Today, running a business means more than just turning a profit. Due to the fight against climate change and the seismic change in consumers' views on greener practices, businesses of all types and sizes need to seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint all whilst keeping costs under control.
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We all know that it is important to try and take care of the environment. But what many people forget is that this is just like any other charity - it starts at home. If you are serious about improving the state of the ecological world, it really is best to start in your own backyard - literally.
As it happens, there are many things you can do to ensure you are helping to keep your local environment strong and healthy, and in this post, we are going to take a look at just some of these important steps you can take.
Install Waste-Saving Innovations
Reducing the waste you produce in your household is not just good for the planet overall, it has also been shown to be specifically beneficial for your own neighborhood. There are a lot of things you can do to reduce your waste, and sometimes the best way is to install waste-saving innovations in your own home. This can include a compactor, which can help to reduce the amount of local landfill space you are ultimately taking up. Or it could mean the simple use of an oil stop valve to help prevent bulk spillage - see more on this solution here, if you are curious.
Pick Up Litter
If you have noticed that there is plenty of litter in your local area, then you are probably keen to do something about it. The great thing about this is that it is one of the easiest problems to solve. All you need to do is to spend a day or two going around picking up litter. It might not sound like much fun, but if you get a few of your neighbors involved you can make a day of it. Do it regularly enough, and you are going to find that your neighborhood is suddenly a lot nicer to live in - and a lot less damaging to the environment.
Use Local Produce
Whatever it is that you like to eat, you should aim to generally get as much of it as possible from your local area. If you do that, you are helping in a number of ways. First of all, in a global sense, you are not giving money to these huge corporate-fueled supply chains that only damage the ecology of the planet. In a local sense, you are aiding local farms and other small businesses, and you are reducing your overall carbon footprint by only traveling a short distance for your food. It’s a really important and easy step to take, and one we should all be doing so much more. Usually, it’s a simple case of going to the local market or even asking for home delivery of a veg box from a local farm. There is always away.
If you do these simple things, you are going to be helping your local environment greatly - while also helping the global cause at the same time. As you can see, this charity really does start at home.
The world we live in has changed dramatically over the last forty years, and with it, businesses have had to adapt, learn, and grow. The consumer is placing more demands on us to be quicker, cheaper, and now, more sustainable. Understanding consumers' needs are essential for longevity in today’s world, so are you doing enough?
It’s never been more critical for companies to build sustainability into their culture. Ensuring they channel efforts into ecological and social responsibilities. It’s no longer acceptable to use wasteful packaging, the public wants to move away from plastic, and your carbon footprint could have a significant impact on your turnover. Demand for core values within a business to change has been so high that industry leaders have had to make some significant changes in their working day.
McDonald's and Burger king have moved away from the plastic straw after the internet lit up with campaigns that forced major players to invest in innovative solutions. Leading retail giants Walmart, IKEA, and H&M are working with their supply chains to reduce waste and improve material usage while ensuring local labor conditions within their suppliers are improved. Many companies have looked into 3D printing as a sustainable manufacturing process too, coming up with ways to cut down material waste, particularly through the prototype stage. Click here to see how 3D prototyping works.
Consumers are one of our stakeholders and how they think, feel, and behave should drive your marketing and your actions. Now, businesses can be held accountable by the public via social media, the people have a voice, and they are not afraid to tell you when you are unhappy. It’s essential to stay ahead of your competitors; however, working with other businesses in your sector could help generate more significant impacts across your whole industry. This, in itself, could help improve your relationship with your target audience.
Highlight areas within your business where you could make changes. Whether it is within your packing, production, or sales, there are multiple ways you can make a difference. Research what is available and see if you could reduce your waste. Speak to your suppliers to discover how they are making a move to a more eco-friendly world. If your product is being made overseas, look at the costs of having it manufactured closer to home. Invest some money and time into social projects to help people in low-income areas. And make sure your business is operationally set up to keep you on the path toward those goals. For instance, if you are a player in the agriculture sector, looking to scaling your commercial cannabis cultivation; you could delve deeper into sustainable practices like organic farming or water conservation and energy-efficient lighting systems. These changes are not only good for the environment but may also contribute to higher product quality and more recognition of your brand.
Most importantly, communicate with your consumers. Highlight what changes you are making, talk about your future commitments, and then ask them for their opinion. What would they like to see your industry do?
Now is the time to act, because when the consumer uses their voice, if they feel they aren’t heard, they will walk away. It’s not only vital for the planet that you step up and become a more sustainable business, but it’s also critical for the future success of your company, your staff, and your stakeholders. So look after the planet and ensure your future.
