Ecological efforts have become of great interest to the general public in recent years, as households pay more attention to recycling and green energy to slow the climate crisis. But with climate deadlines being regularly missed by a majority of countries, humanity’s effect on global climates becoming more and more obvious, and mounting evidence that the vast majority of pollution is down to a select few corporations, eyes are turning to businesses to help turn the tide. So what can your business do to join the fight? This blog will discuss Three Steps to Making Your Small Business More Sustainable. Here are three angles you can approach, with a view to making your business more sustainable.
Reduce Plastics
Reducing your usage of plastic, whether in your manufacturing or supply chain, is a hugely helpful step you can take to reducing your emissions footprint – as well as furthering ecological interests with regard to conservation and water pollution. The hospitality industry is one of the major industries under fire for excessive plastic usage, and with a ban on plastic drinking straws the industry is taking a step in the right direction. The liberal use of plastic wraps in palletising is a major concern for distribution companies, and finding suitable, recyclable alternatives is an excellent first step. If there are any disposable plastic products in your line of work, spend some time researching alternatives.
Seek Out Sustainable Power Alternatives
One of the easiest ways to lower your business’ carbon footprint is to switch your energy supplier to one which solely sources energy from green, clean or renewable sources. You could even consider installing solar panels to reduce the amount of energy you consume via the national grid, and localise your energy usage to your own green source.
But this isn’t the only step you can take. If your business has a vehicle or fleet of vehicles, switching them out for electric versions will save on petrol and on emissions. Not only is electricity cheaper for you in the long run, it is less harmful to the atmosphere – and possible to recharge your car from green sources. Likewise, for power tools: switching your tools from inefficient models to those which can run on the Milwaukee battery will save on energy in the long term.
Introduce Employee Initiatives
Lastly, you can use initiatives to bring your employees on board as well, and increase the effect of your green directives. Introducing incentives for car-pooling can reduce the fossil fuels used to commute to your business, or offering to subsidise public transport costs could eliminate fuel emissions from your workforce altogether. You could also use some company time for outreach, paying your employees to think up their own initiatives and do their bit outside of the company’s remit to reduce emissions elsewhere. This has the added effect of making your business’ sustainability mission public – extending your message and improving your image in the process.
