The Lantern

Issue date: 5/30/07 Section: Campus

Kermit the frog might think "It's not easy being green," but many businesses are proving him wrong by initiating easy, eco-friendly alternatives in their company practices.

In the midst of high gasoline prices and global warming, businesses have taken more concern for the environment and are embracing different green strategies.

Some of the helpful alternatives have included using fewer materials when packaging products to prevent waste, recycling for more efficiency and using suppliers that utilize alternatives.

From auto manufacturers to shipping companies, many major companies have already taken steps to becoming more environmentally friendly and sustainable for the future. Some of the businesses include DuPont, Toyota, Kodak, FedEx, Honda, IBM, Sony and even the controversial Wal-Mart.

"Environmentalism is going mainstream. It's no longer a fringe issue," said Joseph Fiksel, co-director of the Center for Resilience at Ohio State.

Fiksel held a discussion on Wednesday in Page Hall about the "sustainability advantage" and why U.S. businesses are taking notice.

With about 30 people in attendance, Fiksel gave a power-point presentation and lectured on the growing green phenomenon in the corporate world.

Fiksel said he believes many companies are making changes because they see the market moving toward these kinds of alternatives. "Companies are at risk if they do not listen to the needs of society," he said.

Stephen Myers, director of the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center at OSU, said the direction of the market will be a driving force to make companies want to join into this trend.

"If consumers become more active and demand more sustainable kinds of products, I think the industry will have to go in that direction," Myers said.

Although corporations can gain profit from using these different alternatives, there is also a larger benefit involved, said Maria Conroy, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering.

"Eco-friendly alternatives obviously have a benefit, or at least a reduced negative impact, on the environment as compared with some traditional choices," Conroy said.

Joe Recchie, CEO of National Community Builders and developer of the Jeffrey Place communities in the Italian Village and Short North areas of Columbus said, "Environmentally sustainable businesses will be the fastest-growing and most stable business formats in the 21st century."

Recchie's recent project, North Block, includes 72 eco-friendly residential units including three commercial units and 1.2 million square feet of green space. The North Block will use geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, green-roof carports and even recycled concrete in constructing the units.

Town homes and lofts are being built now and the rest of construction will start this summer.

"We have employed sustainable design features in our constructions for some time," Recchie said. "North Block is the most comprehensive commitment we have made to date."

Recchie said he believes this trend in business will continue to expand as more concerns arise about the environment.

"Capital will be attracted to the businesses that are part of the solution and not part of the problem," he said.

Sierra Reyes can be reached at reyes.221@osu.edu.

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