Save The Rainforests, Save Your Company

July 23, 2010 on 8:41 am | In News | Comments Off

The tragic oil spill within the Gulf of Mexico is a huge warning call for all of us. We all have to cautiously contemplate the negative effect the actions of corporations and individuals are having on our world’s ecological system. A lot has been written and will continue to be written about BP and the PR nightmare it created itself through the record oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. However you might not have been told that there is a different ongoing environmental controversy centered around the issue of deforestation and a company called Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Small businesses and organizations in all places can learn an important lesson from the situation APP finds itself in. APP is a division in the mega business, Sinar Mas, and refers to itself as one of the earth’s foremost pulp and paper companies.

APP has in recent times been connected to being a significant contributor to deforestation. Deforestation, the human-caused disappearance of naturally occurring forests by logging or burning, is a gigantic dilemma in today’s world. It is estimated that approximately 50% or more of the planet’s plant and animal species exist in the seven percent of the planet where rainforests presently exist. For instance, the most renowned of rainforests, the Amazon, a majestic 5.5 million square kilometer rainforest located in South America covering sections of nine distinct nations, has only 82.3% of the wet broadleaf jungle cover it had in 1970. It is also estimated that between 1991 and 2000, the overall loss of Amazon rainforest increased from 415,000 square kilometers to almost 600,000. The data above is according to Wikipedia.

Another lesser known however similarly struggling rain forest, the Indonesian rainforest, has made the latest headlines after a statement from Greenpeace. Inside the report, Greenpeace accuses Asia Paper and Pulp of “relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and, if left unchecked, will threaten Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.” According to CNN.com, Indonesia is one of the planet’s largest culprits of emitting greenhouse emissions principally due to clear-cutting and burning of rainforests for logging and other purposes. Indonesia has long been a recipient of condemnation because of its environmental tactics primarily due to disregard for global and even their own laws. APP is presently going through a public relations nightmare as a result of Greenpeace report, and of course is claiming Greenpeace’s statements are exaggerated. Still things recently took a wrong turn for Sinar Mas when in July, 2010, Wal-Mart, announced it has taken steps to stop buying their paper, because of this and further controversies encircling APP. It appears that APP’s denial of the issue is making things worse and currently costing them major business. Losing Wal-Mart’s business over the next year and beyond will significantly impact their bottom line.

This takes us to a great question: In today’s struggling international economy, how can organizations and businesses ensure they are instituting environmentally-friendly and energy efficient business practices and not on the incorrect side of a public relations controversy? Business.Gov, the official business link to the US Government, includes a 10-step guide to help organizations ensure they are energy efficient, meeting the requirements of environmental policy, and recognized as a green business. Listed here are the steps: Comply with Environmental Policies, Cultivate an Environmental Management Plan, Build Green, Purchase Sustainable Products, Agree to Energy Efficient Practices, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes, Preserve Water, Prevent Polluting of the environment, Make a Green Marketing communications Strategy, and Join Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs.

Step 4 Obtain Sustainable Products, is a superb suggestion that a great many companies fail to think about. A unique way to boost awareness about deforestation while marketing your product is through eco friendly promotional products like seed paper, that is made of actual seeds and can still develop and sprout into a flower when planted. Something as simple as seed cards such as a seed business card or a seeded thank you card can create a truly unforgettable interaction with a client or industry colleague. You could potentially also incorporate a statement concerning deforestation on the stationary, making it absolutely clear about where your business stands on ecological issues. Another one that stands out on this list is step 6, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes. Remembering to cut back as well as reuse is the best way to get rid of the need to recycle in the first place. Now is the time to take action to prevent deforestation as well as ensuring your company is recognized as being a green business, as a consequence solidifying your green reputation. The 10 steps above are a terrific manual for any business owner or CEO to implement green practices in your business. Embrace the challenge of continuously improving your organization’s ecological footprint. Your company’s leadership and example can help end the devastating effects of deforestation and the investment will be well worth it.

Albert Jefferson is an educated author going over environmental and sustainability concerns in addition to sharing the idea to companies to use eco shopping bags to advertise both their brand and awareness for this environment.

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