Steps to Running an Environmentally-friendly Business
Numerous documentaries and damaging articles, have detailed the devastating impacts careless corporations have had on our environment. Fortunately, many businesses are fighting back against waste and implementing positive policies and processes to reduce their carbon footprint.
Running an environmentally-friendly business helps you to reduce your impact on the environment, and allows you to do your part for the future of our world. Eco-friendly printing practices, ink cartridge recycling, and energy tracking tools are just some ways.
Printing Green
Every year, up to 80 million used ink cartridges end up in landfill globally, taking 400 to 1000 years to biodegrade. Similarly, paper makes up about 35% of our waste stream every year. These figures make it clear that office printing practices can have an incredibly negative impact on the environment.
Fortunately, environmentally conscious businesses have recognised these dangers, and have responded by implementing sustainable printing policies and purchasing eco-friendly equipment. Eco-friendly printers utilise double-sided printing and other sustainable settings, in order to reduce the amount of power used by the printer, and subsequently cut the cost-per-page. They have also utilised free programs including ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’, which has has recycled more than 34 million cartridges via 30,000 businesses and over 3,000 retail outlets.
Partnering-Up
Environmentally-conscious business owners are partnering up with like-minded businesses, in order to produce collective action plans. These partnerships are based on finding communal ways to reduce environmental impacts, as a result of harmful business practices.
By partnering with local businesses and local governments, businesses are pursuing collective agreements in regards to natural resources, recycling and promoting the local sourcing of materials. As a team, these partnerships have reduced their environmental footprints, and become leaders in sustainable practices.
Using Energy Tracking Tools
Without a good understanding of where your energy is going and exactly how it’s being used, it’s near impossible to monitor it effectively. For this reason, businesses are utilising energy tracking tools, in order to measure, monitor and manage energy usage within the business.
Most energy providers have energy tracking tools that you can use from your mobile and smartphone device. These tools provide valuable data, to aid you in tracking your improvements, and recognising where changes need to be made to lower your energy bill. Exposing both simple and complex practices that are draining your businesses energy supply, is key to cutting down a costly business energy bill.
Creating ‘Green Teams’
Creating an environmentally conscious office, requires staff to look for new ways to save energy and money, and be responsible for implementing new procedures. For this reason, environmentally conscious businesses are creating ‘Green Teams’, to encourage sustainable workplace practices.
Creating a ‘Green Team’ is a vital step in creating a lasting environmentally sustainable corporate culture. The ‘Green Team’ can be responsible for switching off lights, unused computers and making each employee accountable for their wasteful practices. The team can be tasked with promoting awareness about energy saving tactics, and making your office a sustainable workspace with reduced energy consumption into the future.
There are many benefits to implementing environmentally friendly practices. Research has shown that offices that are committed to social and environmental awareness, produce happier and more productive employees. Scheduling regular discussions with employees boosts morale, and makes every member in your team responsible for contributing to the businesses overall environmental goals.
Encouraging Public Transport
Before purchasing a business site, owners are considering how their chosen location will impact their sustainability efforts.
If you are a business owner, consider purchasing a business site that has convenient access to bike lanes or public transport. Providing employees with safe storage for their bikes, is a simple way to help workers make the transition. Encouraging employees to carpool or bike to work, helps the environment and promotes a culture of healthier habits among your employees.
Consumers have become more aware of how their carbon footprint impacts the environment, and are now seeking eco-friendly businesses for their products and services. By joining the businesses already fighting back against waste, you can lower your energy bills and contribute to a greener and brighter future.
About the Author: Laura Costello is a recent graduate of a Bachelor of Law/International Relations at Latrobe University. She is passionate about the law, the power of social media, and the ability to translate her knowledge of both common and complex topics to readers across a variety of mediums, in a way that is easy to understand.