A roundup of apps to enhance your business' green goals
It goes without saying that technology has changed the way we do business. There is a wide array of apps and web-based platforms all intended to help you improve any aspect of your business. This is true for greening your business as well. You can find business apps on recycling, sustainable commuting, energy efficiency and everything in between. The beauty of using apps to improve your business' sustainability is that they are accessible, inexpensive and widely available. As with all platforms designed to improve business, however, finding an app that's right for your business is key and sorting through the myriad options can be overwhelming. Below are a few apps that are both user friendly and well-regarded, a starting place for businesses wishing to use new technology to become greener and more sustainable.
Sustainable commuting: Hootroot www.hootroot.com
Platform: web-based
Cost: free
This app allows you to enter your start and end point and watch Hootroot work its magic, showing you the most sustainable way to get to where you need to go. Transportation options are shown comparing CO2 emissions, and the Google Maps interface makes the app simple and easy to use. This app lives up to its slogan of "Give a hoot, green your route!"
Green supply chain: GoodGuide
www.goodguide.com
Platform: all mobile platforms and online
Cost: free
GoodGuide is an extensive reference guide to buying greener products for the home and business. Using scientific research and over 1,000 indicators that cover everything from safety of ingredients to socially responsible supply chains, GoodGuide ensures reliable information for buying decisions. The mobile-based GoodGuide app lets you search for products by scanning a barcode through your device's camera or by traditional database searches. Its web-based Purchase Analyzer lets you enter your recent purchases and gives you information on customizable filters from nutrition to energy efficiency, product alternatives and cost comparisons.
Sustainability practices: Benchmarking Tool
www.wearembs.org
Platform: web-based
Cost: free
Disclosure notice: I (Merritt) founded Maine Businesses for Sustainability, which has teamed up with Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences to offer businesses a simple and easy way to benchmark their current sustainability practices and learn how sustainability can improve their bottom line. The easy-to-use, web-based questionnaire gives you a Sustainability Snapshot on submission, which graphically depicts your score and describes ways to improve. Higher levels of participation include consultation services with Manomet and marketing services through MBS to highlight your participation in the program. The free-to-use Benchmarking Tool also includes a membership to Maine Businesses for Sustainability.
Paper reduction: OfficeDrop
Platforms: iPhone and Android, PC and Mac
Cost: free
This platform helps you reduce the need for paper by scanning documents directly to the cloud for storage and sharing. The iPhone and Android scanner apps allow you to scan and upload documents using your smartphone. Once uploaded, the document's text is searchable and sharable with colleagues.
Reduce fuel consumption: Greenmeter
Platforms: iOS
Cost: $5.99
Have a company vehicle? Download this app, enter a few details about your vehicle and this handy little app computes your vehicle's fuel consumption, power use and even evaluates the way you drive to help you reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency to reduce costs. Oh, and did I mention it does this all in real-time while you are driving? It also claims to pay for itself within just a couple of gallons of saved gas.
Awareness: TreeHugger and Justmeans
Platforms: all mobile platforms
Cost: free
TreeHugger is a great app for staying informed on various green issues, and has articles and podcasts on current trends, solutions to sustainability issues and green product information. The app also integrates a recycling database, which tells you where you need to go based on what you need to recycle. Justmeans is a news source for corporate social responsibility issues, with the most up-to-date information on businesses that are employing working strategies. The app also highlights environmental, social and governance profiles on many of today's top companies.
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