Making a profit while taking care of the planet is the double objective of an ecological company , although within this type of green business there is a wide range of possibilities. Creating and developing them, however, requires a series of similar steps, while others will be specific to the sector in question.
Since starting a green company is starting a business, at the bureaucratic level many of the first steps are the same as those necessary to create a conventional company. However, there are others that will have to do with the sector in which they are framed, for example with everything related to specific regulations or, for example, with the same definition of the company’s mission.
Likewise, there will be marked differences when carrying out previous studies, either in matters related to environmental impact studies , sustainability , with the setting of objectives and, of course, also in the same previous market studies, in which case, logically, they will have a focus and marked ecological content.
- Where to start
- Ecological certificates and logos
- Create a green team
- The importance of commitment
Index
Where to start
If, on the one hand, ecological is in fashion, which implies advantages at the image level and, in general, a good boost for any company, on the other hand, some sectors are regulated, which implies compliance with the specific regulations to be able to constitute an ecological company.
The first step that we must take, therefore, is informative, in order to trace the steps that we have to take in our specific case. Depending on the type of company we want to set up, its orientation as a product or service company and the specific sector in which it is framed, the information will be key to get off to a good start, either from a bureaucratic point of view or with carrying out a feasibility plan that includes an environmental impact analysis.
Overcoming the general procedures for the creation of a company is usually complicated and requires preparing a business plan (in the Chambers of Commerce they can guide us), looking for aid and subsidies (for example in Ico, in the regional janitors , etc.) and also investors.
In the same way, other fundamental procedures will be necessary for its constitution, such as those required by the Public Treasury, the Social Security Treasury and the corresponding municipal licenses, among others the opening or activity licenses.
In addition to these common aspects for every company, on many occasions it will be necessary to complete other specific procedures related to the ecological aspect, substantial in many cases. Without going any further, compliance with European regulations on organic production is basic (Europa.eu) to obtain organic certification.
Ecological certificates and logos
EU regulations apply to organic products in all their phases, from production to transformation and marketing of products, which means that the applicable regulations will depend on the type of activity or activities carried out. In the same way, the obligatory nature of this compliance entails the counterpart of displaying the quality seals and ecological logos, which cover very wide areas, from the agricultural, textile, construction, cosmetic sectors, among many others.
On the other hand, alternative ecological stamps , that is, those granted by institutions or organizations outside the European Union, can also be interesting for our company, provided that it has a recognized prestige.
Create a green team
The creation of an ecological company has a very specific profile that requires a series of principles and good practices, not only eco-friendly in the activity or product offered, but ideally at a transversal level, encompassing the entire company. Among other aspects, it will be important to train employees in tune with those key or difficult to understand points.
On many occasions, the preparation of personnel may require a training and motivation program, and collaborators must also be chosen based on their profile, for example in relation to their environmental responsibility. Whether it is an office, a factory, a farm or, for example, agricultural production, the fundamental thing is to be truly ecological, not just worry about appearing so.
The importance of commitment
Good marketing can do wonders and end up falsifying reality, but in these cases we are not creating a green business , but simply a fake green business. To reach the ultimate consequences, all kinds of issues related to the carbon footprint that business activity will generate must be considered.
At the time of the creation of the company we must be very clear about the resource costs that its start-up and operation will imply. Energy efficiency , saving water and applying an ecological overview in production processes, including logistics and packaging, as well as the use of recycled material, will be key, for example, they will make a difference and will allow to deepen the concept of ecology. to make it a reality, to which it must be aimed from the beginning. It has to start little by little, but with a clear course to achieve progressive progress, in which the company has to improve itself in favor of an ideal of sustainability .
Finally, from the very creation of the company, it is also vital to develop a communication and public relations strategy to maintain a relationship with the media, customers and suppliers that reflects this green approach to business and reports on its achievements and challenges. At this point, if the results are contrasted with independent sources, the results will be serious, that is, much more reliable and rigorous.
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