'You must be the change you wish to see in the world'
- Mahatma Gandhi
The goal of Signs By Tomorrow - Chesapeake is to implement and maintain practices that lessen our impact on the environment. It is our desire to continue to learn and set new goals that help us achieve this aspiration. By doing this, we are not only helping the environment, but encouraging our customers, vendors, employees, fellow franchisees and competitors to do their part also. Signs By Tomorrow - Chesapeake will be known for its green business ethics in the local area and nationwide by including our green beliefs in our branding campaigns.
GREEN PRACTICES CURRENTLY IN PLACE
Build-out for Newly Expanded Office:
- Bamboo flooring in showroom - bamboo is a quickly renewing resource compared to other hardwood floors
- 100% Recycled Rubber Tire flooring in production area (also naturally anti-fatigue)
- Walls painted with NO and LOW Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - used Eco-Spec (NO VOCs) and Aura (LOW VOCs) paint from Benjamin Moore
- Use of Natural Lighting throughout office
- Motion Sensor light switches throughout office (installing November 2008)
- Ceiling Fans throughout office (installing November 2008)
Office Practices:
- Communication via email instead of fax or mail
- Encourage emailed invoices and statements
- Pay bills and vendors electronically when possible instead of through mail
- Print on backside of used paper when appropriate; recycle paper when its done
- Use paper supply with maximum available recycled content
- Recycling ink cartridges through Rapid Refill
- Use of rechargeable batteries
- Fax-modem documents received and faxed directly from computers
- Low flow toilets and faucets
- Turning thermostat up during summer nights and weekends and down during winter nights and weekends
- Turning off heat or air conditioning on nice days and opening front and back doors
- Using re-usable canvas bags instead of plastic bags when shopping for office supplies
- Eco-friendly cleaning products without phosphates
- If maid services are used, use only companies that use environmentally friendly products and practices
- Office lunch: request that plastic utensils and napkins are not included and if possible request that food be packaged in recyclable materials such as plastic or paper instead of styrofoam
Printing Practices:
- Installation of new HP L65500 Latex Digital Printer - durable, high-quality prints without the harmful VOCs.
- Proper ventilation of VOCs from HP 9000 printer with Duster 2000
- Turn off equipment if not in use for 30+ minutes
Sign Production Practices:
- Use of eco-friendly sign substrate alternatives
- Use of scrap material for sign production whenever possible
- Scrap substrate donation to local school art departments, etc.
- Recycle un-useable scraps
Miscellaneous:
- Official Company vehicle is a Hybrid Toyota Prius
- Carpooling
- Signs By Tomorrow leases a Single Stream Recycling Container from Tidewater Fibre Corporation so that everyone in our shopping center has the opportunity to recycle cardboard, plastic and metal
- Educating customers about green practices and offer green sign alternatives
- Educate fellow franchisees with positive experiences and encourage them to brand a green business ethic
- Voice/write opinions to the local and national political leaders as a small, woman-owned business owner and encourage forward movement on tighter environmental policies and increased tax incentives for green practices.
- Sign Recycling program
- Support vendors who recycle and have green business ethics
- Find out what current vendors environmental policies and future goals are
