Green is no longer just for hippies. Over the past couple of years, mainstream companies have started to realize that they need to fundamentally rethink their environmental policies, and while some still see the issues in terms of compliance, risk management or marketing, others see business opportunity.
Companies in the latter category have been appointing high-level executives as corporate sustainability officers and giving their managers financial incentives to meet environmental targets.
“There’s a growing understanding that it’s largely an opportunity for profit and growth for the companies that get on the right side of things and get ahead of the issue,” said Rick Duke, director of the Center for Market Innovation at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental nonprofit organization based in New York.
Interface, a U.S. manufacturer of modular carpets, is a case in point: It began greening every aspect of its business — from energy consumption to design to sales — in 1994, after its founder, Ray Anderson, read “The Ecology of Commerce” by the environmentalist and corporate critic Paul Hawken.
Among the resulting changes, the company created a senior management position, vice president of sustainability, about five years ago, which has been held for the past six months by Erin Meezan.
Meezan’s team works with all Interface businesses, each of which has its own sustainability staff, and offers technical assistance on everything from waste programs to employee engagement. It is involved in strategic planning and works on external projects and partnerships.
Meezan says she reports directly to the chief executive, Dan Hendrix, “which is pretty huge. I also have regular interaction with our chief financial officer and with our business-level presidents. I think that really helps. I’m not removed from what’s happening.”
Intel, the chip maker, is also a leader in sustainable initiatives, winning top place in the 100 best corporate citizens list…