What does it mean to be eco-friendly? It may seem like a daunting task at first, but there are many things you can do and change about your business that will make it more environmentally conscious. This blog post is going to share seven ways that you can use to make your business eco-friendly. Whether or not you want to go “green” full time, these tips will help improve the environmental impact of your workplace!
#1. Save Energy
Use energy-efficient light bulbs. Keep your office cool with fans instead of the AC unit. Make sure all appliances are turned off when not in use, including computers and lights! Many people do not realize how much energy is wasted by keeping everything plugged into outlets at work that you aren’t using or need to be on standby. Computers, printers, monitors, etc., these things don’t have to stay on ALL THE TIME if they’re not being used! It’s also essential to ensure that you turn off any other electronic devices or appliances at the end of every day so they don’t continue draining electricity while idling overnight. This will save money for your business as well as contribute less needless pollution to the environment. Use a programmable thermostat for your office so you can set it and forget about it.
#2. Go Paperless
Many people tend to print documents every time they need them. However, if you do this more than a couple of times of the month, it’s not worth the hassle. Most larger companies have printers and copiers connected to computers so they can be used from their desks or anywhere in the building (even remote locations). If your office has these types of machines, then there is no reason why you should still keep stacks of paper on your desk! Documents can be sent via email instead and printed out only when necessary. They will save money by having fewer supply expenses as well as reduce how much comes into landfills each day. Another great way to go digital with paperwork is through electronic signatures. Electronic forms/documents eliminate printing costs, so you don’t have to waste paper. And once they are signed, there is no need for filing or sorting because all signatures can be instantly saved in a digital format for later retrieval.
#3. Choose Green Suppliers and Partners
Every industry has its own suppliers. If you are working with an eco-friendly business, then it’s likely that they will have sustainable products and services for their customers to choose from; for example, eco-friendly business cards. Just like choosing your regular supplier, research companies online or in the local area and see which ones would be a good fit for your company! They should also be willing to work within any environmental regulations or restrictions that may apply to your business (such as green policies). And, of course, they should be eco-friendly and cost-efficient no matter what it is. If you are looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact, products that promote sustainability would be a good choice! For example, if you need more office supplies, consider buying recycled or remanufactured items instead of new ones made from virgin materials (materials that have never been used before). That could lower your impact in terms of material waste and energy usage.
#4. Save Water
You can save water and reduce your impact by changing the way you use it in your office. The easiest thing to do is make sure that all bathroom faucets, showers, and toilets are only used when necessary (not left running). Not using paper towels or air dryers will also help because these products usually require a lot of water during production! Using low flow showerheads or aerators on taps/fixtures could also cut back on how much water each person uses while at work. And lastly, investing in commercial sinks could prevent food waste from going down the drain unnecessarily, which would otherwise be washed into local waterways after being flushed through a sewer system.
#5. Recycle and Reuse
Reducing how much is brought into your business in the first place will reduce your impact on the environment. For example, if you are ordering new office supplies, choose recycled or remanufactured items instead of ones made from virgin materials (materials that have never been used before). This could lower costs and help cut down on material waste which contributes to landfill pollution when not appropriately reused after being thrown away! Another easy way to go green with this task would be by recycling all paper products such as old memos, emails, etc. And even though it may seem like a hassle at first, think about how good it would feel afterwards knowing that you’re doing your part; to protect the environment!
#6. BE THE CHANGE
Sometimes the most effective way to go green with business is by encouraging others around you to do so. Show your employees and co-workers how easy it can be, for example remind them about turning off any unnecessary lights or appliances when they leave a room. And if everyone pitches in then the result will make a huge impact over time!
#7.Create a Green Space
Having eco-friendly business supplies and office spaces is just one part of it. You can also go green with your physical working space by ensuring that energy-efficient light bulbs are used throughout the entire building, including any meeting rooms and individual offices. This way, everyone will be able to see clearly while saving money on their electricity bills as well because those bulbs last up to ten times longer! And another great idea would be using a water cooler instead of buying bottled water all the time. This creates unnecessary waste when bottles end up in landfills or as litter – not even mentioning how much oil goes into producing plastic bottles for this purpose! Installing motion sensor lights could also help reduce lighting costs during non-peak hours (when fewer people are around the office). This type of lighting system could also help reduce electricity usage and make it safer to navigate through hallways, meeting rooms, etc. If there is enough space, you can even place some easy maintenance plants across the work space.
#8 Upgrade your heating
If you have a carbon-intensive heating system like a gas boiler or oil boiler, then it may be worth replacing it with a renewable alternative like a heat pump. Not only will this help your business save a significant amount of money, but it can also drastically reduce how much carbon your business emits. There’s also often government assistance available to help you make the transition, for example, you can apply for an ECO grant i.e. the free boiler scheme.
There are several ways to make your business more environmentally friendly. From the office supplies you purchase to how energy is distributed throughout your physical space, there are several ways in which companies can reduce their impact on the environment.
