Many companies are putting green concerns at the forefront of their marketing campaigns. What doesn't get mentioned often enough is that organisations can be green and save on costs. A green initiative can generate savings but it requires vision, investment and real commitment - the vision is probably the critical aspect.
Decisions have to be taken on the basis of all the relevant factors. The factors in any business decision are too often limited to those that are one or more of the following: easy to measure, look good on the bottom line, suit the agenda of specific stakeholders, are "common sense" or "intuitively obvious". When the last two phrases are used, it usually means that no proper analysis has been done.
Cutting costs
A company has to have a vision and mission statement that is dedicated to minimal environmental impact. In my line of business, I always find the purchasing decisions made can be seen as a trade-off between costs and environmental impact.
The way I see it, companies cannot separate the two concerns simplistically - and many have realised this. A good example is a recent engagement with a major financial services company, which had a choice between replacing old equipment with the lowest price machines available, or using more expensive machines with energy-saving features. The decision was made when it worked out that just 100 machines with energy-saving technology would save R40 000 per month on power bills.
Most decisions are more complex, including aspects such as downtime, service cycles, equipment longevity and risk exposure - all of which can have large financial consequences, depending on the size and nature of a business.
Stop for a moment and think what these aspects mean to your business. Can the company afford the productivity losses if equipment is down for scheduled or emergency maintenance? Is it really saving if the inexpensive machines it bought have to be replaced every couple of years? What will it cost if machines don't have security technology to protect against fraudulent use?
Lastly, ask what are the costs involved in running polluting, energy-inefficient equipment. These costs are not just financial, either - it might well involve reputation risk at a time when competitors are eagerly staking claims to green practices.
Perhaps looking at the specifics I deal with in the office equipment industry will serve to drive home the key point - that there is no easy way to make a decision where there are many, inter-related factors.
Equipment considerations
Commitment to becoming carbon-neutral should be a worldwide-driven pledge from automation companies.
Michael Powell is product marketing manager at Kyocera Mita.
Equipment sold should comply with the highest international standards for low energy usage, no use of hazardous substances (like lead), and should be manufactured and configured to minimise paper wastage with data storage, user account management and duplex-printing technologies.
With the paper itself, I recommend products made without the pollution of chlorine-based paper production. These higher quality products also lead to less machine downtime, saving far more than the fractional extra cost of the paper itself.
To sum everything up, what companies need to note is not what a machine costs to buy, or even what it costs to run. The key question is: what does it cost when it's not working?
A lot of the technology that minimises environmental impact also results in less downtime and better ROI - equipment longevity, reduced maintenance, improved productivity and generally better quality are all factors in this.
No company can operate sustainably in the 21st century without paying attention to the environment.
Commitment to becoming carbon-neutral should be a worldwide-driven pledge from automation companies. Why not become engaged with Food & Trees for Africa to execute practical initiatives to balance out the environmental impact of your business. Check your company's carbon footprint and get useful advice at www.trees.co.za or www.kyoceramita.co.za.
Green NGOs and businesses have to come together on these issues. It just makes good sense for business and society in general.
* Michael Powell is product marketing manager at Kyocera Mita.
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