For multinational corporations such as GE, a commitment to the environment is a huge undertaking, both in terms of money and time. But small and midsize companies can find easier ways to jump on the green bandwagon and enhance their relationship with consumers without breaking the bank. Here are a few:

• Look for green practices that are already in place. Your company may already use solar power cells in some products or sponsor area cleanup activities that can be highlighted in marketing and branding programs.
• Look for offsets. A public tree planting is not only a great photo op, it can also allow your firm to offset some excessive electricity and natural energy usage and air/vehicle travel, so you can truthfully claim to be partially or completely “carbon neutral.”
• Institute employee ride-sharing programs or subsidize their purchases of fuel-efficient or reduced-emission cars. This can enhance your image both as an employer and as a good corporate citizen in the community.
• Change your packaging. Switching from plastic to recycled paper in packaging often adds only minimally to a company’s costs, but can be highlighted in advertising messages.
• Be a leader. Volunteering for a trade organization task force that looks at how your industry can become more environmentally friendly can help position your firm as a green thought leader with the public, the press and industry peers.

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