Implement and share the results of your energy use and conservation plan quarterly, both within your organization and publicly

Become a completely remote company, requiring no office space or regular transportation to/from work

Purchase 50-100% of products and services from green-certified or Green Business Benchmark vendors

75-99% of your workdays are remote

50-74% of your workdays are remote

Create an executive leadership team with women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities in top leadership roles

Develop a comprehensive water use and conservation plan with measurable goals to optimize water usage

Implement home performance and efficiency improvements based upon your home energy assessment

Buy home office electronics that are energy efficient, ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, ROHS, etc.

Meet if not exceed Federal and State regulations for your industry

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.

Provide a benefits package that meets the needs of employees, and is well-defined, accessible and transparent to all workers

Provide a living wage for all employees, at all levels of the organization including both full time and part time workers

Properly recycle all household waste according to your local regulations

Create a detailed risk management plan for projects and programs

Prioritize working with business partners, service providers, etc. that are women-led, minority-owned and local small businesses

Define, institute, and clearly communicate a policy to prioritize employee diversity, equity, and inclusion

Install a programmable thermostat to automate your home HVAC or A/C system

Switch to low-pressure and highly efficient showerheads and faucets

Implement a supplier code of conduct policy

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)

Use a carbon calculator tool to measure your current carbon footprint. Reassess quarterly as you meet energy use goals

Provide equitable opportunities to ensure women have equal access to employment, leadership roles, and pay

Provide fair and appropriate breaks for workers based on hours worked and enforce a strict policy that they must take them

Institute a policy for providing training, certification, and professional development opportunities to employees

Ensure all windows in your home are double pane, low-E, and energy efficient

Use your personal, fossil-fueled vehicle less than 75 miles a week

Purchase produce in-season from local farmer’s markets or co-ops

Pay top executives no more than the minimum compensation necessary to ensure productive and effective performance

Create and implement a human health and safety policy

Lower the max temperature of your hot water heater from 140 to 120

When working from an alternative location (not home office) walk or bike

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

Map the product supply chain of at least 80% of your spend

Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce

Purchase carbon offsets to become net zero for all emissions

Conduct an energy assessment/audit to pinpoint specific areas of home energy use and waste

Weatherize your home by ensuring all windows and doors in your home are properly installed, functioning, maintained, weather-stripped, etc.

Go completely paperless

Use concentrated home cleaning products

Purchase home trash bin liners made from 100% bio-based or 50-100% recycled materials

Use an eco-friendly home pest control service that minimizes the use of toxic pesticides

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

Conduct exit interviews to gain insights on company culture and operations and make improvements based on feedback

Give opportunity for all employees to provide feedback of any kind and feel secure and empowered to do so

Use eco-friendly, bio-based, non-toxic home cleaning products

Use reusable cleaning products such as sponges or towels instead of paper towels throughout your home

Stop using all single-use plastic kitchen utensils, plates, bowls, and cups

Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags when shopping

Purchase home paper towels and toilet paper made from 50-100% recycled materials

Administer company-wide employee training on sustainability efforts related to home offices and general life practices

Create a company-wide challenge to use the least single-use items for a month

Use natural light throughout 75% of the day instead of overhead lights

Locate home office in room with ample windows to take advantage of daylighting

Become an active member, either by serving on the board, donating or volunteering time for an organization that continually works to improve the environment

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

Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible

Communicate your social responsibility initiatives with customers and other stakeholders in a way that clearly defines your company values, policies, objectives and actual performance

Eliminate all physical marketing materials, rely only on digital methods

Require all business leaders to be trained in, maintain current knowledge of, and commit to complying with the company’s environmental, social and employee wellbeing policies and practices

Provide a trusted, impartial and empowered 3rd party for the remediation of significant conflicts arising between employees and the business/business leaders

Add shades/window covering throughout your home to reduce heat gain

Change your home HVAC or A/C filters every 90 days-6 months maximum as is recommended by your filter thickness and type

Reduce vampire loads by unplugging non-essential electrical appliances when not in use

Use smart power strips throughout your house in areas of high plug loads

Opt out of receiving home junk mail

Stop purchasing single-use plastic waterbottles. Install a water filter if necessary

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

Create and implement an employee code of conduct

Designate an employee as community engagement leader or create a community engagement team

Assess your current vendors’ procurement practices

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

Commit to inviting, receiving and acting upon customer and community feedback in a welcoming and constructive way at all times.

Use ceiling fans and windows in place of air conditioning

Implement a conflict of interest policy for your board of directors and senior management

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

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

Eliminate the use of disposable batteries throughout your home and switch entirely to rechargeable