There’s no shortage of reasons why a business should invest the time, energy, and money to elevate their eco-credentials. For one thing, it might just be good for business; with customers increasingly choosing to buy from environmentally friendly brands, ensuring that your business is as green as possible can have a significant impact on your bottom line.
In addition, it’s just the right thing to do — it’s up to all of us to protect Mother Earth, and by working to improve your eco-friendliness, you’ll be ensuring that you’re doing your bit.
Most businesses already have some measures in place that help to boost the eco-impact of their operations. In this post, we’re going to run through a few slightly deeper initiatives that can have a meaningful and lasting impact.
Look At Your Suppliers
What happens inside your business premises might be earth-friendly. However, if what’s happening around your business isn’t, then your business won’t be as green as you’d like it to be. For instance, how do your suppliers handle their eco responsibilities? Where do they get their resources from, and how do they transport them to you? Partnering with companies who are equally as committed to eco-friendly practices as you are can ensure that your brand is as green as can be.
Minimize Waste
It’s inevitable that your business will produce waste. However, how much waste — what you do with it — is within your control. If it’s been a while since you’ve done so, consider conducting a waste audit. It’ll tell you where there are opportunities to cut down. The waste that you produce should, wherever possible, be recycled. You’ll be able to recycle paper, glass, and soft plastics within your business premises, while there are metal recycling companies that can handle metals that are more challenging to recycle. Ultimately, your goal should be to ensure that as minimal an amount of your waste ends up in the junkyard.
Encourage Green Travel
Your business’s impact on the environment will extend beyond your actual operations. How your staff members get to work, for instance, will also have an impact. Businesses that have a number of employees driving to and from the office/worksite every day will use up many more of the earth’s resources than they would originally calculate. One way brands can further their commitment to eco-friendliness is to encourage their employees to get to work in a sustainable way. For instance, by cycling to work or taking public transport. You can consider offering a stipend to employees who wish to travel in this way.
Review and Adapt
Finally, remember that working to make your brand as earth-friendly as possible isn’t just a one-time thing. It should be something that you and your team periodically review and update. There is always new technology, procedures, and other planet-boosting initiatives coming out, so keep an eye on the latest practices within your industry and make a point of incorporating them into your business. As well as benefiting the earth, it’ll ensure that you’re always ahead of the curve.