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20 classic Green Business mistakes

Originally posted on the terra infirma blog.

Cause a big environmental disaster (ahem, BP...)
Overstate your case and end up being accused of greenwash
Expect your customers to take the pain
Rely on an immature supply chain
Leave 'green' in a ghetto/silo
Give your sustainability staff responsibility but no authority
Set no budget
Expect a direct ROI on all projects
Expect incremental targets will deliver more than incremental results
Inconsistent and contradictory messages from the top
Paralysis by analysis - at some point you have to close the spreadsheet and do something
Put too much faith in formal processes like LCA and EIA - they often give the 'wrong' answer
Ignore the elephant in the room - you need to address the big eco issues relating to your business
Forget your business sense - you still need to make money
Focus on end of pipe solutions - you need to eradicate problems at source or turn them into opportunities
Assume you are immune from the sins of your supply chain
Use weak, clichéd eco-branding (no more hands cupping saplings please!)
Ignore your staff - they are crucial to success
Get too evangelical and switch people off
Think you have 'finished'.
Any more for any more?

Gareth