Business is changing in line with contemporary attitudes and global pressures. The good news is you don’t have to re-invent your business to become more sustainable and attract new investment; all you have to do is follow the advice in the article below and start making changes.
The reality is that sustainable businesses are more popular with customers because they understand the climate crisis and the role of commerce in turning the tide. So, if you want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, read on and improve your business today.
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Source Materials
Nowadays, there’s a big push toward sustainability, but that doesn’t mean you have to rip everything up and start again; it simply means you have to adjust your business to enhance your sustainability levels. One of the items on the agenda is the source materials for your products.
In order to be sustainable, your source materials need to be sustainably sourced. This means they have to come from a carbon-neutral source and have a high environmental and ethical rating. Some products, such as tea, coffee, and certain materials, also need to be fairtrade.
Eco Packaging
If you want to become more sustainable in your business practices and greener in the eyes of your customers, you need to think about how you package your products. According to some data, around 23% of landfill is made up of unsustainable containers and packaging from businesses.
There is some good news. This particular problem is easy to fix, especially if you have the desire in your business to be more sustainable. All you have to do is source containers and packaging that is sustainable or degradable, and you can simply replace conventional ones.
Sustainable Storage
When it comes to sustainability in business, there are many aspects; it’s not just down to the main issues like distribution and packaging. One of these aspects is storage because many businesses store products for long periods increasing energy costs and impacting the planet.
To resolve this issue, find quality refrigerated cases manufacturers who can design refrigerated storage facilities for individual businesses. So if you need refrigerated storage facilities that are more economical in the way they use power or in the way they use storage, they are available.
Green Distribution
It feels good to operate a sustainable business and to promote your business as sustainable, but unless you make the right choices at every point of the distribution chain, from sourcing to delivering, you run the risk of greenwashing your business and failing to reduce your carbon.
Sustainability doesn’t end after you have shipped an item; in some ways, shipping is one of the most carbon-heavy processes. Some things you can do to reduce carbon emissions during the shipping process are to reduce your packaging size and pack your products more intelligently.
More Digital
Paperless workplaces aren’t always realistic, but they are achievable, even more so nowadays when there are so many digital options available. Using paper adds to carbon in the atmosphere by supporting deforestation. Conversely, digital solutions are a more sustainable option overall.
It’s true that computers also emit carbon through electricity usage, but on balance, it’s more sustainable to use digital paperwork and save forests than it is to create paper from trees. Not only do paperless workplaces reduce carbon in the atmosphere, they make space in the office.
Involve Employees
Making your business more sustainable is about taking every aspect into consideration, including the habits, attitudes, and patterns of your employees. Employees contribute to the carbon footprint of your business because of the way they choose to travel and spend money.
It’s important to include your employees in your project to become carbon neutral. Have dedicated meetings about carbon neutrality and create incentives for your employees to make changes to their lifestyles. Encourage them to take bikes to work and promote sustainability.
Brick and Mortar
There’s no doubt that a digital business is more sustainable than a brick-and-mortar one; there are fewer energy costs and no need for plumbing. However, sometimes brick-and-mortar businesses are needed, but there are some ways to make them more sustainable overall.
Start by choosing an office that has plenty of natural light to reduce your energy costs. One of the first things you should also do is replace the light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. Also, consider installing a thermostat and a smart meter to help you to control your energy usage.
Waste Reduction
Waste is one of the big challenges when it comes to sustainability. We need to create more sustainable products and reduce the number of items that end up as waste. Making these efforts can support your green business and add to its reputation as more sustainable.
Start by eliminating any direct mail campaigns and moving them to an online environment which not only reduces the waste component of your business it also makes your marketing efforts more efficient and manageable. If you send out swag, make sure it has a sustainable angle too.
Charity Contributions
To make your current business more sustainable, you need to implement all of the strategies in the list, which will add up to a business that emits less carbon and can promote itself as genuinely green. But, you can also make charitable contributions that support your efforts.
Making charitable contributions is excellent for your reputation as a green business, but it also helps to offset any extra carbon that you can’t reduce by other means. Consider starting a promotion to plant more trees, use green web hosting services, and invest in green initiatives.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about making your current business more sustainable, that’s a great idea! Not only can you support the global efforts toward carbon neutrality, but you can make your business more investable and popular with your target customers. And it’s easy to implement.
Of course, you don’t want to be known as a greenwashing business – a business that says it’s green but engages in carbon-heavy processes. Instead, build a business with sustainable foundations, and you will never have to worry about damaging your reputation in the long term.