platinum
752
GBB points earned
Completed Initiatives
Initiative Description
Points
Install or lease from a building with a heat recovery system that converts waste heat to energy
60
Upgrade from older fluorescent T12, T8 and T5 lamps to LED alternatives
36
Rent or purchase a building that is close to public transportation stops and bike paths
36
Have a composting program for your business food waste
30
Optimize your on-premise servers and business systems by ensuring the hardware is up-to-date and energy efficient
24
Meet if not exceed Federal and State regulations for your industry
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
Eliminate all physical marketing materials, rely only on digital methods
18
Purchase and serve at least 75% local, organic, and fair trade food and drink
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
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 or lease used or recycled office equipment and furniture
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
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
Grow an at-home or community food garden
12
Purchase produce in-season from local farmer’s markets or co-ops
12
Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics
9
Work with a food recovery service to donate surplus meals, stock and other edible food items to reduce waste.
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
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
Use concentrated cleaning products
8
Buy electronics that are energy efficient, EPEAT, ROHS, etc.
8
Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds including a garden, walking trail, or courtyard
8
Weatherize your home by ensuring all windows and doors in your home are properly installed, functioning, maintained, weather-stripped, etc.
8
Conduct multiple quality checks on your products and/or services before distributing to consumers to ensure highest possible quality
8
Conduct investigations of ethical violations, and when substantiated hand out fair and reasonable consequences
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
Conduct exit interviews to gain insights on company culture and operations and make improvements based on feedback
6
Give opportunity for all employees to provide feedback of any kind and feel secure and empowered to do so
6
Use eco-friendly, bio-based, non-toxic home cleaning products
6
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
Eliminate the use of disposable batteries and switch entirely to rechargeable
4
Print and copy double-sided when possible, to significantly reduce paper use and waste
4
Reuse, sell, or donate used or unneeded furniture, equipment, and office supplies
4
Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible
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 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 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
Appoint a majority of board members that are independent from the company
4
Uphold your company’s responsibility to shareholders through shareholder meetings
4
Create and implement a policy for protecting sensitive information
4
Create and implement an employee code of conduct
4
Establish and implement a shareholder rights policy
4
Designate an employee as community engagement leader or create a community engagement team
4
Use ceiling fans in place of air conditioning when possible
2
Commit to inviting, receiving and acting upon customer and community feedback in a welcoming and constructive way at all times.
2
Donate used clothing and furniture
2
Document board meetings with minutes and final write-up/reports and distributed to all essential members
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
Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning
1