Of the 1,200 women business owners who responded to the survey, 71 percent are working to make their businesses greener. They strive to make environmental improvements in the following ways:
- Sixty percent of women business owners are “greening” their products;
- A total of 63 percent are applying company policies and procedures to have an active impact on environmental effects of their businesses;
- On a scale of 1-5, more than 36 percent of business owners ranked education a number 4 or 5 as a technique they are incorporating greener initiatives into the company; and
- Twenty-three percent are focusing on philanthropy in an attempt to go green.
Approximately 22 percent of survey participants expressed an intent to help their business go green, but have not yet decided how they will do so.
Giving Back and Going Global
In addition to their dedication to running greener companies, 53 percent of woman business owners donate between 1 and 5 percent of company profits to charities. They also ranked giving more money to philanthropic organizations as their third highest priority for 2008.
And female business owners give back to their employees, too. Nearly 40 percent reported that they reinvest their profits in hiring and compensating staff first.
Finally, a quarter of woman-owned businesses have gone global or are in the process of going global. Survey results indicated that globalization was the top priority for women business owners.
"A mere 1.6 percent of the respondents said going global isn't possible, which illustrates how women businesses believe they can do anything,” said Linda Denny, WBENC president and CEO.