One of the most difficult things about running a business is ensuring you’re doing everything you can to be environmentally friendly. Whilst you may feel as though one small business can’t make much of a difference, every small change can have an impact on the future of our planet. Although you may not see the difference each and every day, you will know that you’re doing everything you can to protect our future. To help you get started on your new environmentally friendly journey, here are some incredible reasons for you to change:
Why Should You Be Environmentally Friendly?
- It Shows That You Care
Although you may say that you care about the environment and that your business is doing everything it can to help, your customers won’t believe you until you actually start making a change. Whether it’s sharing your deeds on social media or donating some of your profits to environmentally friendly charities, people need to see that you’re serious about our planet.
Not only that but showing that you care about the environment shows what your values are as a business and when it comes down to it, you’re not just thinking of the profit.
- You Can Do A Lot Of Good For The Environment
The most important reason to start being environmentally friendly as a business is that you will be doing a lot of good for the planet. Although a lot of people believe that one company making small changes won’t make an impact, it’s the knock-on effect that counts. If you start making changes to help protect the planet, other businesses may start to take note and do the same. If you work hard enough, you may find that it also encourages your customers to do the same.
- Every Little Helps
As mentioned above, every single environmentally friendly act will make a difference to our planet in the future. Whether you make the change to go paperless or you reduce the amount of plastic in your packaging, the changes you make to your business are going to have a positive impact. Try not to think about things on a global scale and instead think about how you’re making a difference yourself.
If you want to encourage this thought mentality throughout the entire business, why not create a chart or tracking system that shows just how much difference you are making? For inspiration when it comes to environmentally friendly tracking charts, you can visit this site here.
- It Sends A Good Message
If you start doing things that are good for the environment, you send a good message out to absolutely everyone that can see you. Whether this means sending out a message to your suppliers, your customers or your employees – the good work that you’re going won’t be going unnoticed.
The best thing you can do as a business is to inspire other’s to follow in your footsteps. Although it may not happen straight away, if you make enough positive changes it will happen. If you want to help encourage others to follow in your footsteps, you may also want to consider creating campaigns that do exactly that.
- You Can Appeal To A New Audience
Although making the decision to become an environmentally friendly business shouldn’t come down to money, it can be an added bonus. Making the changes need to protect our planet will help increase your customer base, as you’ll now appeal to those trying to do the same. Whilst this definitely shouldn’t be your main focus, it should definitely be considered when you’re creating your marketing materials and planning events. If it helps, create a new target audience based on these interests. For a guide when it comes to creating your ideal target audience, you can visit this site here.
What Can You Do To Help?
Now that you know all of the incredible reasons to start making environmentally friendly changes, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do to make a difference. Although it may take time to figure out exactly what it is you need to do as a business, once you get into the flow of things it will become easier and easier. Bearing that in mind, here are a number of things you can change.
- Reduce The Amount Of Paper You’re Using
One of the best ways to help the environment is to consider the amount of paper you are using. Although you may need to use it for certain things, think about all of the instances where information can be displayed electronically instead. Whether this means encouraging people not to print out their emails or limiting the amount of paper that is allowed in the printer at any given time, reducing paper usage should be one of your main priorities.
- Use Less Plastics
Another important issue when it comes to being environmentally friendly is the amount of plastic you are using as a business. Plastic is a non-recyclable material and when it goes into landfill, it ends up in the ocean. Although this may not seem as though it will cause issues, it is slowly destroying the marine life we have been working so hard to protect.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your plastic usage at work, you may want to consider doing the following things:
- Buy a water fountain and encourage people to bring their own reusable water bottles to work
- Apply the same to coffee and tea, asking people to use a reusable flask or mug rather than visiting the coffee shop
- Encourage staff to bring in homemade lunches
- Limit the number of times your order food to your office for the team
- Set up an office tuck shop with plastic-free packaging
- Order office supplies from suppliers that are environmentally friendly, using minimal plastic to package their materials
- Encourage staff to get involved by holding a plastic-reduction competition
- Get everyone in the business to make a pledge to being plastic free
- Contribute To Companies That Help
If you are struggling to help but you want to make an impact, why not consider donating to companies that can help? Although you may be making small changes in the workplace, contributing to a company that is dedicated to making a difference could be a great way to fully support the cause. Whether you contribute a certain amount each month or you donate a percentage of your profits, every little helps.
- Using Cleaning Equipment That Is Safe For The Environment
Although you may not realise it, a lot of the chemicals we use when cleaning are harmful to the environment. Although you may not personally do the cleaning yourself, you may want to consider investing in a cleaner that uses environmentally friendly products. If you can’t find someone who offers this, you can try buying the products for them to use.
If you struggle when it comes to finding someone who will use environmentally friendly products, you also have the option of asking your staff to give a helping hand. If you all chip in at the end of each day, the cleaning will be done in no time.
- Consider Your Employee’s Carbon Footprint
Another important thing to consider when it comes to helping the environment is your carbon footprint, most of which can be caused by travel. Although you may need to travel a considerable amount in order to run your business, you need to think about ways both you and your employees can reduce your carbon footprint. Whether this means encouraging staff members to carpool or using group travel for meetings and events, it’s important you’re doing everything you can to help.
- Think About Using Renewable Energies
Although you may not have much input into the energies that you’re using in the office and at work, you may want to think about whether or not they are renewable. With more and more renewable energies being discovered each and every year, things are starting to change when it comes to the environment. For more information, you can speak to a Biogas Expert and Consultant here.
If you are renting office space from a landlord, you may want to consider speaking to them about what they can do to help.
- Carry Out An Energy Audit And Make The Necessary Changes
Finally, another great way to become a more environmentally friendly company is to carry out an energy audit. This means looking at the amount of energy you’re using as a business, making any necessary changes you can to reduce it. Whether this means turning all of your systems off overnight or switching to energy-saving lightbulbs, you will be surprised how much difference it can make. If you’re unsure about how to carry out an energy audit and what it can do to help, you can visit this guide here.
Are you considering making the move to become a more environmentally friendly company? What changes can you make to protect our planet? Let me know in the comments section below.
