You might be eco-conscious at home, but are you quite as stringent when it comes to running your business? Here are tasks that can help you run your business in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Recycle
Once you’ve made changes to reduce plastic as much as possible, set up a good recycling system for your business so you can properly recycle whatever waste you do have. For medium and large businesses, you can get big recycling bin units for employees to use. For smaller businesses, you can sort and then recycle as needed.
Think of all the little things that could be swapped with recyclable or less wasteful options. How toxic are your cleaning products? You can find some greener options here. Avoid the use of paper napkins and straws. Keep toilet paper and bathroom products eco-friendly and to a minimum.
Use Less Power
Power such as gas and electricity uses fossil fuels. While these companies are using more greener energy sources, a lot still comes from the burning of fossil fuels which of course impacts the environment. Look for energy-star electronics, even using laptops instead of computers can help as they use less power.
LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient than incandescent and even CFL lights. There are several types you can opt for which still turn on quickly and give you a bright good quality light to work under. Try ufo high bay lights for an efficient and powerful alternative.
Ditch the plastic bags
Plastic is a massive threat to the earth since it takes hundreds of years to break down; much of what has ever been produced still exists somewhere on earth. Many states and cities have already banned the use of plastic bags.
Encourage shoppers to bring their own bags or provide strong paper bags that can easily be recycled. You could even sell reusable tote bags for a small fee and brand them with your logo. Companies like 4AllPromos offer this service. It’s a great way to promote your brand as well as reduce harmful plastic in your business.
Go Paper-Free
Instead of sending out paper invoices, receipts and statements to customers, have ‘paper free’ as your standard option. That way customers can request paper copies if needed. You’re not wasting paper that will simply be thrown away by most customers, but you still do have the option there for those who want or need it.
Opt to have your own business mail delivered electronically rather than through the post too where possible. Many corporations around the world are already working on this so jump on this eco-friendly train.
Choose the right suppliers
Choosing suppliers that use eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials is one smart direction you can take your company in. Whether it’s recycled paper, low VOC paints, products not tested on animals or sustainably sourced wood, when you choose these kinds of companies it helps to create a demand for them. The more demand means more companies will follow suit on taking the eco-friendly route.