platinum
1,803
GBB points earned
Completed Initiatives
Initiative Description
Points
100% of your power supply is from on-site renewable energy solutions (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) to reduce your business’s scope 2 emissions
120
To reduce scope 3 emissions, become a completely remote company, requiring no office space or regular transportation to/from work
75
Ensure all suppliers/vendors adhere to your company’s environmental commitments and standards and do not engage in any practices that are environmentally or socially harmful
75
25-74% of company vehicles are electric
48
Offer employee incentive programs for the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles
40
Upgrade from older fluorescent T12, T8 and T5 lamps to LED alternatives
36
Purchase 25-49% of products and services from green-certified or Green Business Bureau vendors
36
Rent or purchase a building that is close to public transportation stops and bike paths
36
Compost your home food waste
36
Replace your home’s water-intensive grass with regionally native, climate resilient ground coverings
35
Have a composting program for your business food waste
30
Implement a green procurement policy
30
Implement a comprehensive recycling program including education, proper sinage, and monitoring
27
Install faucets with controls that turn off automatically (motion sensors)
25
Implement a sustainability process and standard for all meetings, conferences, and events
25
Optimize your on-premise servers and business systems by ensuring the hardware is up-to-date and energy efficient
24
Retrofit parking lot lighting and street lights to significantly reduce maintenance and energy costs.
24
Create a pathway program for local youths to intern and eventually become employed at your company
24
Create an executive leadership team with women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities in top leadership roles
24
Use washable electrostatic furnace and air conditioning filters to reduce waste and improve indoor air quality
20
After completing the energy audit/assessment, develop a comprehensive energy use and conservation plan with measurable goals to optimize energy usage and reduce emissions
20
After concluding your water usage assessment, develop a comprehensive water use and conservation plan with measurable goals to optimize water usage
20
Use a hybrid personal vehicle
20
Eliminate all single-use paper, styrofoam or plastic cups, plates, and utensils in the kitchen area. Use reusable mugs, dishes, and silverware instead
18
Schedule regular maintenance on company vehicles to ensure each vehicle is operating as efficiently as possible to reduce emissions
18
Perform a yearly assessment of all suppliers/vendors’ environmental and social practices in comparison to your company’s commitments
18
Provide a product or service, as part of your company’s core strategy, that delivers a social or environmental benefit and/or focuses on an underserved part of the community.
18
Provide a benefits package that meets the needs of employees, and is well-defined, accessible and transparent to all workers
18
Provide a living wage for all employees, at all levels of the organization including both full time and part time workers.
18
Carve out a “no meetings” day during the work week
18
Properly recycle all household waste according to your local regulations
18
Create a detailed risk management plan for projects and programs
18
Purchase and serve at least 75% local, organic, and fair trade food and drink
16
Incorporate biophilic design by installing green walls in the office environment
16
Prioritize working with business partners, service providers, etc. that are women-led, minority-owned and local small businesses
16
Define, institute, and clearly communicate a policy to prioritize employee diversity, equity, and inclusion.
16
Switch to low-pressure and highly efficient showerheads and faucets
15
Send products in bulk with fewer trips
15
Purchase all office paper products made from 50-100% recycled materials
12
Arrange the workspace to take advantage of areas with natural sunlight; design future spaces with natural lighting opportunities in mind
12
Purchase offsets for the travel emissions and in-person work days that can’t be reduced
12
Purchase or lease used or recycled office equipment and furniture
12
Philanthropically donate a percentage of your revenue or profits and/or company time to an environmental cause
12
Reserve at least one day a year when your company volunteers for local environmental or community projects (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Earth Day, Save a Tree)
12
Construct a vegetable garden on roof, facility grounds, or a communtiy garden in close proximity to the office
12
Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified or similarly highly efficient appliances to reduce business scope 2 emissions
12
Use sensors on vending machines and place machines in shaded areas.
12
Use energy efficient cash registers or Point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
12
Replace Open/Closed signs with LED or high-efficiency alternatives.
