Enthusiasm, creativity and optimism make the successful entrepreneurs. And it’s qualities such as these that will stand us in good stead if we are to build greener businesses for a better tomorrow.

Many doubt that the present state of our environment can change for the better, as the conflicting interests of economics and environment seem insurmountable.

But things can change, if those in power, as well as those imbued with the spirit of entrepreneurship, set in motion business practices that promote ecologically beneficial production and consumption patterns.

Already, many bright sparks of creativity are emerging from organisations which have made it their business to be in the forefront of recycling and waste reduction. Here are a couple of examples:  

• The Technical University of Delft and the Development Board of Rotterdam, together with an architectural firm and a group of volunteers that comprises young professionals and students, are working together to build “a truly sustainable nightclub that will be fun and profitable, yet will have a low impact on the environment”.
  
  The club they envision will feature a host of green features, including energy-generating dance floors (an excellent way to extract kilowatts from energetic clubbers), toilets that flush with rain water, walls that change colour as they react to temperature changes and a rooftop garden. The concept, if successful, can be applied to entertainment hot spots all over the world.



• The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ website – www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cea/posters - is a brilliant one that business organisations can do well to emulate, to educate employees, consumers and vendors.
  
  It illustrates “production and reduction” practices that can be implemented in offices, cafeterias, restrooms, day care centres, meeting rooms and shops.
  
  It also offers recycling ideas – for instance, requesting that vendors minimise packaging, and pack goods in reusable containers that can be returned immediately after delivery and unloading; and turning old bicycle parts into artwork and furniture, like making picture frames and keychains out of bicycle chains, wine racks and tables out of wheel rims, earrings out of valve cores and so on.
  
  These examples show that we can turn adversity into advantage, and money-making opportunities await those with revolutionary ideas for going green.