Business owners all over the world will experience similar problems over the course of their careers. Of course, no two issues are exactly the same. With each location, industry, and business owner comes a new set of challenges and issues to overcome. One challenge that you may face over the course of your ownership is the need to implement more eco-friendly considerations into your business.
This is applicable to both big and small businesses. You may think if you own a small business, then it probably doesn’t matter too much. But the truth is, every business needs to do its part. It’s also worth noting that customers may be more willing to do business with eco-friendly businesses based on the product or service you provide. It’s been proven that many consumers will make their choice based on environmental reasons.
Not only will you be helping out the planet, you’ll also see benefits in your own business. Who doesn’t want that? As mentioned above, but should these suggestions be possible in your workplace, you should consider them for a greener picture.
Be aware of the products you use
No matter what industry or line of business you are in, you require products on a daily and monthly basis. The likes of your printing paper, cleaning products, or storage facilities are all necessary, and you can’t go without them, of course. A way you can make a greener choice is to look at how these products are made. Try your best to buy from manufacturers that have the environment in mind during production.
Try to aim to use as much recyclable products as possible as well. The likes of your toilet paper rolls can make a big difference when recycled on a regular basis. While in terms of your cleaning products, avoid toxic ingredients. This just means when you throw them out; all those toxins get released into the landfill. This undoubtedly worsens the condition of the landfill.
Polymer manufacturing has come a long way to make it more eco friendly also. These materials are considerably more planet-friendly than the likes of their petroleum-based counterpart.
Implement remote work
As the pandemic has proved, we don’t need to be somewhere, in particular, to really make an impact. Remote work has gained huge popularity over the past two years. With the online world always developing, the opportunities to be more productive online increase. This is obviously only applicable to certain businesses but still is relevant to many different industries.
It can even be more preferable for the employees themselves. This is due to the large number of advantages that come from working at home. Some advantages include flexibility, no dress code, and comfort. So not only could it make your business greener, but it could make your employees more comfortable and happier.
The ways in which remote work is more eco friendly are the likes of less traffic and not as much waste in the workplace.
Encourage public transport
Similar to remote work, trying to get traffic off the roads is a key factor when it comes to fighting climate change. The more cars, trucks, and motorbikes on the road, the more fossil fuels that get omitted into the atmosphere.
Public transport is a good way to solve this issue. You get more people on one vehicle, meaning less motors on the road. It’s the greenest way to get to and from work. You can encourage your employees to take public transport more often. Many public transport companies will offer benefits to local businesses. Getting in touch with these companies could get you a long way in terms of saving your staff money on their public transportation. It could even turn out to be cheaper for them to take a bus or train than to fill up their car with fuel every day.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Since you were a child, you’ve heard these three words, so you really should keep them in mind for your business. It’s common knowledge that landfills aren’t exactly the most eco-friendly thing in the world. So what’s the best thing to do with them? Keep them as empty as possible. The less you send to the landfill, the better.
- Reduce: Firstly, try to reduce the purchasing of unnecessary products where possible. A big culprit for this is disposable plates and cutlery. In a business, they might seem more convenient as it eliminates the need for cleaning. But in reality, buying some steel cutlery and ceramic plates will actually get you further in the grand scheme of things.
- Reuse: As well as reducing what you buy, try to get the most use out of these products. For example, instead of just throwing away a cardboard box because you’ve taken the goods out of it, think about its use in the future. Nearly every business needs boxes for storage and delivery. So why not just keep these boxes around?
- Recycle: When an item has served its purpose, make sure you dispose of it properly and, if possible, recycle it. Recycling bins are readily available in the modern-day, meaning there’s no need for any recyclable goods to end up in the landfill.
Use sustainable packaging
Most businesses require shipping and delivering products. Whether that be to fellow stores in the company or paying customers, it has to be done. Every product that goes to a unique place is going to need its own packaging. So when you take that into consideration, you can imagine it is a lot of material. Try not to make the packaging go to waste once it’s served its purpose. You can look at two options when it comes to your packaging. Firstly, consider using recycled paper and cardboard to send your product or items in. This means it can then be reused again or recycled. Another viable option is to consider compostable packing materials. This won’t cost your businesses considerably more, if any, and is far more beneficial for the environment.
