Submitted by Admin
Running a small business can be tough, but it’s important to make sure that you are doing everything you can to make it more sustainable and eco-friendly. Your customers are starting to expect it, and as a small business you should want to do your bit for the planet too. Here are six ways you can improve the sustainability credentials of your small business.
Some people think that changes they make on a small scale don’t make much difference to the planet. That’s why individuals and small businesses sometimes don’t feel the urgency to make changes. Yet if everyone took a few small steps to be a bit more sustainable in the way they do things, it would make a big difference to the earth.
Making your small business more sustainable can have a big impact on the environment, and it can also save you money in the long run. Here are six steps you can take to be more environmentally friendly as a business.
1. Stop Using Single Use Plastic Bags
You know the ones, you get them at the grocery store or drugstore and they end up in landfill pretty much straight away. They’re bad for the environment and your customers are probably tired of getting them too. Ditch the plastic bags and switch to reusable shopping bags made from sustainable materials. You can also produce custom reusable shopping bags design with your branding on it, which is great for increasing brand awareness too!
If you sell products that come in plastic packaging, try to find ways to switch to more sustainable materials. If you can’t avoid plastic altogether, make sure you recycle it properly.
2. Give Staff Incentives For Car Sharing Or Cycling To Work
If you have employees, one way to make your business more sustainable is to offer incentives for those who car share, take public transport or cycle to work. This could be in the form of free parking, a discount on their monthly travel card or a coupon for buying a bicycle. It’s a great way to encourage staff to be more eco-friendly and it can also save you money on workplace parking.
Carbon emissions from vehicles are a major contributor to climate change, so anything you can do to encourage staff to use alternatives to driving is a step in the right direction. It’s also good for employee health and wellbeing, so it’s a win-win all round!
3. Review The Energy Efficiency Of Your Premises
If your small business is based in an office or retail space, there are probably a few things you can do to make it more energy efficient. Check the insulation and double glazing, install energy efficient lighting and review your heating and cooling system. You may also want to switch to green energy suppliers who use renewable sources of electricity.
Making your business premises more energy efficient is good for the environment and it can also save you money on your energy bills. It’s worth taking a bit of time to review your energy usage and see where you can make some changes.
You may also want to consider solar power for your business premises. Solar panels are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and they can also save you money on your energy bills.
4. Offset Carbon Emissions
If you’re looking for other ways to reduce your carbon footprint, you could also consider offsetting your emissions. This is where you make a financial contribution to offset the carbon emissions from your business. There are a number of ways you can do this, such as investing in renewable energy projects or planting trees.
Offsetting your carbon emissions is a great way to be more environmentally friendly as a business. It’s important to choose a reputable offsetting company and make sure you understand how your money is being used.
Carbon offsetting is not a replacement for reducing emissions, but it can be a good way to supplement your efforts. It’s also something you can tell your customers about – many people want to support businesses who are committed to supporting causes and environmental issues.
5. Buy From Suppliers In Bulk
One way to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy from suppliers in bulk. This means you’ll need to store more inventory, but it will save on packaging and transportation emissions. It’s also a great way to get discounts on your purchases!
When you’re buying in bulk, make sure you only buy what you need. There’s no point in having a huge stockpile of products that you’ll never use. Be strategic about your purchases and only buy what you know you can sell.
Apply this same concept to office supplies and not just for the products you sell. Buying things like coffee in bulk that you provide for staff or customers will also help you lower your carbon footprint. And if you provide bottled water to staff and customers, stop! Plastic bottles are unnecessary and cause huge environmental damage. Get a water filter installed and use reusable glass bottles to store and serve water.
6. Sustainable Delivery And Packaging Options
If you’re in the business of selling products, you need to think about how you’re going to get them to your customers. Can you use sustainable delivery and packaging options? This could include using recycled materials, biodegradable packaging or investing in carbon-neutral shipping.
Many businesses are now using sustainable packaging options as a way to reduce their environmental impact. If you’re not sure where to start, there are a few things you can do to research sustainable packaging options for your business. You can also talk to your suppliers and see if they have any recommendations.
Remember, using sustainable packaging doesn’t just mean using recycled materials. It also means making sure your packaging is recyclable and/or biodegradable. This way, you can be sure that your packaging won’t end up in landfill.