Everything But The Weed

Approved by:
Linda Maze, a Wedding photography Gainesville FL in Gainesville Florida

The massive oil spill inside the Gulf of Mexico is a big warning call for all of us. We all must cautiously consider the devastating impact that the actions of companies and individuals are having on our earth’s eco-system. A lot has been written and will continue to be said about BP and the PR nightmare it caused itself through the epic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But you may not have heard that there’s another ongoing environmental controversy centered around the topic of deforestation and a company named Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Small businesses and organizations far and wide can learn an important lesson from the pickle APP finds itself in. APP is really a division of the mega company, Sinar Mas, and refers to itself as one of the world’s foremost pulp and paper producers.

APP has in recent times been connected to being a significant contributor to deforestation. Deforestation, people-caused destruction of naturally occurring forests by logging or burning, is a gigantic problem in today’s world. It is estimated that around 50% or more of the planet’s plant and animal life exist in the seven percent of the globe where rainforests currently exist. For example, the most famous of rainforests, the Amazon, a majestic 5.5 million square kilometer rainforest in the heart of South America encompassing sections of 9 distinct countries, has just 82.3% of the wet broadleaf jungle cover it had in 1970. It is also estimated that between 1991 and 2000, the overall loss of Amazon rainforest increased from 415,000 square kilometers to almost 600,000. The above data is according to Wikipedia.

Another lesser known however equally struggling rain forest, the Indonesian rainforest, has made the latest headlines subsequent to a statement from Greenpeace. Inside the details, Greenpeace accuses Asia Paper and Pulp of “relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and, if left unchecked, will threaten Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.” As outlined by CNN.com, Indonesia is one of the planet’s major culprits of creating greenhouse emissions principally due to clear-cutting and burning of rainforests for logging and other purposes. Indonesia has long been a recipient of condemnation for its environmental tactics primarily due to disregard for global and even their own laws. APP is presently going through a public relations nightmare due to the Greenpeace report, and naturally is saying Greenpeace’s statements are exaggerated. Nevertheless things in recent times took a wrong turn for Sinar Mas as in July, 2010, Wal-Mart, announced it has taken steps to stop purchasing their paper, on account of this and additional controversies surrounding APP. Sounds like APP’s denial of the situation is making things worse and currently costing them major business. The disappearance Wal-Mart’s business over the following year should significantly affect their revenue.

This brings us to an excellent question: In today’s struggling international economy, how can organizations and businesses make sure they are adopting environmentally-friendly and energy efficient trade practices and not on the wrong side of a Public relations controversy? Business.Gov, the official business link to the US Government, features a 10ñstep guide to help businesses ensure they are energy efficient, meeting the requirements of environmental laws, and recognized as a green business. Listed here are the steps: Follow Environmental Laws, Cultivate an Environmental Management Plan, Build Green, Acquire Eco friendly Products, Adopt Energy Efficient Practices, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes, Conserve Water, Prevent Pollution, Develop a Green Marketing and advertising Strategy, and Join Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs.

Step 4 Purchase Sustainable Products, is a superb suggestion that many corporations fail to consider. A unique method to raise consciousness about deforestation while promoting your product is through eco friendly promotional products like seed paper, made of actual seeds and can still take root and sprout into a lovely flower when planted. Something so simple as seed cards like a seed business card or a seeded thank you card can create a really memorable interaction with a customer or industry colleague. You could potentially also incorporate a statement about deforestation on the stationary, which makes it absolutely clear about where your business stands out on ecological matters. Another one that stands out on this list is step 6, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes. Remembering to cut back and reuse is the best way to get rid of the need to recycle in the first place. Now is the time to take action to prevent deforestation along with ensuring your company is recognized as a green business, as a result solidifying your green reputation. The ten steps above are an incredible guide for any business owner or CEO to apply eco friendly practices within your business. Embrace the challenge of perpetually improving your organization’s ecological footprint. Your company’s leadership and example will help stop the terrible effects of deforestation and the investment shall be well worth it.