Going green has fast become one of the leading priorities for both businesses and homeowners alike. Fortunately, there is now a major focus on reducing carbon footprint, slashing fuel expenses, and establishing positive, eco-friendly practices for a green, clean, and sustainable future.
Consumers are now driving the trend towards these new business practices, voting with their dollars to support greener companies.
The Global Sustainability Study 2021 found that:
- 63% of consumers have shifted their spending toward being more sustainable in the past five years, particularly younger consumers.
- Half of consumers rank sustainability as a top 5 value driver.
- 34% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability, with a higher share of millennials and Gen Z prepared to pay more.
Is it hard to go green?
Going green is now easier than ever thanks to the various and simple ways you can integrate clean and efficient daily business practices; from a basic operations standpoint to improving workplace habits and educating employee mindset.
While transforming your business completely may require investing in new systems, packaging or even products, there are some simple changes you can make today to help get you set up on a greener path.
Here’s 7 quick wins for a greener business:
1. Reduce lighting use
Lighting is one of the biggest power thieves in a typical workplace environment, costing businesses dearly and creating tremendous energy waste.
Start with the simple solution of ensuring lights are only in use when necessary and if an office space has plenty of natural lighting, then avoid using artificial lighting as much as you can. Be sure to encourage staff to be mindful of their energy use to make this solution as effective as possible.
If the opportunity allows, invest in lights that switch off automatically when not in use, or switch traditional light bulbs to energy efficient alternatives for even greater savings. Although slightly more expensive to buy, they will last longer and reduce energy consumption by up to 75%, making them well worth the investment.
2. Reduce heating use
Just like lighting, heating is a major energy-draining culprit.
While it’s important to maintain a comfortable working environment for your staff, placing too much reliance on heating and cooling consumes huge amounts of energy overall.
Maintain the workplace temperature at a comfortable level of 18 degrees. This minimises energy usage to a reasonable level and reduces power bills drastically. Even just one degree higher can cost hundreds of dollars a year.
3. Reduce plastic waste
Is your business still buying single-use plastics?
Whether it’s pallet wrap, disposable cups, or coffee pods, reduce your landfill and look for quick and easy sustainable swaps that you can make the switch to immediately.
4. Recycle your old electronics
Old printers, phones and laptops can often be found lying around the office, along with cluttered and hazardous cables.
Make the effort to tidy up workspaces and recycle outdated technology that is no longer energy efficient to your local e-cycling centre.
5. Offset your carbon footprint
Carbon offsetting helps to fund solutions for reducing carbon emissions, combat climate issues, as well as caring for local communities. You can lead by example in your industry by making positive contributions such as providing employment, health improvement, biodiversity, reforestation, and social benefits to poor communities.
Use an online calculator to estimate your business’s carbon emissions, then buy carbon credits to the same value to offset your emissions.
6. Use less paper
Embrace digital technology and switch to e-marketing and cloud-based services to cut your use of paper.
Business apps such as an electronic signing service ensures you no longer need to print and scan contracts or financial documents. This will drastically reduce your impact on landfill and minimise harmful CO2 emissions.
If you must print something out, use both sides of the paper for internal documents. Buy recycled paper and continue to recycle the paper waste your business creates for full-circle energy efficiency.
7. Choose sustainable client gifts
Instead of sending hampers or disposable goods, consider a charitable donation. You can even let the client choose from a charity list to further generate their interest and engagement with your company.
Alternatively, you could send a potted plant, adopt an endangered animal, or pick an eco-friendly gift basket.
By implementing these simple and affordable opportunities, your business will be well on its way to enjoying a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
Looking for more significant ways to invest in a greener business?
Get in touch with Numble today and we can help you navigate sustainability options in your industry so you can get the most out of every dollar you invest.