Over the last five years, online searches for sustainable goods have risen by 71 percent.
Over 159 million people have signed online petitions to support natural causes since 2015.
Consumers are helping drive sustainability forward by expecting more from their favorite businesses. Many believe that companies bear as much responsibility to do good as the government. Long gone are the days when profit was more important than caring for the planet.
If you’re a business owner or operator, it’s time to step up. The following eco-friendly tips can help.
1. Reduce Single-Use Plastic
Convenience used to take priority, but green companies now take the extra measures to ensure their impact is smaller.
Reducing single-use plastic in the workplace is an actionable place to start. Some ways to begin include:
- Gifting reusable bottles to staff members (with your company logo!)
- Separating trash and recycling—and even composting food waste
- Buying reusable office supplies, like ink cartridges or pens
- Stocking the kitchen with reusable items, such as glassware, utensils, and plates
2. Source From Sustainable Places
Did you know that two-thirds of a company’s footprint lies with its suppliers?
This transition takes work—and even time—but the benefits go beyond your business’s front door.
Begin by evaluating your company’s current standards, its highest risk suppliers, and improvement opportunities. Set specific environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets, which allow you to analyze your progress over time. Define the core values of these initiatives, and be sure to communicate them with staff members, stakeholders, and even customers.
Start rolling out these sustainable procurement practices. Continuously communicate your goals within the organization. Finally, track your performance against your initial ESG targets.
3. Recycle (Everything) Responsibly
Recycling begins with aluminum cans and cardboard boxes, but it doesn’t end there.
As a business, you likely deal with all kinds of electronics waste, such as computers, keyboards, networking equipment (think scanners or fax machines), rechargeable batteries, printers, and so much more. When it comes time to get rid of these items, you may not know where to turn.
Businesses like https://www.cjdecycling.com/ can recycle and upcycle these types of items, ensuring they don’t wind up in a landfill. Known as ‘e-waste recycling,’ this process makes recycling anything with a cord possible.
4. Lower Energy Usage
Like reducing single-use plastic in the workplace, lowering your building’s energy usage is possible through several means.
To get started, consider:
- Replacing outdated or inefficient lighting
- Putting lights on timers
- Making the switch from incandescent to LED lights
- Changing air filters monthly
- Repairing leaks in pipes, air ducts, and more
- Practicing smart temperature control
- Turning off electrical equipment such as computers, printers, or copiers during non-work hours
- Purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified equipment
These eco-friendly ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. Feel free to do more as needed, and ask your employees if they have any ideas, too!
Do Good, Feel Good, With These Eco-Friendly Tips
Green businesses are no longer the exception, but the rule.
If your customers don’t see you caring for the environment, they won’t care about moving on to one that does.
These eco-friendly tips will get you started, but don’t stop here! For more advice on how to help your business succeed, make sure to scroll through the rest of our actionable business articles.
