In reality no one can give you a clear cut definition of what that really means. The fact that someone using less paper or less energy is all it takes to qualify as a green business.

The individuals and companies involved in this industry are afraid to define green business for fear it will kill the fad or trend. They do this without realizing that they are repeating a mistake we made in the 1970s when we first started into the green and alternative environment.

As a result of not defining it then when we should have we ended up losing a tremendous opportunity and turning a much needed industry into a fad that faded.

A green business does not have to meet any clearly defined criteria at this point which makes it a fad and not an industry or choice. Everyone has jumped on board and if we don't grab the reins and give it definition and validity then the business of sustainability will not be able to sustain itself. How ironic.

Currently green or sustainable business is described as follows:

Sustainable business, or green business, is enterprise that has no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy—a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies. In general, business is described as green if it matches the following four criteria:

1.It incorporates principles of sustainability into each of its business decisions.

2.It supplies environmentally friendly products or services that replaces demand for non green products and/or services.

3.It is greener than traditional competition.

4.It has made an enduring commitment to environmental principles in its business operations.

A sustainable business is any organization that participates in environmentally friendly or green activities to ensure that all processes, products, and manufacturing activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit. In other words, it is a business that "meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs." It is the process of assessing how to design products that will take advantage of the current environmental situation and how well a company's products perform with renewable resources.

The Brundtland Report emphasized that sustainability is a three-legged stool of people, planet, and profit. Sustainable businesses with the supply chain try to balance all three through the triple-bottom-line concept—using sustainable development and sustainable distribution to impact the environment, business growth, and the society.

Everyone affects the sustainability of the marketplace and the planet in some way. Sustainable development within a business can create value for customers, investors, and the environment. A sustainable business must meet customer needs while, at the same time, treating the environment well.

Is this adequate? We don't think so!! Get involved today so we can give our children a future.