Upgrade from older fluorescent T12, T8 and T5 lamps to LED alternatives

Purchase 25-49% of products and services from sustainability-certified or Green Business Benchmark vendors

Have a composting program for your business food waste

Install faucets with controls that turn off automatically (motion sensors)

Implement a sustainability process and standard for all meetings, conferences, and events

Optimize your on-premise servers and business systems by ensuring the hardware is up-to-date and energy efficient

Use washable electrostatic furnace and air conditioning filters

After completing the energy audit/assessment, develop a comprehensive energy use and conservation plan

Eliminate all single-use paper, styrofoam or plastic cups, plates, and utensils in the kitchen area. Use reusable mugs, dishes, and silverware instead

Purchase and serve 75-100% local, organic, and fair trade food and drink

Purchase all office paper products made from 50-100% recycled materials

Arrange the workspace to take advantage of areas with natural sunlight

Purchase or lease used or recycled office equipment and furniture

Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics

Install a filtered water tap or water bottle refill station that provide high-quality drinking water

Encourage employee carpools

Establish a paperless billing program for your customers

Choose paperless billing with vendors, business partners, and suppliers when possible

Eliminate unnecessary paper usage as much as possible including forms, contracts, meeting agendas and materials, proofs, and drafts

Administer company-wide employee training on sustainability efforts both at work and at home

Place a company employee on the organizing committee for a sustainability event

Recycle or sell your used toner cartridges

Purchase recycled or remanufactured toner cartridges

Develop a paper reduction policy that clearly defines when and how items should be printed

Eliminate the use of disposable batteries and switch entirely to rechargeable

Use air-filtering plants throughout the office

Print and copy double-sided only

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

Use a sustainable web hosting service

Choose bio-based, reused, recycled, recyclable, or FSC certified boxes and bags for shipping

Reuse, sell, or donate used or unneeded furniture, equipment, and office supplies

Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows

Purchase trash liners made from 50-100% recycled materials

Assist at least one other business in learning about sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental business efforts and encourage them to join GBB

Organize a sustainability committee to lead your organization’s sustainability program

Complete the GBB getting started steps

Develop a sustainability mission statement for your business and define your company’s core commitments

Populate your company’s sustainability accomplishments in your profile

Announce your commitment to GBB to all employees

Use natural odor elimination

Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning