American businesses need future investment in sustainability

A new survey released in July by Harris Interactive of employees and executives from the 1,000 largest American companies found that only a fraction of these businesses are adopting greener, more efficient practices. The survey reveals that only 29 percent of executives and 16 percent of adults believe their company is doing something towards sustainability.

The biggest reason respondents gave for believing their companies are not adopting greener practices was lack of return on investment. Many also stated they believe the companies themselves do not know how to make their operations greener and more efficient.

According to Ron Lock, senior vice president of Gibbs & Soell's green technology and sustainability practice, "Closing this credibility gap is going to require actions and communications that connect with key stakeholders. Having a dedicated staff and line item budget for green initiatives is an important step in making believers of employees, customers, and investors. For connecting with consumers, it means transparency and consistency of message."

For information on how to make your company greener, visit OpenEI.