12
Return used clothes hangers to manufacturers or vendors for a rebate.
12
Use high recycled content paper receipts.
12
Use energy efficient display lighting, utilizing the best possible lighting options for window displays, display cases, and cabinets.
12
Allow customers an opt-out option for receipts or email digital receipt copies to their inbox.
12
Have a clearly defined policy that specifies how you will screen partners and vendors to ensure that their business operations are socially responsible and eco-friendly
12
Develop an office thermostat policy that maintains internal air temperature within the recommended temperature range, and eliminates A/C and heating usage when the building is not occupied
12
Provide equitable opportunities to ensure women have equal access to employment, leadership roles, and pay.
12
Provide fair and appropriate breaks for workers based on hours worked and enforce a strict policy that they must take them
12
Institute a policy for providing training, certification, and professional development opportunities to employees
12
Purchase produce in-season from local farmer’s markets or co-ops
12
Adhere to labor, child labor, forced labor, and reasonable working hour laws and practices
12
Install water catchment systems to collect rainwater for use in home garden irrigation
10
Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics
9
Purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to off-set any scope 2 emissions related to your business’s energy consumption
9
Resell your used corrugated cardboard boxes.
9
Work with a food recovery service to donate surplus meals, stock and other edible food items to reduce waste.
9
Purchase energy-efficient portable AC units or fans
9
Install a filtered water tap or water bottle refill station that provide high-quality drinking water and encourage employees to use them in place of bottled water
8
Purchase trash bins and liners made from 100% bio-based or 50-100% recycled materials
8
Become an annual sponsor, making a substantial contribution to a meaningful event promoting sustainability in your area
8
Encourage employee carpools
8
Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce and limit amount of paper used (envelopes from marketing materials – use fold and mail when possible)
8
Complete a consumption and waste audit to help identify and quantify the items your business acquires, uses, and discards
8
Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, bio-based cleaning products
8
Replace regular light bulbs with LED bulbs that last longer and save energy
8
Install timers on non-essential electrical appliances and reduce “vampire loads” by unplugging them when not in use to reduce business scope 2 emissions
8
Establish a paperless billing program for your customers and encourage use by creating incentives
8
Work with vendors to minimize product packaging.
8
Redesign receipts to be simpler and more eco-friendly.
8
Use concentrated cleaning products
8
Use recycled and environmentally preferred office supplies such as pens, notebooks, etc.
8
Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds including a garden, walking trail, or courtyard
8
Regularly evaluate employee satisfaction through interviews, surveys, or calculation of employee net promoter score
8
Weatherize your home by ensuring all windows and doors in your home are properly installed, functioning, maintained, weather-stripped, etc.
8
Use a drip irrigation system for watering your home landscaping
8
Conduct multiple quality checks on your products and/or services before distributing to consumers to ensure highest possible quality
8
Choose paperless billing with vendors, business partners, and suppliers when possible
6
Eliminate unnecessary paper usage as much as possible including forms, contracts, meeting agendas and materials, proofs, and drafts
6
Administer company-wide employee training on sustainability efforts both at work and at home
6
Eliminate the use of plastic bags (paper bags, preferably made with minimum 40% post consumer waste, or BPI certified compostable bags are acceptable).
6
Sell gift cards made from recycled plastic and establish a gift card recycling service in store.
6
Offer digital coupons instead of printing coupons for distribution.