Are you looking for ways you can make your business better for the planet? Becoming a more eco-friendly business will not only help your budget but your bottom line. You’ll save money, and likely even make more money due to the fact that people are always looking for eco-friendly businesses to work with. That’s not the only reason to do this, of course - being a good business for the planet is important regardless. Many businesses have a huge carbon footprint, and the planet will benefit massively from cutting them down as much as possible. Read on for some suggestions:
Cut Down To A 4 Day Working Week
The 4-day working week is something certain European countries are adopting. Not only is it better for employee morale, but it also means reducing cars on the road, the need for public transport, and conserving energy as you don’t need your lights on, equipment plugged in, etc. Many business owners worry that they won’t get as much done, but many get the same amount of work done. Employees tend to fill the time they have, which is why many are able to get the same amount of work done in four days as five days when required.
Introduce More Remote Workers
Working from home is another great way to help the planet. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that working from home is entirely possible for many businesses that didn’t think it was possible. You can hire freelancers to work remotely online before hiring in-house employees, or you can simply employ full-time employees using strategies like flexitime.
Work With Eco-Friendly Suppliers And Partners
When you partner with like-minded people and organizations in your community, you have an even more positive impact on the environment. For example, look at Earth Friendly Promos next time you have an event to attend or host.
Make It A Part Of Your Company Culture
Making this a part of your company culture ensures everybody is on the same page, and it helps you to attract people who are already in alignment with your ethos. You could even get ideas and input from your employees to improve further.
Recycle And Reuse
Recycling and reusing everything you can make a big difference in the long run. A company’s recycling program ensures you’re doing all you can to recycle glass and plastics, for instance. Make sure you purchase recycled items, too! Many places sell things like recycled paper and ink cartridges.
Use Green Cleaning Products
Having a clean and hygienic workplace is a must, but many of the nice smells you get from cleaning products are actually toxic. Eco-friendly products might seem expensive, but they are much healthier and better for the planet. You can also justify it by thinking about the improved health and clarity of your team. Don’t forget about the healthier planet, either!
Ensure Everybody Is On The Same Page
You can’t achieve this alone. You need to make sure everybody is on board. Make sure you’re not the only one making sustainable choices and that everybody knows what they can do to contribute! You could have a noticeboard, for example.
How will you make your business better for the planet?
Are you looking for more ways to be environmentally friendly? Do you currently work in an office without a green initiative? Big companies are becoming more and more environmentally responsible, particularly as this is something consumers are seeking out. But what is going on behind the scenes?
To make a difference, we all need to work together, and here are a few ways you can encourage your office to go green.
Go Paperless
This might not be entirely achievable, depending on the nature of your business, but in every situation where you are currently printing or using paper, it’s worth thinking – is this 100% necessary? A lot of paper gets wasted in office and, although often recycled, it’s better to avoid using – and wasting – it in the first place. You can send things that would usually be printed via email and use online forms and file-sharing sites to cut down.
Get a Desk Plant
We all know that plants and trees are air purifying, so why not bring a little greenery into the office? Not only will they clean the air, but a few desk plants dotted about make for a more cheerful office atmosphere.
Digitalize
The more you can work and train away from handouts and textbooks, the better for the environment. You will be able to find a corporate training platform that can provide you with the training and development you are looking for in your team in a wholly paperless way.
Turn it Down
We know offices are never the right temperature. You feel like either someone from accounts is always opening the window, or else it’s HR cranking up the thermostat as high as it will go. Although you won’t be able to work in an office that is completely unbearable temperature-wise, try going down a few degrees at a time. Get everyone prepared so they can bring in jumpers if it’s winter and invest in some communal hot drinks to keep the cold at-bat.
Have a Monthly Challenge
One of the best ways to motivate your members of staff is to introduce a little friendly competition. Discuss a monthly challenge that you can take on as a team. You could all decide to give up plastic water bottles, or disposable coffee cups. How about everyone commits to turning off their PCs before heading out the door? You could even go as far as to get sponsorship for it and donate the proceeds to an environmental charity.
Work from Home
Sounds too good to be true, right? But if everyone in the office worked from home one day per week, that gets rid of the carbon travel footprint for an entire team of people. You can use Skype for meetings, which is becoming a much more standard way of conducting chats with employees who work remotely.
These are just a few ways you can reduce your impact on our planet in the office and start to work together as a team to recycle and look after the environment.
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