Go Green (or Go Home)!
The marketplace rules. Supply and demand dictate what’s made, when and for how much. It’s a system that at times leaves the environment completely out of the equation. Though more recently, Mother Nature is part of the discussion. Anthony Corsano, CEO of New York-based Anvil Knitwear, knows running a green business is good business. The new line of clothing, AnvilOrganic, was born because of this business concept. “We thought that there was just a basic business need. We felt that there were a lot of major companies out there that have corporate colors or lots of teams that want to promote team colors [organically]. So it made sense to do it,” he said. But the Anvil commitment does not end with the product line. “We recycle energy in terms of steam,” noted Corsano. “We use hot water that would normally be flushed back out into the waste system and heat the incoming water so we don’t have to use energy to heat it.” It’s a commonsense business practice that seems to be catching on as people realize adding green can add a little black to those quarterly earnings. “Forget the fact that [I] want to do as much as [I] can to help the environment. From a business standpoint, it’s even an easier decision, because nine out of ten of these initiatives save money,” he said. Aside from being fiscally responsible, Corsano finds it isn't difficult to strike a nice balance between business and the environment. “It’s not about having to change your manufacturing process in one fell swoop,” he said. “It’s about making the changes when they are appropriate and when they make sense.”