4 Ways to Improve your Business’ Eco-friendly Status
Photo by Talk Business UK
The era of businesses turning a blind eye to its environmental responsibilities is long over, and today even the smallest enterprise is called upon to do its part in reversing climate change and protecting the world we all live in.
Consumers across the board are savvier than ever and will be actively seeking out companies and products that align with a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. Green practices also allow owners to save considerable amounts of money and streamline their offerings – a win for everyone involved, including the planet! Here are 4 practical ways to make your business more eco-friendly.
Rethink your employees’ commute
Due to coronavirus, many people around the world have recently shifted their work from a traditional office to a home office with some companies even giving the option to work remotely until further notice. For those that normally have long commutes, allowing days to work from home can greatly reduce your employees CO2 emissions and increase their work satisfaction.
An enormous source of greenhouse gas emissions comes from cars, and the bulk of traffic on the roads today is from people moving to and from their places of work.
Depending on your situation, you may find it helpful to start a cycle to work programme and reward or reimburse those who use bikes, walk or even take public transport to work instead of cars. If possible, consider scrapping the commute altogether and getting people to work from home where possible, only coming in to the premises when strictly necessary. Many progressive governments all around the world are exploring the benefits of shorter work weeks – even one less travel day a week adds up!
Create a culture of recycling
The old “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra is as relevant as ever. The world’s landfills are overflowing with garbage and a vast majority of the packaging we create, even those we use for mere seconds before throwing away, are never recycled. Whatever your niche or industry, it’s likely you produce some form of paper waste, which is happily the easiest to recycle. Consider shredding waste paper for packaging (saving you having to purchase bubble wrap and paying to get documents shredded or disposed of) or invest in alternative recycling methods. According to QCR, businesses with an industrial recycling machine can save an average of £1,248 per year if using a baler instead of bins – while taking up the same amount of space as a standard filing cabinet.
Be discerning about your suppliers
No business operates in a vacuum. Though it’s tempting to go with the cheapest, most convenient suppliers, spare a thought for the environmental costs incurred by your current supply chain and consider switching to companies that make clear efforts to be less exploitative. Deliberately choose local, ethical producers, and get to know exactly where your raw materials come. This will make you more aware of your impact and as a result allow you to boost your green reputation with your own customers. This step may take time. For instance, supporting a Fairtrade supplier may incur additional costs initially, but it is offset by the many benefits – including building your brand’s reputation and marketability.
Improve your energy usage
Businesses in every sector can benefit from reducing energy usage on their premises, from offices to factories. Today, it’s easier than ever to install commercial solar panels, which can drastically cut your monthly energy bills. Where there are some upfront costs associated at the beginning, renewable energy pays for itself within a few years and does plenty to lower costs for both you and the environment. You can even make big changes on a small scale. Consider energy efficient appliances, LED light bulbs, and eco-friendly heating solutions. You can also program thermostats to switch off when they are no longer needed, turn lights off when they are not in use. You can improve your energy efficiency by doing an audit once a year to adjust your consumption. Remember to replace old and energy-hungry boilers and also consider renovations to make your building safer and more energy efficient overall.
As a business owner, you are in a prime position to lead and inspire peers and colleagues by your choices that take into account the seriousness of the current environmental crisis. Customers are more eco-conscious than ever, and making small changes to reduce environmental impacts invariably saves everyone time and money in the process. There’s simply no reason not to find ways to lessen your carbon footprint and be part of the solution. Start small – it can be as simple as getting local snacks and Fairtrade coffee for the tea room, or getting rid of old incandescent lightbulbs in the office. Whether you start big or small, your eco-friendly efforts will be admired and appreciated and there’s no better time to start than now!
Are you a business looking to improve your eco-friendly status? Chat with us risk-free.