Install or lease from a building with a heat recovery system that converts waste heat to energy

Rent or purchase a building that is close to public transportation stops and bike paths

Install a smart irrigation controller that uses weather or soil moisture data to irrigate appropriately

Implement a comprehensive recycling program including education, proper sinage, and monitoring

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

Create a pathway program for local youths to intern and eventually become employed at your company

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

Plant native, regionally-friendly plants to minimize water use and impact on local habitat

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

Install light switch occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present

Hire an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to optimize energy usage

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

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

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

Philanthropically donate a percentage of your revenue or profits and/or company time to an environmental cause

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)

Provide an annual public report or update on your company’s environmental and social responsibility efforts, initiatives, and improvements

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

Adhere to labor, child labor, forced labor, and reasonable working hour laws and practices

Keep corporate accounting accurate and up-to-date, enabling operation decisions to be made about investing, hiring, and project management

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

Become an annual sponsor, making a substantial contribution to a meaningful event promoting sustainability in your area

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

Ensure all windows and doors are properly installed, functioning, maintained, and weather-stripped, etc.

Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce

Undergo regular and complete check-ups and maintenance of your HVAC or A/C system

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

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

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

Change your HVAC or A/C filters every six months or more frequently as is recommended by filter type

Regularly test your irrigation system to ensure proper configuration, optimized watering schedule, and eliminate overwatering and waste

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

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

Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible

Eliminate all physical marketing materials, rely only on digital methods

Use a shared or centralized printer

Purchase trash liners made from 100% bio-based materials

Designate your office as a smoke-free working environment with outside smoking areas 25 feet away from building entry areas and common walkways

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