New Year's resolutions for an ethical business

Written by: Barney Jeffries

Work your nets

Hands up who spent most of 2009 on Facebook... The importance of networking to businesses can't be overestimated - wouldn't you rather do business with someone you've met, rather than searching Google or Yellow Pages?

It's particularly crucial for ethical businesses, as finding suppliers and service providers who share and practise your principles can be a challenge. There are various networks aimed specifically at socially-responsible enterprises, both online and in the real world. If there's not one near you, why not start it?

All the same, don't neglect mainstream networking opportunities, like BNI or the Chamber of Commerce - you might be surprised at how many conventional companies are interested in finding out more about your ethical stance.

A deeper shade of green

As an ethical company, you're doubtless already going to great lengths to conserve energy, cut your carbon emissions and respect the environment. But there's always more we can do.

Do you buy recycled stationery? Could you rearrange the office to maximise natural light? Could you compost your biodegradable waste (which emits methane when it breaks down in oxygen-starved landfill sites). If there are no collections in your area, you could use it to feed your plants.

Do you always switch your monitor off or your laptop to hibernate, even if you're only gone for a few minutes? And have you actually got round to changing the light bulbs and putting a brick in the cistern? Carrying out a waste audit or using an online calculator to work out your carbon emissions will give you a benchmark for measuring future performance.

Care in the community

For many solution enterprises, putting something back into the community is their raison d'etre. A lot of ethically-minded businesses, though, can exist in a bit of a bubble - particularly if they're based online or if people work from home.

Ethical businesses need to be involved in the communities where they're based. Could you offer work experience to local school children, sponsor an arts festival or provide pro bono services to a charity? Your motives needn't be entirely selfless - community involvement provides good PR, gets your name known and builds customer loyalty.

Open your mind

If you're updating your IT systems this year, consider switching to an Open Source set-up like Linux. Whereas the likes of Microsoft keep their program codes a closely-guarded secret, the open-source movement allows anyone to modify and improve operating platforms and software. It's cheaper, more democratic, more reliable and more secure.

Open Source also extends the useable life of computers. Rather than having all the whistles and bells you get with latest version of Windows, an open-source system can be loaded with only the programs you actually need, turning tired old laptops into lean, mean operating machines. Technophobes needn't fear, though - once you're set up, using open source is just as simple as the computing you're used to.

Break the bank

Do you cut your carbon emissions, use fairly-traded products and go organic - then do your banking with bank that funds fossil fuel exploration, exploitative multinationals and GM agribusiness?

Switching to an ethical bank like the Co-operative or Triodos can make a real positive difference in the world - and they have specialist expertise in many social and ethical business fields.

Before switching, though, quiz your own bank about their ethical credentials - and if you do leave, let them know why. If enough of us do, they'll get the message eventually.

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