Green business has become a blur. We’ve seen such rapid progress, as companies work to reduce their operational footprints and reinvent what they do, that it’s become hard to figure out the crucial next steps to sustain the momentum for the long haul.

Don’t misunderstand. That’s fantastic news and a good problem to have. Minnesota is a leader when it comes to consumers wanting to live greener lives and businesses doing what they can to keep the environment safe and clean. But we’re going to need smart, new ideas and ongoing initiatives to ensure we stay on track and remain committed.

In our business of electronics recycling, Materials Processing Corporation (MPC) collects and recycles thousands of tons of consumer and business electronics each month. Specialist recycling crews work around the clock to make this happen. But what if that whole process was easier? What if manufacturers planned for end of life from the drawing board, and designed flat screen TVs and PCs that used far fewer parts, greener glass, less plastic and a fraction of the energy to do the same job?

Businesses that think ahead and follow these four basic steps to green their operations will be the businesses that succeed tomorrow.

1. Raise the standards bar. Compliance is quickly going to become the lowest rung on the ladder in green business. Leading green businesses won’t wait to be told by Government what they should do anymore. Proactive organizations should start working with accreditation agencies to seek certification for the best environmental (ISO 14001) and quality (ISO 9001) practices. This extensive paperwork is actually the gold standard for identifying organizations with cutting-edge environmental practices in place. Companies can encourage an eco-culture at every level: don’t own a dumpster, operate a clean plant or office where everything is recycled and incentivize employees to recycle newspapers, soda cans and paper.

2. Turn greener tech to your advantage. If it’s possible to use more energy-efficient business technology, every company should be doing it. PCs that use less energy to operate will not only cost less to run, they will emit less heat, which in large offices, will reduce air conditioning bills and costs even further. Other ideas will also dramatically cut energy usage and save a lot of money too.

3. Always keep the end in mind. Green business practices should start on the drawing board and reach to the end of the line. Manufacturers, the government and industry in general needs to focus money, resources and imagination particularly in product development to ensure every category of goods made today isn’t a burden on the environment tomorrow.

4. Travel less, go further. For American businesses it’s still a difficult concept: stay home and don’t travel. But the unpredictable gas prices, strained airline industry and President Obama’s pre-election pledge to encourage telecommuting during his presidency could be bringing a great wave of environmentally friendly workplace practices. The smartest eco-forward companies will embrace telecommuting, cut business trips, and in doing so, save money and the environment for the future.