Business professionals looking to apply Six Sigma methodologies toward business sustainability projects have a variety of case studies to explore for ideas to apply to their organizations. However, many of the case studies out there tend to address large-scale projects in organizations with huge budgets, and they reveal impressive results. While the projects are often noteworthy, leaders who are a part of more modest-sized organizations with smaller budgets may not be able to convince their teams of how those grand examples are applicable to their particular organization.
The logical and methodical approach of Six Sigma is a useful paradigm from which to plan projects of varying sizes. Sometimes the biggest challenge is deciding which sort of issues will lead to projects that are both successful and cost-effective. In addition to case studies, there are other resources from which to find ideas.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a business looking to make a positive impact on the environment, while also saving money and energy, should consider these areas which affect nearly all organizations:
- Transportation
Transportation contributes to more greenhouse gas emissions than any other single factor in most businesses. Consider the practical, as well as creative ways to bolster savings in this area such as:
- Phasing out older delivery vehicles with new, more fuel efficient models
- Keeping a strict maintenance routine for any company vehicles to promote energy efficiency and longevity
- Incorporating incentives for employees who carpool, take public transportation, or who bike to work
- Allowing telecommuting if possible
- Ordering in bulk to save shipping costs and related energy
It is not difficult to tally savings from one or all of these ideas. Celebrating the savings through a company blog or other website feature can help build relationships with clients and customers. Many of the people who visit a company’s website are also trying to do better themselves when it comes to living more sustainably, saving energy and saving money. Sharing goals is another way to connect to them.
- Paper
Most offices now recycle paper, but do they also purchase paper from a supplier who is committed to environmental stewardship in a meaningful way? There are many choices for paper and suppliers. Choosing one that shares a vision for environmental stewardship helps to build alliances that promote sustainability across industry. When addressing the topic of sustainable paper also consider:
- Going paperless as much as possible. A folder shared via the internet can allow employees to access routine documents and other resources without using paper.
- Moving from print mail campaigns to email. While some ad campaigns definitely need postal service delivery, much of what is sent out in the print mail gets tossed in the trash. With proper analytics in place a business can track an email campaign’s success rate.
- What about toilet paper, facial tissue and disposable paper supplies for the break room? Are there ways to source those more sustainably? Many local areas have regional businesses that specialize in “green” products; choosing them means keeping business local, supporting your triple bottom line goals.
- Lighting
When the first compact fluorescent bulbs came out, the light was not always desirable. The bulbs took a few moments to reach their full brightness and when they did light up, they made skin tones look corpse-like. Fortunately they have gotten better. Here are a few other ideas even if you aren’t ready to give compact fluorescents another try just yet:
- Low light augmented by motion sensor full light can save money in rooms used sporadically such as a break room, conference room or mail room.
- Utilizing more desk lights and less super bright overhead lights and natural light when/if possible can also lower lighting costs.
- Phasing out older lighting to more energy efficient lighting is a good way to make a change. Over time the bulbs and fixtures pay for themselves through savings.
- If possible, install a solar panel. Even a modest installment can provide energy for a portion of a building’s needs, like hallway lighting or a device charging station.
In addition to these areas, issues such as solid waste management, water, and electricity use are all great areas to look at when planning a sustainability project. These issues will be addressed in part 2 of this article.
When considering applying Six Sigma strategies to solve business sustainability challenges, it is important to get creative and pick a project the entire team will embrace. Sometimes a “low-stakes” project is the best way to build support for ongoing improvements.
With its logical and methodical DMAIC framework, Six Sigma offers a strong conceptual platform from which to build effective projects in any organization. Within the last few years, the tools and resources related to applying Six Sigma to build better business sustainability have grown tremendously. These have helped fuel a renewed interest in continually improving how business affects the environment.
Professionals trained in the application of Six Sigma for business sustainability will remain desirable as leaders in a corporate environment, particularly as competitive pressures and consumer preferences continue to influence corporate–level environmental stewardship in the workplace.
Part 2 of this article discusses ideas about solid waste management, water and electricity project opportunities.
