When running your own business, it's important that you are aware of the impact your company has on the environment. While this may seem rather minuscule in the grand scheme of things (especially compared to other businesses), we all have a responsibility to do the right thing. That is, to protect and preserve the environment where possible. 

Furthermore, going green can also help you to win over new customers, given the fact that 72% of consumers consider sustainability in purchasing decisions.

With that in mind, here are eight ways you can make your business more eco-friendly. 

Go Paperless. 

Going paperless is a great way to make your business more eco-friendly due to the fact that it reduces your paper consumption quite considerably. Furthermore, it can also make it easier to organise your office paperwork, as you can simply search for files by name as opposed to having to score through piles and piles of paper each time you need to locate a document. 

Change your packaging.

According to a recent study, “an estimated 10 million tonnes of packaging waste are thrown out in the UK each year.” To help combat this, it is crucial that you invest in eco-friendly or sustainable packaging. For example, as opposed to wrapping products in bubble wrap (which is rarely recyclable), you could use 

Shredded Paper instead. This will offer the same level of protection during transit but can easily be recycled after use. 

Take waste management seriously. 

Another way in which you can work toward running a sustainable business is by having an effective waste management plan in place. For example, you should set up a waste collection point on site, which allows you to properly separate recyclables and non-recyclable products. 

Switch to a renewable energy provider. 

There are many benefits associated with switching to a renewable energy provider. Firstly, it can help to reduce your carbon footprint and energy consumption levels, which means your business is automatically ‘greener.’ Furthermore, as renewable energy is more efficient, you’ll be able to cut down on your monthly bills. 

Encourage employees to carpool.

Carpooling can be a great way to reduce your company’s carbon footprint and fuel or energy consumption levels. Furthermore, some studies have found that carpooling can actually improve employee relations, as they’re able to spend more quality time together. This “helps build a positive office culture and increases productivity.” Alternatively, you could set up a cycle-to-work scheme that not only works to reduce your carbon footprint but could also help your employees stay fit and healthy. 

Bring plants into the office.

Believe it or not, there are many benefits associated with bringing some plants into the office. From an environmental perspective, “plants absorb the carbon dioxide we breathe out and release fresh oxygen back into the environment, which can cleanse the air at the same time.” Furthermore, many studies have found that being surrounded by plants can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, which means they can be good for your employee’s mental health. 

Set sustainability goals for your business. 

Change cannot always happen overnight; however, it's important that you have something to work towards when making your business more eco-friendly. As a result, when updating your business plan, be sure to set yourself some goals relating to sustainability too. For example, you may aim to reduce the amount of waste your business produces by a certain percentage each year until you reach 0 waste. 

Bring your employees on board. 

Whether you’re trying to reduce energy consumption levels or the amount of waste you produce, it's important that you bring the whole team on board. Host a meeting where you discuss the changes you are implementing and the steps you are taking to become more sustainable. TO make tasks such as recycling easier, ensure employees have easy access to the tools they need - such as on-site recycling bins. You should also hang signs next to the bins, that clearly outline what can and cannot be recycled. 

Final Thoughts. 

In short, there are many steps you can take to make your business more sustainable in the new year. While it may seem daunting, the sooner you implement these changes, the better. 

Not only does it mean that you’re on the right side of history, but you can also use your new green policies as part of your marketing strategy. As consumers favour eco-friendly brands, this could be a great way to expand your customer base and increase your revenue at the same time. As a result, any eco-friendly policies are worth the investment. 

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash