Upgrade from older fluorescent T12, T8 and T5 lamps to LED alternatives
Rent or purchase a building that is close to public transportation stops and bike paths
Create an executive leadership team with women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities in top leadership roles
Eliminate all single-use paper, styrofoam or plastic cups, plates, and utensils in the kitchen area. Use reusable mugs, dishes, and silverware instead
Schedule regular maintenance on company vehicles to ensure each vehicle is operating as efficiently as possible to reduce emissions
Install light switch occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present
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
Install a programmable thermostat to automate your HVAC or A/C system
Install a programmable thermostat to automate your home HVAC or A/C system
Purchase all office paper products made from 50-100% recycled materials
Arrange the workspace to take advantage of areas with natural sunlight
Provide an annual public report or update on your company’s environmental and social responsibility efforts, initiatives, and improvements
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
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
Adhere to labor, child labor, forced labor, and reasonable working hour laws and practices
Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics
Work with a food recovery service to donate surplus meals, stock and other edible food items to reduce waste.
Properly dispose of all household 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
Ensure all windows and doors are properly installed, functioning, maintained, and weather-stripped, etc.
Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce
Replace regular light bulbs with LED bulbs
Establish a paperless billing program for your customers
Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds
Regularly evaluate employee satisfaction through interviews, surveys, or calculation of employee net promoter score
Conduct multiple quality checks on your products and/or services before distributing to consumers to ensure highest possible quality
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
Give opportunity for all employees to provide feedback of any kind and feel secure and empowered to do so
Replace all traditional bulbs with LED bulbs throughout your home work space
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
Locate home office in room with ample windows to take advantage of daylighting
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
Change your HVAC or A/C filters every six months or more frequently as is recommended by filter type
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
Choose bio-based, reused, recycled, recyclable, or FSC certified boxes and bags for shipping
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
Provide regular formal review, linked to a comprehensive development plan, with clear and constructive feedback to all employees
Use smart power strips throughout your house in areas of high plug loads
Stop purchasing single-use plastic waterbottles. Install a water filter if necessary
Use a shared or centralized printer
Create and implement a policy for protecting sensitive information
Conduct regular cyber/data security checks
Create and implement an employee code of conduct
Regularly disclose business practices, operations, and financial statements to shareholders and stakeholders
Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows
Train employees on your cyber/data security policies and what to do in case of a potential breach
Purchase trash liners made from 50-100% recycled materials
Designate your office as a smoke-free working environment with outside smoking areas 25 feet away from building entry areas and common walkways
Commit to inviting, receiving and acting upon customer and community feedback in a welcoming and constructive way at all times.
Donate used clothing and furniture
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