The Green Guide for Business
Chris Goodall

Chris Goodall's The Green Guide for Business aims to be 'the ultimate environment handbook for businesses of all sizes' - and it does a good job to archive that.

Goodall's credentials are many and varied, which puts him in a good position to review this complex area. Many people will already know him from his books Ten Technologies to Save the Planet and How to Live a Low-Carbon Life, or his website Carbon Commentary.

As you would want The Green Guide for Business takes the view of the business person. It starts by looking at the fact that customers are expecting businesses to find ways to have a positive approach to green issues, and very soon there will be a lot more legislation from government to force a greener approach. Goodall shows you the different levels, or steps on the Green Ladder, where your business can choose to be. With the Green Ladder in mind you are taken from small changes to massive changes, from removing waste bins from under desks to designing a low energy building.

The book takes you though many topics; including carbon footprint, office utility usage, business vehicles/travel, IT energy usage and carbon offsetting. Goodall scatters a lot of real business examples throughout his book to give a good real-world insight, including good and bad examples. Plus he looks into the fact that the public's concept of what is green is not always factually correct.

For a book that is around 300 pages Goodall does not shy away from the big issues. Sometimes though this means he can only really give you an overview. With big topics like carbon footprint you will need other resources if you decide to go further.

Chapter 7 covers monitoring and reducing paper usage and is called Reducing, Reusing and Recycling; it also covers office stationary in general. As the title suggests Goodall's approach is aimed more at cutting back on paper usage. He points to the fact that excessive paper use usually means you have an inefficient office system.

Goodall book argues that using fewer resources makes business sense, and in the coming years there will be legal requirements coming into force. Therefore it makes sense to start planning now. Throughout the book he does not lose sight of the importance of the business case for going green.