6
Give opportunity for all employees to provide feedback of any kind and feel secure and empowered to do so
6
Replace all traditional bulbs with LED bulbs throughout your home work space
6
Use reusable cleaning products such as sponges or towels instead of paper towels throughout your home
6
Use natural light throughout 75% of the day instead of overhead lights
5
Locate home office in room with ample windows to take advantage of daylighting
5
Place a company employee on the organizing committee for the same or another event to achieve maximum involvement and exposure
4
Become an active member, either by serving on the board, donating or volunteering time for an organization that continually works to improve the environment nationally or in your area
4
Recycle or sell your used toner cartridges
4
Purchase recycled or remanufactured toner cartridges
4
Develop a paper reduction policy that clearly defines when and how items should be printed to significantly reduce paper usage and consumption
4
Designate carpool, hybrid, and EV parking spaces that are in preferred areas of your parking lot (e.g. closer to the building entrance or covered)
4
Reduce junk mail by removing your business’ name from national direct marketing databases
4
Eliminate the use of disposable batteries and switch entirely to rechargeable
4
Use reusable cleaning products such as towels and sponges, eliminating paper towels
4
Use air-filtering plants throughout the office to improve indoor air quality and employee wellbeing
4
Print and copy double-sided when possible, to significantly reduce paper use and waste
4
Make your business’ sustainability efforts a central part of your message by filling out and linking to your GBB Member Profile and publishing your sustainability commitment on your website
4
Use a green web hosting service for your business’ website
4
Choose bio-based, reused, recycled, recyclable, or FSC certified boxes and bags for business shipping needs
4
Reuse, sell, or donate used or unneeded furniture, equipment, and office supplies
4
Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible
4
Offer an incentive to customers who bring their own shopping bags, coffee mugs, etc. and/or use a disincentive such as charging a fee for disposable containers and bags.
4
Use packaging for food and other in-store packaging needs, such as for fragile items, made out of sustainable or recycled containers.
4
Use biodegradable or compostable food service supplies for wine and food tastings.
4
Donate old and unused merchandise to a local charity.
4
Communicate your social responsibility initiatives with customers and other stakeholders in a way that clearly defines your company values, policies, objectives and actual performance
4
Add shades/window covering to reduce heat gain
4
Provide regular formal review, linked to a comprehensive development plan, with clear and constructive feedback to all employees using a well-defined, fair, and consistent process.
4
Provide a trusted, impartial and empowered 3rd party for the remediation of significant conflicts arising between employees and the business/business leaders
4
Add shades/window covering throughout your home to reduce heat gain
4
Use smart power strips throughout your house in areas of high plug loads
4
Plant native, region-friendly plants in your home garden to minimize the impact on the local habitat and limit the amount of irrigation water needed
4
Use a shared or centralized printer
4
Create a board that is diverse and inclusive, made up of members with differences in thought, perspective, cultural and geographical background, age, ethnicity, race, gender, knowledge & skills–representative of the community and stakeholders
4
Create and implement a policy for protecting sensitive information
4
Conduct regular cyber/data security checks
4
Accept and evaluate employee’s feedback about violations of your corporate ethics and conduct policy
4
Create and implement an employee code of conduct
4
Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows
3
Use ceiling fans in place of air conditioning when possible
2
Assist at least one other business in learning about sustainability, social responsibility, and green business efforts and encourage them to join the GBB
2
Offer environmentally friendly gift-wrapping options, such as recycled wrapping papers, tissue paper, bags, and boxes.
2
Offer durable, reusable bags at checkout.
2
Commit to inviting, receiving and acting upon customer and community feedback in a welcoming and constructive way at all times.
2
Use ceiling fans and windows in place of air conditioning
2
Donate used clothing and furniture
2
Document board meetings with minutes and final write-up/reports and distributed to all essential members
2
Use LED lights in displays
2
Organize sustainability committee or green team to serve as your company’s leading advocates for greening efforts
1
Complete GBB’s Getting Started steps, including filling out your company’s Member Profile and the GBB Assessment
1
Develop a sustainability mission statement for your business and define your company’s core commitments
1
Populate your company’s green accomplishments in your EcoProfile
1
Announce your GBB Membership to all employees. Share the company green mission and commitment to become greener.
1
Use natural odor elimination
1
Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning
1
Use an environmentally friendly display board instead of foam core board to post memos, schedules and other notices in a centralized area.
1
Keep a spill kit handy to catch/collect spills from hazardous materials. Make sure there is adequate absorbent material to contain the largest possible spill.
1