On every shoot that I produce I do the following:
I ensure that we make every effort to work with green vendors.
I/We re-use/recycle/re-purpose everything and donate what we can.
You'd be surprised how many schools and small theaters would be happy to take your extra flats & Jacks, set pieces, costumes and props and re-use them in multiple shows.
At every stage of production the goal is reduce our carbon foot print aiming for zero waste and zero impact. Maybe its my early training as a location manager, there's nothing better than making a positive impact on the locations and communities we're working with.
Also, I've noticed that my best projects had as close to 50/50 ratio of males to females. Somehow having a set that reflects the ideal makes everyone feel good, and that tends to end up onscreen somehow. That spirit of generosity and cooperation goes a long way towards change-making and audiences can sense that.
As a rule, I make every effort to have income parity based on tier and skill and not on gender. I hire based on talent and diversity, and I encourage people to bring their whole self to work. There's a spirit of acceptance on my sets that frees people to be more creative and collaborative.
Some Local Green Resources
Green Hotels: https://www.kimptonhotels.com/kimpton-cares/environment
http://www.thescarlethotels.com/huntington-hotel-san-francisco/?src=sl_yelp
http://www.theorchardhotel.com/green-initiatives-en.html
Green Dry Cleaners: (this really comes in handy for long projects) https://www.sfgreenclean.com/
Office Supplies: http://www.thegreenoffice.com/ or http://blaisdells.com/ or http://www.cal-print.com/
Moving & Schlepping: http://www.sierraschleppers.com/
Orion normally moves furniture and households, he's ethical, green as they come and could use the money.
Junk Hauling:
http://www.howardhauling.com/
Not exactly 100% green but will recycle and give you a discount for recyclables
Digital & Electronic recycling http://www.greencitizen.com/
Green Fabrics and Materials: http://www.arc-com.com/about_us/ecotex
2nd Meal at the last minute and caterers that give back:
https://munchery.com/about/us/
Biofuels: http://www.regi.com/pdf/REG_Locations_Map.pdf
Unfortunately they have left the bay area, they only have one place in SSF. There are sources out there and its worth looking into. Also, this is something you can request from your Grip & Electric suppliers, they would know and it would probably delight them to do the research.
Great place to donate clothes: http://princessproject.org/ and http://www.wardrobe.org/
Also consider giving costumes and set pieces to local arts schools, small theaters and university theater programs.
In the past I have given much to SCRAP http://www.scrap-sf.org/get-involved/donate
and to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore: http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx
Donating leftover food: http://www.sfmfoodbank.org/ you can also set something up yourself with local shelters and other organizations that have evening meal services.
Purchasing carbon offsets: http://www.terrapass.com/ it looks good on paper, but it is so much better to actively cut your own carbon usage. I liken these to what the über rich used to do in the Middle Ages in church on Sunday, tithing and buying indulgences from the church and behaving horribly the rest of the week.
There's lots more we can do:
1) Don't buy endangered, toxic or otherwise unsustainable materials.
2) Don't do business with businesses that harm the environment, animals and of course humans. If it feels shady, it probably is.
3) If you can rent it don't buy it.
4) Schedule phone meetings, skype meetings, google hangouts and use digital file sharing-project management software to keep the paper usage low.
5) Schedule runs and pick ups intelligently, consolidate trips to neighborhoods, carpool to set, and use public transportation whenever possible. Give your PA's and 2nd's Clipper Cards-Metro Cards-etc.
6) Use LED based lighting gear.
7) Use a solar charger for charging all battery operated gear.
8) Everything you're using has another use after you're done with it, find out what it is and make sure you're sending it there when you're done.
9) Find out about city, state and national initiatives that incentivize green business practices and follow their guidelines.