Today, ‘green’ has become a fashion statement of sorts. Everyday, we’re constantly reminded to “go green” — use less energy, shrink our carbon footprint, save the Earth, etc. Over the last few years, the word “green” has gained a definition that goes way beyond color. Today, “green” has established itself in our vocabulary as an adjective, noun and verb, not to mention a movement.

The term “going green” can mean different things to different companies. To some, green means recyclable. To others, green means free of potentially harmful chemicals. But in reality, many green-leaning businesses, families, and governments are still fiddling while the planet burns. Why? Because implementing sustainability is brutally difficult.

Going Green and Being Sustainable – related phrases, but different meanings. However, the words “green” and “sustainable” are often used interchangeably, and sustainable has a more precise meaning that is often obscured, distorted, and diluted by the commercialization and marketing of the green “movement”.

• “Going green” means to pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations.

• Sustainability, on the other hand, is often defined as managing the triple bottom line – a process by which companies manage their financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet.

Generally, sustainable products and activities are subject to a higher standard of performance because of “future” factors. For example, a car can be considered “green” simply because it manages to deliver 40 miles per gallon of gasoline. But it’s not sustainable for us to be extracting fossil fuels from the earth and burning them at current rates.

Sustainability values form the basis of the strategic management, process the costs and benefits of the firm’s operations, and are measured against the survival needs of the planets stakeholders. Sustainability is the core value because it supports a strategic vision of firms in the long term by integrating economic profits with the responsibility to protect the environment; as there is no economy, unless there is a planet.

Just like the term “green,” “sustainability” encompasses a broad range of activities and issues. While both terms are associated with environmentalism and living in ways that are less harmful to the planet, green doesn’t always mean sustainable, and what’s “green” isn’t always that good.

So what does this mean for business operations? It means they must define their green/sustainability goals, implement these changes and then measure their success. An understanding of what makes companies survive will help sustainability managers embed their programs more effectively. If they are not concerned with whether or not their company can stay in business, all the good green and community work could disappear at the whim of the market.

Lately, the topic of banning plastic bags has become hotly debated subject that is sweeping the country. Eco-crusaders across the globe have had great success in attacking the widespread use of plastic bags and feel that the banning of bags is a simple and environmentally responsible approach. 

 Over the past several years, more than two-dozen U.S. cities have implemented bag bans, most of them prohibiting plastic bags and imposing a fee on paper. The majority of these cities reside in the states of California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and now Texas; which, includes the cities of Austin, Brownsville, and South Padre Island.

For the last five months, the Dallas City Council members have been deliberating over the decision to adopt or deny the ban on plastic bags. Yet, the ban on plastic bags in Dallas is unlikely to come before the City Council for months due to a lack of direction and plan of execution. The majority of City Counsel members know a solution to this problem must be sought out, but feel that the entire banning of bags isn’t the correct approach. It will be some time before the counsel reaches a solution to this rising problem.

The fact that policymakers are banning bags and creating fees without considering the real impact it could have on the economy and environment is frightening. Rather than bans and fees that take away jobs and increase costs to consumers, policy makers should be more inclined to take advantage of the great economic and environmental opportunities associated with the responsibilities of recycling these bags, thus creating more economical growth and sustainability, while preserving environmental obligations.

Going green seems to be the latest trend, but it is a trend with a variety of benefits for business owners. Applying green processes to the workplace creates an effective environment for employees, minimizes unnecessary waste and recognizes the role that businesses play in leading the way for social change. For those businesses that are considering going green, a variety of reasons exist to take the plunge.

Many businesses have adopted principles that are based on budget, available technology and consumer demand. It’s a common misconception that the primary motivation behind why businesses make green transformations, is moral obligation, as opposed to fiscal reasons. Businesses today are facing mounting pressures from their constituents to reduce their environmental impacts. Yet, the questions that remain are, “How can a business go green?” and “What does that even mean in terms of your business?”

Reducing the overall environmental impact of your business is what it means to go green. This general approach includes compliance issues that protect both you and the environment. By combining those initiatives with energy efficiency measures that conserve the earth’s resources, you make your business more efficient, and reduce overall costs.

However, over the years, “going green” has become less of an option and more of a necessity. It is a change many companies will be forced to face sooner than later, yet they need a reliable way to do it. Although immense transformation isn’t immediately necessary, a business must at least make baby steps towards the direction of sustainability if it intends to remain competitive.

UniTherm is one company that has made significant inroads by investing in the design and production of new energy-efficient insulation products. UniVest or (UniTherm insulation systems) blankets and jackets are insulation systems that trap heat inside manufacturing equipment, hoses and pipes, exhaust systems, or any industrial equipment up to 1200°; thus, reducing the amount of energy needed to keep equipment running safely and effectively at high temperatures.  UniVest not only helps companies save more money by conserving energy, but also is universal and practical by design- fits a variety of industrial applications. The money spent installing UniVest can be easily recouped within a year’s time and reduce the operating costs that the company passes along to its customers. In the end, everybody wins when they use this product!

Overall, the more efficient use of energy is a vital step towards companies going green. Not only is cutting down the amount of energy businesses consume important, but creating products which help the mass market use less energy is also essential. Going green is important for the future of the economy and our civilization. Companies going green can provide necessary leadership in the green movement, work wonders environmentally, significantly improve their bottom lines, and show they are excellent corporate citizens.