Business Owners Who Want to Invest in Sustainability This Year Should Make These 10 Changes
Going green can be simple. You can make your business more eco-conscious this year by investing in sustainability upgrades at your own pace.
If you start with manageable strategies, your company will adapt to your green values without overhauling your operations.
1. Schedule Recurring Green Audits
Anyone can conduct a sustainability audit on their company. All you need is data. Reflect on reports totaling your waste production, energy consumption and water usage. The numbers will show you which natural resources you use most and where you can cut back to make the biggest difference.
Small businesses, households and public service providers create 2.1 billion tons of solid waste annually. Focusing your efforts on reducing garbage output could be helpful as well. Similar audits may not involve as much data, but you could measure them with small actions like counting trash bags each week.
You can also keep the data to remember where your baseline began. Give your sustainability upgrades a few weeks before comparing that baseline with new data. If your efforts fall short of your goals, you can adapt your practices accordingly.
2. Join a Recycling Program
Research waste companies in your area to see if any offer recycling services. Signing up for one will automatically make your business greener. They’ll arrange pickup days and likely provide a labeled can. If your employees learn how to sort materials correctly, you’ll minimize your landfill contributions.
Some communities also have recycling programs specific to businesses. Contact representatives from your local government or recycling nonprofits. They may have special accommodations for small business owners that could make recycling more affordable.
3. Upgrade Your Fleet Vehicles
Companies with fleet vehicles can always consider upgrading. Gas-guzzling trucks will hurt the environment more than electric-powered models. Consider how much weight your fleet regularly carries and how much mileage it covers in a single week. You’ll know how to compare electric models if you have data specific to your business.
You could also get models that run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to traditional fuels. See if there are any green vehicles through local auto shops or dealers. You’ll make the best investment for your green values and budget if you take your time researching.
4. Encourage Employee Transportation Changes
Entrepreneurs managing small or large teams can also make a difference by involving their employees. Ask your staff members if they want to help you support the environment by reconsidering how they travel to work. You could install a bicycle rack and offer locks if some of your employees live close enough to bike to work. Paying for public transportation passes might also be an incentive if you live where there’s infrastructure your team can use.
Carpooling is another way everyone could help the environment. Offer rewards for anyone who uses greener transportation options to incentivize everyone to help the planet. Every car that stays off the roads is one less vehicle contributing greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
5. Install Solar Panels
Adding solar panels to your business’s rooftop is something to consider if you own commercial property. They’ll reduce your energy consumption by producing electricity and sending it back through the grid to your electrical provider. Energy providers will store the extra electricity for off-hours and potentially pay you back at the end of the year. These specifics depend on the solar panel company you choose and how your power business works with solar customers.
Remember to update your property maintenance strategies if you install them. You’ll make your panels last longer by washing them with soap and a non-abrasive brush. Professional power washers can also clean them once a year, so you don’t have to add another responsibility to your maintenance list.
6. Try Paper-Free Consumer Outreach
Printing flyers used to be a popular way to remind locals that you were open for business. If you want to reduce your paper usage to go green, look into other ways to keep people updated on your brand’s growth. You could start an email newsletter or engage consumers on social media.
If you don’t have any followers or subscribers yet, start a loyalty program. People can receive a small discount on their purchase if they sign up with their email. You’ll gain a paper-free way to generate more revenue than a flyer could.
7. Lease Products to Consumers
Sometimes, people only need things for one or two tasks. If they purchase a product and immediately throw it away, they’re adding to local landfills. Consider whether your products could fall into a single-use category. You might reverse that by starting a rental service model that minimizes environmental waste.
People can lease your products for a short time and return them by specified deadlines. Your customers will reduce their landfill contributions, and your suppliers won’t need to use as many natural resources for excessive production. You may even gain an edge over your competitors if people appreciate how your service model helps them save money and support the planet.
8. Find Eco-Conscious Suppliers
Your supply chain impacts the planet more than you might think. The people supplying goods that support your operations all have different standards. If you work with suppliers that prioritize the environment as you do, they may select materials that have less of an adverse impact on the planet.
You might start working with a company that uses sustainable sourcing by getting necessary materials through ethically and environmentally conscious methods, like choosing bamboo over wood because it grows back quickly. Another business might only use electric vehicles to conduct deliveries, which would shrink your carbon footprint. Explore your options depending on your budget and business model.
9. Recycle for Your Consumers
A recycling service might work for your products if a rental service doesn’t. Takeback programs allow people to drop off in-house products they don’t need anymore so you can recycle them properly. The system works best for things with specialty components, like complicated batteries.
Encourage your customers to bring their purchases back when they no longer need them so you can dispose of them in ways that are healthy for the planet. People who share your green values will appreciate your efforts and participate.
10. Start a Green Rewards Program
Empower your employees to join your eco-friendly efforts by starting a rewards program. Create tiered prizes that they can earn by doing things in sustainable ways. They could earn gift cards, paid time off or other enjoyable things by recycling every day or biking to work.
If you need ideas, ask everyone to give their input during your next team meeting. They can brainstorm rewards and green activities they’d enjoy doing, so everyone is excited to participate. You’ll foster a culture of sustainability without anyone feeling like they have to complicate their work life to support your eco-friendly business changes.
Make Your Business More Sustainable This Year
If more business owners invest in greener practices, they could make a significant difference for the planet. Think about what makes the most sense for your company based on your budget, what you sell and where you work. Actions like installing solar panels or upgrading fleet vehicles can transform your brand’s environmental footprint.
