Having a business that is
friendly to the environment is becoming an essential characteristic of many
organizations nowadays. Eco-friendly means that one is conscious of their
interactions with the environment and, thus, intends to bring no harm to Mother
Nature. From a recent survey, indications are that 55% of consumers are more
willing to pay higher prices for goods and services from companies that have
environmentally-friendly business practices.
Therefore, encouraging the
employees to be eco-friendly saves the environment and also boosts the reputation of the business, thereby increasing profits.
Tips to make your business eco-friendly
Outlined below are some of
the simple ways one can implement to make their business more eco-friendly and
also creates a big impression on conscious customers too.
1. Conserve Energy
It will be a bit
challenging for the managers to educate the employees on turning-off their
computers, laptops, printers, and any other electronic devices whenever they
are not in use. In some devices, one may enable sleep mode so that they turn
off automatically when not in use. It will not only encourage eco-friendly
activities but will also save the business a lot of financial resources.
Also, one can buy
energy-efficient electronics and appliances for the office, for example,
compact-fluorescent (CFL) or LED lights. This will significantly cut down on
the amount of energy required to run the organization.
One can also choose to
power their office with alternative energy which is generated from a renewable
source. This may be wind or solar power, geothermal power, hydropower, and
plant matter.
2. Use Post-consumer waste (PCW)
Avoiding the use of paper
in an office may be a very tricky challenge. However, when one has to use
paper, they should ensure they use eco-friendly PCW products like printing
paper, packaging, toilet paper, and napkins, which are made from recycled
materials. The PCW paper is made entirely from the paper placed in the recycle
bins each day, and it’s manufactured using 45% less energy and water. The
manufacturing process is, therefore, more eco-friendly than the traditional
papermaking process.
One should also aim to
print as little as they can on the PCW paper. One way of avoiding too much
print is by going paperless in the bills by exploring the option of sending
invoices to clients via email or another electronic means, and also by using a
digital record keeping.
Recycle bins should be kept
at every corner of the office to ensure all used papers are recycled
effectively.
3. Using Biodegradable cleaners
One should strive to use
natural biodegradable cleaning products that are available in bulk in many
stores. These cleaners lessen the exposure to harsh toxins and other chemicals
that are harmful to the personal health of the employees and also reduce the introduction
of these harmful substances into the environment, ensuring an eco-friendly
activity in a business.
4. Using greener appliances
In business, the
old-outdated and unused or used appliances should be replaced with “Energy
Star” appliances that have labels that help to assess their energy (and cash)
requirements over time.
5. Use Eco-friendly transportation
When every employee goes to
work in their cars, there will be a lot of traffic congestion in the streets,
resulting in high carbon emissions which harm the environment immensely. The
employees should, therefore, be encouraged to use bicycles or walk to work.
Taking advantage of public transit like commuter rails, subways, or buses, is
another way to slash carbon footprints. In cases where the employees are
brought to work or to the field by a company van, consideration should be made
to invest in a hybrid or other high-efficiency vehicles to save money on gas
and reduce carbon emissions.
6. Embrace a remote work environment
With the advances in
technological development, day to day business activities can be run even when
employees are at their homes instead of the office. This spares the company a
lot of wasted time in traffic jams and will also save the environment from the
immense carbon pollutions. The managers should consider introducing
eco-friendly work-from-home days within the busiest days of the week.
7. Opt for the green web hosting
Internet use puts a
significant strain on the environment. Organizations should opt to use the
green web hosting services that utilize renewable energy sources. There are
various affordable web hosting solutions that are eco-friendly and will,
therefore, assist a business in reducing its carbon footprints, thereby making
the business more eco-friendly.
