Author: Jonathan Estes
ISBN: 978-0-470-38779-5
Hardcover: 224 pages
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Recommended Retail Price: SGD 52.38 (including GST)
Available at all major bookstores
Book Review
Smart Green is a green resource guide for entrepreneurs and business leaders interested in creating sustainable businesses. There is no single definition of a green company or what sustainability means for every company, but the author managed to describe the steps for a company to become Smart Green, which includes the following:
Smart Green companies must first reflect on what it takes to be green and be aware of sustainability issues. They should become green-aware; bio-aware; socially-aware; energy-aware and regionally-aware.
Smart Green companies conduct a needs analysis through footprint analysis, product life cycle analysis, business relationship analysis, and cash flow analysis. The outcomes help in the preparing of a green mission statement, which includes goals and objectives, desired outcomes, and involving stakeholders.
When Smart Green companies work on their strategic planning, they understand the seven tiers of Smart Green growth:
- Awareness of the Need for Change
- Recognition of Implications
- Analysis of Current State
- Applying a Systems View Approach
- Planning and Implementing a Strategy
- Analysis of and Reflection on Outcomes and Impacts
- Innovation, Creativity, Growth, and Meaning
Smart Green companies also measure sustainability outcomes based on the analytics approach that looks at financial outcomes, long-term strategies, return on investment, continuous growth and best practices.
Smart Green companies are led by leaders who are aware of environmental, social and economic indicators, and measure success on profit and the extended footprint of the company.
