Attainable Green and Sustainable Practices for Small Businesses
Becoming more eco-friendly and sustainable should be a goal for all businesses, but it can be a bit expensive initially. However, even if you are a small business that doesn’t have a huge budget to be greener, there are several things you can do that will make a massive difference.
Finding Green Resources
The first thing you should do is look at the common resources your business uses every day. For instance, if you sell a product, packaging is something you will constantly be going through, and something your customers will have to throw away.
Instead, opt for eco-friendly packaging for goods; this type of packaging not only makes your carbon footprint smaller on the production side, but it is also degradable and recyclable, meaning it won’t cause damage to the environment once it is disposed of by your customers.
Become Energy-Efficient
Becoming more energy efficient can be as simple as changing out your lightbulbs for energy-efficient bulbs, or having lightbulbs that only turn on when you enter the room. If you are in a country that has extremely warm or cold temperatures, you can also optimize your heating and AC system.
A more affordable fix is to ensure your windows and doors are sealed properly to keep heat in during the Winter, and to only run your AC for short periods to keep the space cool, instead of running it all day.
Reuse & Recycle
Having a proper recycling system in your workspace is essential to being more eco-friendly. You can purchase a few trash cans and label each of them; one for plastics, one for paper, one for glass, and one for food waste.
When it comes to reusing, opt for second-hand purchases when buying new equipment or furniture. There are plenty of things that go into a workspace, such as desks, shelves, etc, that don’t need to be brand new to do their job.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is another way to make your businesses far more eco-friendly. A solar panel or two can easily power multiple outlets across your workspace. Depending on where you live, there may also be financial benefits in investing in solar power and taking pressure off of your local power grid.
Choose Eco-Friendly Suppliers
When looking at the big picture of being more eco-friendly, don’t stop at what you can do within your immediate bubble. The supply chain is another area that you have control over, and it is a place that you can make greener decisions.
This can range from how your suppliers source their raw products, to what type of vehicles they use to transport goods and the routes they take. Doing something as simple as lessening the amount of deliveries to you per week or month will help put less fuel waste into the air.
Encourage Remote Work
If possible, encouraging remote work for your employees can have a few eco-friendly benefits. First off, if they don’t have to travel then there is less pollution caused by their vehicles on a daily basis.
Secondly, less power and water will be used if there are fewer people in the office, and you will also be able to cut down on waste.
Cycle-to-Work Schemes
If remote work isn’t possible, you can introduce a cycle-to-work scheme where you, as the business, can partially or completely fund the purchase of a bicycle for your employees, giving them the option to leave the car at home.
Green Cleaning Products
Another aspect that many don’t think about is the type of cleaning products they use in their workplace. Everything from the hand soap in the bathrooms to the type of disinfectant you use can have an impact on the environment.
This is particularly important for small businesses that require high levels of hygiene, such as tattoo studios and hairdressers. When you are at the store, take the extra few minutes to find cleaning products that are more eco-friendly and natural, as this is a small change that can make a large difference down the line.
Start Eco-Friendly Initiatives
If possible, you can also take the steps to start an eco-friendly initiative of some kind. There are many ways to go about this, but some of the most popular include customer benefits associated with recycling.
Lush, for example, offers customers a discount on new products if they bring in their empty tubs, while The Body Shop offers discounted refills on some products if you bring in their steel bottles. This is not only something that builds brand loyalty, but also drastically cuts down on packaging and supplies.
Donate If Possible
Finally, depending on your business, donate items, equipment, or products if and when possible. For example, if you run a clothing store, donate clothing that may not be fit for sale or requires quick and simple repairs.
There will be plenty of times when you will have items that aren’t the level they need to be for you to sell, but are still perfectly functional and can be donated. This should also be something that businesses who sell fresh food should be putting a lot of effort into.
