The main watchword in modern business today is sustainability. With more and more people becoming conscious of their impact upon the environment as a result of the climate crisis, businesses are getting in on these changes too. Whether you run a business yourself, or you are thinking of ways to improve other businesses, here is a list of six ways to run a more environmentally-minded operation. Spanning from very simple solutions to far more difficult ones, it’s believed that these tips can help businesses make a hugely positive impact upon the environment. Read on below to see what these options are.
Allow Remote Work
As a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with it becoming an untenable option for many white-collar workers to come into the office, remote work has boomed in popularity. It has untold benefits for the environment as well, as it means less investment in office equipment as well as cutting out the commute to and from the office. While this may not be an option for all companies, such as construction and sport, it does make sense for a lot of white-collar jobs.
If you allow your employees to work remotely, not only will they apricate the freedom, it will cost you less money in renting physical space, but it can also ironically boost productivity, making you more money in the long run and stand out as a far more ethical employer! For a really forward-thinking approach, you could even ditch the office completely!
Use Renewable Energy
Renewable energies such as wind power, solar power, and thermal power have the ability to convert the natural environment into usable electricity. As a result, they can be a great option for businesses that want to run more sustainably. As a business owner, you can think boldly and even invest in one directly next to your business, meaning that you rely entirely upon your own energy source! If you have a flat roof and are interested in generating solar power for your business, we would recommend getting in touch with Custom Solar and Leisure to help you with your needs.
Take Recycling Seriously
A business that takes its recycling seriously is one that truly cares about the future of our planet. It’s worth making sure the different employees in your office are well aware of the different trash bins available to them, and which one should be used for which purpose. This gives your business a strong trust rating and signals to visiting potential clients that you care about the future. It’s also worth pointing out that if you don’t take this kind of thing seriously, you could be in for some very hefty fines courtesy of the government. To avoid extra unnecessary waste, we would recommend investing in reusable office supplies.
Gone are the days of handing out endless sheets of paper and easily breakable pens. Now everything that is used in the office should really be fit to last. That’s why it is highly recommended to invest in reusable office supplies that can be used over and over again. Not only are they better for the environment, but they will save you much more money in the long run as you won’t have to constantly stock replacements. This move can be combined with increased digitization, such as only permitting the use of paper in a situation where it really needs to be used, and the increase of virtual note-taking options such as laptops and iPads in meetings.
Four Day Week
A lot of environmentally friendly ideas originally have a base in socialist ideals. Chief among them is the four day week. This one is really simple. By only having employees work for you for four days a week, this means that your business will emit one fifth less energy every week as well, making it a tremendous option to help save the environment. This may sound like your workers will become less productive, but science has shown that output should remain more or less the same!
Choose Green Web Hosting
Web hosting takes up physical energy. That’s why it’s already essential to double-check whether or not your internet provider is a green web hoster. Simply put, this means a web hosting company that relies on eco-friendly technology for its power. You can spot them if they have either a Renewable Energy Certificate or a Carbon Offset Certificate. Additionally, you can go onto their website in order to take a look if they have donated any of their money to an eco-friendly cause or partnered with any environmental charities.
