Could Your Business Be Doing More To Protect The Environment?

Could your business be doing more to protect the environment?

Many businesses have been slow to catch on, and if this is the case for you, know that as well as fulfilling your ethical duty, doing your bit to protect the world around you also makes perfect business sense. Going green is one way to support your local community, and by doing so, you might increase your reputation and your number of customers. The millennial workforce is keen to embrace sustainable practices, so you might qualify for the best hires. And by forming eco-friendly and energy-saving habits, such as turning off appliances when they aren’t in use, you will also make financial savings. What further incentive do you need?

There are all kinds of things you can do to protect the environment.

You could start cutting down on plastic waste

To reduce your carbon footprint, and to minimise the damage plastic does to the environment, you might want to replace plastic with eco-friendly materials for your packaging, provide filtered water so your employees don’t have to invest in bottled drinks, and give out paper rather than plastic bags to your customers. You might also look at the ways you use plastic within your business, and consider alternative practices to replace your plastic waste further.

You can use technology to help the environment

There are all kind of technologies available today that aid the environment, and your usage of each will depend on the industry you are working in. These include oil water separators – click here – for those working on mining sites, in service stations, and within the food industry. Gas and oil facilities use air pollution systems to test their compliance. Those companies who rely on a business fleet are replacing their petrol and diesel-operated cars with hybrid and electric vehicles. And many businesses, regardless of industry, are installing solar-panelled roofs, not only to cut down their carbon footprint with regards to excessive energy levels but to cut down on their electricity bills too. Research your industry then, and consider what you might do within your business.

You can reduce the amount of paper you regularly use

Many businesses have taken strides to go paperless, so if you haven’t already, perhaps now is the time to do so. This includes backing up your files onto USB drives or on the cloud instead of printing reams of paper off to store in your filing cabinets. You should email documents to others instead of sending out paper copies. You might want to use digital marketing instead of sending out scores of business flyers. And if you’re still using a fax machine – get in the 21st-century grandad – you might want to use a fax-email system instead.

You might want to encourage telecommuting

Do your employees need to come into work each day? If your business model allows it, you might want to let them work from home occasionally instead. Not only will this improve their morale and work-life balance, but it also benefits the environment too, as you will both reduce commuter traffic and cut down on the energy that is expended in your office space. And hey, you could work from home too!

Finally

So, could your business be doing more to protect the environment? Consider the ideas within this article, and if you are still slow to catch-up with greener practices in any way, perhaps now is the time to consider making a few changes to your business. By doing so, you will both ensure the survivability of your business and the planet we are living on!

Let us know what you think, and if relevant, let us know what you have done within your business to better protect the environment.