Green Industry ECOnomics - LandcareNetwork.org

Planet
• Design and provide landscapes that require less labor, energy use, and
chemical inputs to maintain.
• Use natural and slow-release fertilizers.
• Use recycled paper; better yet, reduce paper use.
• Enhance landscape soils for better plant vigor.
• Design and install the right plants for the right places. Specify native and
adapted plants.
• Practice IPM rather than broadcast applications.
• Recycle grass clippings and other landscape waste.
• Recycle products — wood, plastics, and metal — to keep them out of the
waste stream.
• Install turfgrass only where it serves an aesthetic or useful purpose.
• Install and maintain water-efficient irrigation systems, including weatherbased
controllers; hydrozone the landscape, using the most water-efficient
sprinklers and drip irrigation when possible.
People
• Educate your employees about the importance of what they’re doing, and
get buy-in to the concepts of quality service and elimination of wasted
time and effort, waste products, and waste fuel.
• Develop an eco-dashboard and seek employees’ input of what else can be
added to make it more valuable.
• Reward employees who make a positive contribution with their ideas.
• Encourage your staff to share their experiences in specific sustainable
services or products.
• Institute a health-awareness program to show your employees that you care
about their well-being and are committed to preserving and enhancing it.
• Implement or improve your company safety program, and create metrics to
measure its effectiveness with regards to accidents, injuries, and lost time.
• Develop a company “social responsibility” policy that offers opportunities
for periodic and valuable community service and outreach.
Profits
• Improve routing efficiency and conserve fuel by using technology such as
GPS; eliminate vehicle idling and consider a four-day workweek.
• Compare the fuel efficiency of outdoor construction and maintenance
equipment.
• Compost and recycle landscape materials for reuse.
• Sell waste management services to generate extra revenue.
20 Green Industry ECOnomics