Making More Green with your Green Business

Last Wednesday Rich Khandi, architectural account executive of Sherwin Williams, and Brian Grossman of Sierra Nevada came to Campus to speak on how to make more money by being a green business, and the actions their businesses take to become more sustainable.  The major differences between the two, is that Sherwin Williams promotes their sustainable efforts where Sierra Nevada does not.

Sherwin Williams has been in business for over 100 years and opens up about 30 stores per year.  In 2007 they had $8 billion in paint sales, and want to achieve $10 billion by 2010.  So by this time you are wondering what does paint have to do with sustainability? Well paint contains VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compounds, better recognized as that new paint smell.  Sherwin William’s drive to a better indoor air quality is one of their sustainable efforts.  Khandi made the point that going sustainable is expensive, but once you make the switch there will be an increase in profits.  Sherwin Williams increase in research and development makes products better and reduces the cost to consumers.  In addition they are the only paint store LEAD, CHP, and CASH certified, making them the first choice to companies in the business of sustainable buildings.  There are many risks to claiming that your company is sustainable, most of which are due to the fact that there is a high level of green washing, people promoting green products that aren’t truly green or sustainable.  This causes a company to go under the eye of public scrutiny, many people hoping to find something that isn’t sustainable about the business, which is why Sierra Nevada chooses not to promote their sustainability efforts.

Sierra Nevada is the 7^th largest brewery in the nation.  Brian was very nonchalant about everything that the brewery does, but I was in awe after hearing the extent to which the brewery is self sustainable.  One huge point that Brian made is that simple things add up immensely.  For example recycling, Sierra Nevada has changed their pallets from wood to PVC, they recycle concrete by using a concrete shredder to turn it into a base aggregate that is then used in the base of new buildings, their waste water is turned into methane, which is then turned into power for their hydrogen fuel cells.  In 2007 they diverted 98.3% of what would go to the land fill into the percent of waste recycled, saving nearly $2 million in land waste.  Sierra Nevada also conducts continual self audits to reduce electrical energy use and have made sustainable changes to sensor lighting, motors, drives, and insulation.  Sierra Nevada’s beer brand is built on their quality, and for that reason it is the one thing that will never be compromised for green.

Both speakers made very valid points about how a business can make more money by going green.  One important thing to always keep in mind is reducing your bottom line.  This can easily be done by thinking outside of the box about ways that you can cut down on your overall intake of resources.  Because ultimately the less resources you use the more money you save and the more profitable and better image your business will have.