platinum
1,374
Points Earned
Completed Initiatives
Initiative Description
Points
100% of your power supply is from on-site renewable energy solutions
120
Become a completely remote company, requiring no office space or regular transportation to/from work
75
25-50% of your power supply is from on-site renewable energy solutions (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.)
60
Use high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, like high efficiency toilets (HETs) and urinals (HEUs)
48
Upgrade from older fluorescent T12, T8 and T5 lamps to LED alternatives
36
Use a tankless or otherwise highly efficient hot water heater
36
Purchase 25-49% of products and services from green-certified or Green Business Benchmark vendors
36
Rent or purchase a building that is close to public transportation stops and bike paths
36
Replace water-intensive grass with regionally native, climate resilient ground coverings
32
Implement a comprehensive recycling program including education, proper sinage, and monitoring
27
Provide 10 weeks paid family leave policy accessible to all employees
27
Implement a sustainability process and standard for all meetings, conferences, and events
25
Create an executive leadership team with women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities in top leadership roles
24
Plant native, regionally-friendly plants to minimize water use and impact on local habitat
20
After completing the energy audit/assessment, develop a comprehensive energy use and conservation plan
20
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
Install light switch occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present
18
Hire an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to optimize energy usage
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
Choose a pest control service that minimizes the use of toxic pesticides
16
Install a programmable thermostat to automate your HVAC or A/C system
16
Purchase and serve 75-100% local, organic, and fair trade food and drink
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
12
Ensure all windows are double pane, low-E, and energy efficient
12
Purchase or lease used or recycled office equipment and furniture
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
Optimize the color of your outside walls and the roof for your climate
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
12
Use highly efficient filters for HVAC
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
Create and implement a human health and safety policy
12
Adhere to labor, child labor, forced labor, and reasonable working hour laws and practices
12
Keep corporate accounting accurate and up-to-date, enabling operation decisions to be made about investing, hiring, and project management
12
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 emissions related to energy consumption
9
Conduct a comprehensive water usage assessment/audit to pinpoint specific areas of water usage and waste
8
Install water flow rate controls (aerators) on faucets
8
Install a filtered water tap or water bottle refill station that provide high-quality drinking water
8
Conduct an energy assessment/audit to pinpoint specific areas of energy use and waste
8
Ensure all windows and doors are properly installed, functioning, maintained, and weather-stripped, etc.
8
Encourage employee carpools
8
Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce
8
Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, bio-based cleaning products
8
Replace regular light bulbs with LED bulbs
8
Ensure there are no harmful VOCs or chemical fumes in building furnishings, coverings, and walls including paint, curtains/blinds, carpet, flooring, and furniture
8
Undergo regular and complete check-ups and maintenance of your HVAC or A/C system
8
Establish a paperless billing program for your customers
8
Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds
8
Regularly evaluate employee satisfaction through interviews, surveys, or calculation of employee net promoter score
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
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 reusable bags instead of plastic bags when shopping
6
Locate home office in room with ample windows to take advantage of daylighting
5
Place a company employee on the organizing committee for a sustainability event
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
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
4
Change your HVAC or A/C filters every six months or more frequently as is recommended by filter type
4
Regularly test your irrigation system to ensure proper configuration, optimized watering schedule, and eliminate overwatering and waste
4
Reduce junk mail by removing your organization’s 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
4
Print and copy double-sided only
4
Make your business’ sustainability efforts a central part of your message by filling out and linking to your GBB Public Profile and publishing your sustainability commitment on your website
4
Choose bio-based, reused, recycled, recyclable, or FSC certified boxes and bags for shipping
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 regular formal review, linked to a comprehensive development plan, with clear and constructive feedback to all employees
4
Provide a trusted, impartial and empowered 3rd party for the remediation of significant conflicts arising between employees and the business/business leaders
4
Plant native, region-friendly plants in your home garden
4
Use a shared or centralized printer
4
Uphold your company’s responsibility to shareholders through shareholder meetings
4
Create and implement a policy for protecting sensitive information
4
Conduct regular cyber/data security checks
4
Create and implement an employee code of conduct
4
Create and enforce a policy for preventing and addressing discrimination and harassment
4
Regularly disclose business practices, operations, and financial statements to shareholders and stakeholders
4
Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows
3
Train employees on your cyber/data security policies and what to do in case of a potential breach
3
Purchase trash liners made from 50-100% recycled materials
2
Designate your office as a smoke-free working environment with outside smoking areas 25 feet away from building entry areas and common walkways
2
Use ceiling fans in place of air conditioning when possible
2
Reduce “vampire loads” by unplugging appliances when not in use
2
Donate used clothing and furniture
2
Document board meetings with minutes and final write-up/reports and distributed to all essential members
2
Implement a conflict of interest policy for your board of directors and senior management
2
Organize a sustainability committee to lead your organization’s sustainability program
1
Complete the GBB getting started steps
1
Develop a sustainability mission statement for your business and define your company’s core commitments
1
Populate your company’s sustainability accomplishments in your profile
1
Announce your commitment to GBB to all employees
1
Use natural odor elimination
1
Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning
1