product as a solution. This is just deceitful, and we’re in a day and age now where it’s very likely you’ll be caught and publicly exposed (and maybe it’s just the PR professional in me, but I don’t believe in lying to your customers just to make a sale or be able to charge more).

I also think the premium prices for green products will eventually become a thing of the past. As people come to expect more products to be environmentally friendly, their willingness to pay more (looking at the items as special in some way) will diminish. However, with the demand rooted in personal convictions, I don’t think the demand for green products will fade to match that price issue – companies will find a way to go green for less.

When it comes to green marketing, the real key is to be sincere. If you truly care about the environment, and are acting out of that concern first and foremost, consumers will notice. Focus on building a more sustainable business beyond simply being able to increase prices or appeal to the eco-savvy markets, and you won’t be setting yourself up for a PR nightmare down the road.

Note: Be sure to check out the new Green Business section here at BizAmmo.com for upcoming green business ideas to help your business (big or small) go green.