7 Easy Tips to Make Your Business More Eco-Friendly

Sustainability and an eco-friendly lifestyle are important things at the moment, as they should, considering the dire effects of global warming and climate change. In order to minimize such harmful effects, it’s important that we all take individual effort and change some habits that may be harming the environment. 

However, it’s important to mention that businesses have a lot of responsibility when it comes to pollution, so if you’re a business owner looking to work in a more eco-friendly manner, then here are some easy tips that will help you make that happen.

1. Try adopting a paperless way of working 

Papers have been the key to doing business for such a long time, however, with technology advancements, now it’s less necessary to use them that much. Sure, papers can be used for recycling, but how about not using them at all? Or, at least, using them to the minimum level. Digitizing your business practices, so you won’t have to rely on printing, signing, and arranging documents in folders won’t only help the environment: it will also make your offices look tidier and less cluttered. 

2. Include remote work as an option 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, removing work has become the new normal for many companies. And in a way, that’s not a bad thing, if we’re talking from a purely environmental perspective. Working from home is a more sustainable solution, as that will cut the energy costs, but also provide the employees with a better life-work balance. Spending time on getting ready, commuting and chatting with co-workers can often reduce productivity and make employees less focused. Since remote work often means fewer cars on the road, that is great news for the environment, due to less CO2 emissions.

3. Take care of the waste 

Businesses produce a lot of waste, that’s a fact. Regardless of your line of work, the employees produce waste just by eating and drinking at work. However, finding ways to reduce the waste out of landfills doesn’t have to be that difficult: you just need to find the most sustainable ​​waste management solutions that will help you adapt to the reduce, reuse and recycle principles of work. Taking care of the waste, while promoting more eco-friendly work ideas, is the sure way to make your business more eco-friendly.

4. Don’t be afraid to go second-hand 

If you’re just starting out, and you need to equip offices with furniture, then going second-hand can be a great decision. There’s really no need to pay a lot of money for what is essentially a simple furniture piece. Creating new furniture takes a lot of energy including raw materials, which can be harmful to the environment to a degree. Choosing to use second-hand furniture might be one of the best decisions that you could make for your business. 

5. Opt for energy-efficient solutions 

Offices use energy, however, choosing energy-efficient solutions is a true eco-friendly tip that might help you a lot in the long run. From LED lights, smart thermostats, to automated solutions such as lights with sensors are all excellent ways to reduce needless energy consumption at the workplace. Also, try to make the best of natural light, especially during the spring and summer when days are longer. All of that can help you save the planet, while also saving your money, which means that it’s the ultimate win-win. 

6. Find local business partners 

Boosting the local economy should be the goal of every business owner. But, the way to achieve that is to find local business partners, because the collective effort will surely promote better decisions that can promote the wellbeing of the entire local community. Sourcing local goods, and selling to local businesses, means less CO2 emission to shorter transport distances. Partnering with local suppliers, and selling to those close to you, will also help you establish your brand better. 

7. Promote sustainable practices among employees

Showing your employees how to live and work sustainably is an amazing way to practice what you preach. If your employees behave the right way, that means that your business has achieved a certain standard. As an employer, you can provide public transport commuter benefits to your workers, so they won’t have to drive, but will have their fare covered. After all, public transport is the greenest way of commuting, so helping your employees travel more sustainably will definitely promote the cause in the right way.

Conclusion 

These easy tips will make your business more sustainable. However, making that happen requires a level of effort and cooperation, as well as getting educated on this topic. Remember to do things step by step, so everyone will be able to accept the changes and get used to them.