Fortunately, we’re becoming more and more aware of the impact we’re having on the environment, both as a society and individually. Scientific studies and extensive research are highlighting just how detrimental the activities we carry out and engage with are damaging the planet that we live on. We’re destroying rainforests through deforestation. We’re polluting oceans and other waterways with plastic. We’re causing fluctuations in the climate through pollution that we’re producing. This, of course, isn’t acceptable. So, what is it that we need to do to prevent this? Well, many of us are already taking major steps towards reducing the impact we have on the Earth by changing the way we live our lives. We’re ditching plastic wherever possible. We’re opting for sustainable materials. We’re reusing what we can and recycling what we can. We’re choosing sustainably sourced foods. We’re taking public transport or walking and cycling where possible. But individuals making changes isn’t going to be enough on its own. We need the businesses operating around the world to react and operate in the same way! Here are just a few steps you can take to make your small business a more eco-friendly venture and help with everyone’s efforts!
Use Paper Bags
If you’re a commercial store and sell products to customers, chances are that you are going to provide bags for them to put their items in and take home. But across the world, countries are now beginning to put taxes on plastic bags. This means that customers have to pay for them and, as a result, customer use of plastic bags has significantly reduced. But why not offer your customers convenience at the same time as helping the planet? When customers buy plastic bags, they’re still going to end up in the bin eventually and the plastic isn’t biodegradable. Instead, offer customers paper bags instead. These are biodegradable and effective.
Recycle
Recycling isn’t just an option for home. You can recycle in your office too. The average business gets through a whole lot of waste. Whether that’s paper waste, waste from workers’ lunches or anything else. Add recycling bins to your office and encourage everyone to use them. Use a reliable company like Urban Mining for your larger waste and waste collection.
Try Green Energy
Every business requires energy to operate. Whether that’s lighting and heating a store or running an office or other commercial premises. Even if you’re just starting out and run your business from home, you’re still going to need energy to run things from there. So, opt for green energy companies to fuel your business. Changing your tariff is simple and straightforward and, often, you’ll find that green energy companies are actually cheaper, making this a win-win situation all round! Your business really doesn’t need to rely on fossil fuels to get by. They’re no better and no more effective – and they destroy the planet! If you’re in doubt, remember that there are progressive countries out there like Scotland and Iceland who are functioning solely on green energy, so it really is feasible and functional. If you want to be particularly proactive, you can even install solar panels on the roof of your commercial premises to generate renewable energy yourself!
These are just a few tips and tricks you can implement to make your business as green as possible. They’re simple and can make a whole lot of difference!
