platinum
1,095
Points Earned
Completed Initiatives
Initiative Description
Points
Become a completely remote company, requiring no office space or regular transportation to/from work
75
Own/lease a business space that has a green building certification such as LEED, BREEAM, Green Globes, WELL, Energy Star, Green Star, or another standard in your area.
40
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
Provide 20 weeks paid family leave policy accessible to all employees
36
Install a smart irrigation controller that uses weather or soil moisture data to irrigate appropriately
27
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
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
Buy home office electronics that are energy efficient, ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, ROHS, etc.
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
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
Properly recycle all household waste according to your local regulations
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
Create a supplier code of conduct that all vendors and suppliers must abide by
14
Purchase all office paper products made from 50-100% recycled materials
12
Arrange the workspace to take advantage of areas with natural sunlight
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
Optimize the color of your outside walls and the roof for your climate
12
Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified or similarly highly efficient appliances
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
Provide equitable opportunities to ensure women have equal access to employment, leadership roles, and pay
12
Institute a policy for providing training, certification, and professional development opportunities to employees
12
Grow an at-home or community food garden
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
Work with a food recovery service to donate surplus meals, stock and other edible food items to reduce waste.
9
Properly dispose of all household hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics
9
Install a filtered water tap or water bottle refill station that provide high-quality drinking water
8
Become an annual sponsor, making a substantial contribution to a meaningful event promoting sustainability in your area
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
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
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
Buy electronics that are energy efficient, EPEAT, ROHS, etc.
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
Establish company-wide local community volunteer days and create a company-wide challenge to see who can volunteer in the community at a green event the most throughout the year
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
Replace all traditional bulbs with LED bulbs throughout your home work space
6
Use eco-friendly, bio-based, non-toxic home cleaning products
6
Administer company-wide employee training on sustainability efforts related to home offices and general life practices
6
Use natural light throughout 75% of the day instead of overhead lights
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
Use a sustainable web hosting service
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
Provide regular formal review, linked to a comprehensive development plan, with clear and constructive feedback to all employees
4
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
4
Add shades/window covering throughout your home to reduce heat gain
4
Change your home HVAC or A/C filters every 90 days-6 months maximum as is recommended by your filter thickness and type
4
Reduce vampire loads by unplugging non-essential electrical appliances when not in use
4
Plant native, region-friendly plants in your home garden
4
Opt out of receiving home junk mail
4
Designate an employee as community engagement leader or create a community engagement team
4
Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows
3
Assess your current vendors’ procurement practices
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
Assist at least one other business in learning about sustainability, social responsibility, and green business efforts and encourage them to join GBB
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
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