In today’s scenario, if you have or run a business, it is not only expected but compulsory for you to take up green initiatives. These are activities that help your business become more sustainable and environmentally conscious. Doing so is important because businesses and organizations tend to take up a lot of resources, and contribute largely towards pollution and waste as well. However, figuring out how to go green in a way that is effective, innovative, and impactful can be a herculean task. Even more so for small businesses who may not have enormous financial and networking resources in their hands. That’s why in this article, we are listing out seven ways through which you can make your business effectively greener, without it taking an enormous toll on your activities and employees. Many of these ideas also involve collaborating with your customers and demographic, which can help uplift your brand.
- Become Paperless – One of the easiest ways you can make your business more sustainable is by going paperless. Whether it’s receipts, bills, memos, or letters, paper is everywhere in an office environment. While that may have been no cause for concern a few decades ago, it sure is now, because more paper requirements mean more trees need to be felled. That’s why, by taking your documents to the digital space, you will be saving hundreds of trees every year. On top of that, given how we are going more and more digital every day, this will also make your organization more effective. It will also make activities smoother as the exchange and storage of information will be much easier.
- Using Recycled Paper – Of course, for many organizations and businesses, going entirely paperless isn’t possible. There are many problems that come into play, such as a lack of resources, poor technological availability, and more. But even in that case, you can be more sustainable by using recycled paper. Instead of purchasing the mass-produced office paper, go for recycled papers which are produced by local stationery businesses almost everywhere. Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment, but you will also be supporting local businesses.
- Employing Waste Management Businesses – Improper waste disposal by organizations is a major reason behind the deterioration of land and water bodies. People tend to combine different forms of waste together and dispose of them together, without paying heed to the fact that they need to be separated first. Employing organizations that work towards waste management can help you become much more sustainable, and prevent you from contributing to such a major environmental problem. Such organizations ensure that different types of wastes are disposed of carefully, in a way that doesn’t impact the environment. If you don’t know where to start, take the help of businesswasteguru.co.uk which connects you to the most suitable waste collection company, based on your requirements.
- Remove Disposables – Another excellent and impactful way to make your company greener is to slowly phase out the usage of disposables. This includes utensils, different kinds of packaging, and toiletries. Plastic disposables are one of the major contributors to pollution, and switching over to recyclable options can lower plastic waste enormously. Here are some ways you can ensure an effective switch-over to recyclable materials. Firstly, encourage employees to bring in their own bags, cups, and utensils. Make arrangements for them to be stored in the breakroom safely. You can also provide clean, reusable utensils in the breakroom. Similarly, bring in eco-friendly options for packaging and stationery into the office in phases, and make the switch gradually. Involve your employees in this process as well, and encourage them to give their ideas, if they have any.
- Become More Energy Conscious – If you want to become more sustainable and ensure that your actions have a proper impact on the environment, then a great way to do so is to become energy conscious. You can do so by switching over to appliances that consume less electricity and investing in light timers which work on motion transfer technology and automatically turn appliances off when no one is in the room. Installing windows wherever possible to enable natural light to enter is another great way to conserve energy. You can also monitor your energy usage by doing an energy audit, which will tell you areas of improvement and how you can lower your energy consumption even more.
- Promote A Culture of Sustainable Travel – Being energy conscious also entails being responsible about the usage of fuel and natural gas. Vehicles not only deplete resources but also contribute towards pollution, though new technology has led to a fall in vehicular pollution. By promoting a culture of sustainable travel through carpooling and biking in your organization, you can make your organization much more “green”. Encourage employees to carpool and use public transportation. Bring in certain rewards or measures that will encourage them to be sustainable in this matter and drive off initial resistance to change. Similarly, promote the usage of bicycles and electric vehicles. If possible, you can even provide them with such means of transportation.
- Donate Towards Green Initiatives and Organisations – For most organizations, big steps and green projects are often out of reach. Especially if you are a start-up that is still growing. A dearth of resources and connections can limit how much you can contribute towards environmental betterment. That is why a great way to make an impact is to donate towards causes and organizations whose sole purpose is to promote sustainability and heal the environment. Every year, your organization can donate a certain percentage of the total profit towards organizations that are doing commendable environmental work. You can even create fundraisers for the same and promote stakeholders to donate towards it, and then match the donations that come in.
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that sustainability is a journey. No organization can become sustainable at once, or take giant steps right from the beginning. What matters is taking steps and gradually moving towards making your organization as green as possible, bit by bit. During the process, it is also important to educate employees, customers, and other stakeholders about the importance of being sustainable and to create a culture of recognition, understanding, and action.
