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Keep Up to Date with Global Issues
It’s important to know what’s going on in the global community as far as regulation is
concerned. The European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations
and California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act (EWRA) are likely to impact your supply
chain. For instance, because of EWRA, it is prohibited to sell devices in California banned
by Europe’s RoHS. This includes monitors that contain the heavy metals restricted by
RoHS. If you keep up on global regulation issues, you can see how they affect your own
supply chain—often for the better.

Keep Up with New Technologies
Green technologies are a moving target, and your industry may be making significant
improvements. By keeping up with what’s going on in your industry, you can find out
where you can make the best changes. You also maintain your competitive edge. Be active
in your industry’s groups and organizations to keep up with trends.
Start Simply
One of the first steps we suggested was to develop a plan. And although it’s important to
see the big picture, it’s not necessary to overhaul the entire system all at once. You’ll go
nuts—and it’s probably impossible to do, anyway.
Rather, start small. Identify some things you can do simply right away. These get you
started, and they serve as springboards to more involved endeavors. Some easy things you PART III
can do include negotiating leasing or buy-back options into electronics contracts, as well as
ensuring hardware goes back to the manufacturer for recycling. You could also label
material types of your products so consumers know how they can recycle them.
Analyzing the Global Impact of Local Actions
We’ve seen the slogan “Think Globally, Act Locally” on T-shirts and bumper stickers for
years. Like so many clichés, at first we got the message, but after seeing it a gazillion times
the message turned into an annoyance. Although you see the cliché from time to time, the
fact of the matter is that the actions individuals take can mushroom into something that
affects the entire planet.
Consider the pyramid shown in Figure 5-2.
At the bottom level of the pyramid is the individual; the top represents the global
community. The bottom level represents simple, everyday decisions, such as the decision to
recycle a used beer can. As we move up the pyramid, we see that decisions made at a given
level help influence decisions made at the next level. Also, the following trends become
apparent:
• Individual decisions are replaced by group decisions.
• Decisions become more complex and they encompass a broader range of issues.
• The amount and quality of information needed for decision-making increases.
• Short-term decisions evolve into long-term decisions.

Decisions at both ends of the pyramid influence each other. Everyday choices made at
the bottom level (“Will I recycle this can?”) are made based on decisions that have been
made at the global level (“There’s a worldwide trash crisis.”).