The Lead

Instead, you need to have a plan for what you do have in place, as well as comments prepared for internal and external audiences when the question arises. You need to have taken time to develop an answer to, "What's your company doing green these days?" when asked over a Mojito some Saturday evening. Your answer can range from the deliberate steps being taken by your company to reduce emissions to eliminating unnecessary steps in manufacturing or how you've installed a solar-power system to eliminate nighttime electrical use. Or, you can be ready to answer that your processes have been optimized through Lean implementation, and your organization has quarterly senior management meetings to evaluate progress.

Not all companies need to wear the green rose on their lapel, but companies do need to acknowledge the socio-economic climate that is examining every action and reaction. Don't underestimate the suspicion that can arise from apathy or passivity on issues. Get engaged to the level that makes sense for your business, but get engaged.