Global warming is such a pressing issue these days; it is easy to see why it is relevant to large businesses and organizations. However, thinking that the problem is only the responsibility of such giant corporations is a flawed approach. It is every human being’s responsibility; everyone has to play their part in tackling this rising issue through small actions. In fact, these small actions and changes are of the utmost importance that can create a noticeable difference in the long run.
That said, small business owners might think that their environmental efforts won’t matter when truth be told, they matter immensely. Minor changes to become more eco-friendly can impact the environment if put into continuous practice. Along with being good for the environment, owning an eco-friendly business is also good for your reputation. It also has the potential to increase your sales manifold, especially as customers are becoming more environmentally conscious. That said, if you want to make your business more eco-friendly, your efforts must be genuine as your customers will be able to smell foul play if you make false claims. Here are a few tips that will allow you to make your business more eco-friendly.
Opt for Reusable Office Supplies
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In the USA alone, people throw away around four million pens every single day. Simply using refillable pens will help your business reduce the amount of plastic waste it throws out every day. Furthermore, companies can cut down on paper waste using mini dry erase boards or notebooks instead of sticky note pads. Electronic note-taking is also another green option.
A good practice is to appoint someone to track all your business’s stationery to help stuff from ending into landfills. When you have someone who pays attention to what gets wasted, it can help you make additional changes if necessary. For example, you can hire an individual with an AACSB online MBA no GMAT required to optimize and manage day-to-day business operations. Simultaneously, you can also encourage your employees to follow eco-friendly practices.
Partner up with Green Suppliers
One of the easiest ways for your business to become more eco-friendly is by partnering with green suppliers. Take a good look at your current partnerships and search for suppliers that offer sustainably produced products. Try to stay away from suppliers that utilize excessive packaging materials. Ensure that they use toxic-free substances only and opt for recycled or reusable products.
If possible, look for suppliers situated in your locality. Doing so will also eliminate the need to have items shipped from long distances while also supporting your community’s economy. It will help reduce carbon emissions due to excess fuel consumption. Being mindful of supply chain dynamics and where your materials come from can make your business more environmentally friendly.
Introduce a Recycling Program at Your Workplace
Recycling is a lifestyle change and will quickly make your business more environmentally friendly. Whether you own a small office or a large warehouse, you are likely generating tons of waste materials. Introducing a recycling program instead of throwing away all your trash will make a massive difference to the environment’s health.
You can start by paying close attention to the stuff you throw in the trash. There is a chance that your workplace generates more recyclable materials than you think. For example, cardboard packaging, plastic bottles, or paper products are a few examples of recyclable waste. However, other not-so-obvious items can stay out of landfills through recycling. For instance, you can give away Inkjet printers and toners cartridges for refilling or recycling. You can also recycle electronic waste by giving away old working computers, laptops, or storage drives to charitable organizations.
Outsource Printing Tasks
Even if you avoid using paper inside your business premises, you might still need to print stuff. For instance, event planners, annual reports, financial statements, and other critical business documents. Why not outsource all your printing tasks to a third party that can get the job done without generating as little paper waste as possible? Hiring a professional printing service could also save energy, depending on the number of printing tasks your business requires.
However, if you still choose to opt for in-house printing, be smart about it. Remember to use recycled paper, print on both sides, avoid using extra sheets, and only print what your company requires. In the end, the less you print, the less paper waste you’ll have to deal with once the documents have no further use.
Control Energy Consumption
There are numerous practices that business owners can deploy to lower energy consumption at their workplace. You can start small by replacing incandescent lights with LED fixtures. Then, move to power your business using alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal to reduce your carbon footprint and energy costs.
As solar and wind energy become more viable, businesses, both large and small, can now purchase power from eco-friendly sources at lower rates. In doing such a thing, they can drastically decrease their operating expenses while also causing less harmful environmental impact.
Use eco-friendly Cleaning Products
What products do you use to clean your workplace? Most commercial cleaners contain a mixture of hazardous chemicals. They can sometimes also make people sick, from dizziness to headaches to worse. Replace these conventional cleaners with ones that are non-toxic and fragrance-free. Alternatively, you can ditch cleaners entirely if you opt to clean most surfaces with some warm water and simple fragrance-free, biodegradable liquid soap. No more toxic chemicals and fewer office expenses!
Conclusion
As an owner of a small business, making it more environmentally friendly is vital for strategic growth. In addition to decreasing its negative on the environment, your business will save money on operating expenses while building everlasting relationships with your customers. Adopting eco-friendly workplace practices is easy, and right now is the perfect time for you to start!