Running a business in this day and age is hard, especially with all the issues that businesses face now, but the issue that has perhaps the biggest potential impact is climate change, even for the smallest businesses. If you have a small business, then you might think that the environmental impact of your business is minor in comparison with larger businesses, but businesses of all shapes and sizes need to re-evaluate their environmental contributions.
The days of deciding whether to go green or not are long gone and for all businesses, this is now a requirement. We all have a part to play in reducing carbon emissions and becoming more sustainable and businesses are a key part of this, given that there are some easy changes that can be made. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the ways in which your business can be more sustainable.
Offer Remote Work To Employees
With more and more work being done online, it is now easier than ever to allow employees to work from home and not only is this good for encouraging a positive work/life balance, but it can also make your business more sustainable. Since the pandemic, remote work has become even more desirable for employees as it allows them to spend less time commuting and more time at home.
Not only this, but by allowing your employees to work remotely, there are fewer cars on the road. Even these small changes can help reduce overall traffic and help with your business’s carbon footprint as, with fewer people in the office, businesses can usually save money when it comes to heating and lighting, too.
Use Sustainable Products Around The Office
If you think about it, your office will likely use a large number of different products each and every day. From reams of printer paper and plastic paper clips to things such as cleaning products, tea bags and toilet paper, there are many things that you can swap to make more sustainable. You can look for renewable products to start using in the office, such as toilet paper and office paper products. Encourage employees to use reusable water bottles rather than plastic bottles and instead of plastic or paper cups for coffee, use their own mugs or travel cups.
A lot of businesses don’t realise that their cleaning routine can also be harmful to the environment, especially in industrial and factory settings and workplaces, which typically require the use of heavy chemicals. Look to use planet-friendly cleaning products around the workplace on a daily basis, taking care to avoid disinfectant wipes and harsh bleaches and cleaners and for more regular or industrial cleaning, look to hire a specialist cleaning company that uses approved chemicals and cleaning products only.
Cut Down On Waste
Every business will produce waste, it’s just a simple fact, no matter their industry or company size. This is why looking into ways that you can reduce your waste is vital as, given that there are businesses all around the world, that’s a lot of waste that’s being produced! There are many simple changes that you can make when it comes to reducing your business waste from standard cardboard waste to electrical waste.
When you’re in an office, you will use a fair bit of paper throughout the week, so why not look into ways that you can start to recycle or reuse this? Look at changing your standard paper for recycled paper, as this typically uses less energy and water than standard paper, and the manufacturing process used tends to produce less carbon than non-recycled paper.
You may not think it, but tech is something that is often vastly overlooked when it comes to waste. Every office needs new technical equipment every now and then, whether this is because your business is expanding or simply because you’re replacing outdated equipment, take a look into alternative options when it comes to replacing tech. Refurbished electronics are often disregarded by businesses as managers and business owners may be sceptical or that they are less reliable, however, this isn’t true.
Refurbished technology not only has a great impact on the environment but can also be a way for your business to reduce costs. Don’t forget to recycle your tech when updating, too. Around 34% of electronic waste comes from IT resources, so it’s important for your business to do it’s bit in reducing this.
