Easy Ways to Make Your Business More Eco-Friendly

Image by Hera Vibes from Pixabay

Climate change has long been a pressing issue, and the past couple of years have really begun to show the visible changes happening around the world. That’s why for many companies, going green is no longer an option – it’s a reality we must all accept.

The good news is that becoming a more sustainable business is not as hard as seems. Any ‘green’ change you make, no matter how big or small, is a step in the right direction. Here are some easy ways to make your company more environmentally friendly.

1. Installing bike racks

One of the best ways of reducing your company’s carbon footprint is by decreasing the number of cars on your premises. Installing a bike rack is an easy way to encourage your employees to cycle to work.

This is not only beneficial for environmental reasons but for personal ones too, as it encourages employees to improve their vascular health and cognitive function and get a better night’s sleep.

Some members of staff will be unable to cycle to work, and you could advertise the concept of carpooling. This allows people who are coming from the same area to ride together, reducing the number of cars in front of your business and decreasing harmful carbon emissions.

2. Effective recycling

Many, if not all, homes and workplaces already have separate bins for waste and recycling. However, sometimes these can be misused with a lot of recyclable items ending up in the regular waste bin. This means that items that had a chance to be turned into something new end up going to the landfill.

To avoid this, try making the separate bins for waste and recycling bigger with illustrations to show what can/cannot be put into each bin. You could even add an organic waste bin for leftovers and food scraps that can be composted.

3. More sustainable products

Another great way to reduce waste and reduce your company’s carbon footprint is by sourcing more sustainable products. This could include goods that are non-toxic, recyclable, or that are made from renewable materials.

A great example of this is choosing spill control kits that are made from recycled materials. This allows your company to gain a better reputation by making the choice to use eco-friendly options when they are available – giving you an increased pool of potential customers.

4. Energy-efficient upgrades

Making smart energy upgrades not only reduces your carbon emissions but also your energy bill too.

By switching out old lightbulbs with new LED ones that feature an improved energy efficiency rating, you can save a lot of energy and light up your space in an eco-friendlier way. Other upgrades which you can consider for your business include automating lights with sensors, using thermostats and taking advantage of natural light during the day.

And a really easy one – you could harness the power of nature to cool your business in summer by opening windows and doors rather than putting on the air conditioning.

5. Use sustainable packaging

If your business ships items to customers, you know just how important the right packaging is. You need something that is strong and will protect your product until it reaches its final destination. However, if you opt for plastic packaging you are only adding to the increasing waste level in landfills as plastic is not biodegradable. Investing in custom retail packaging boxes is an easy way to make your business more eco-friendly. Not only do custom packaging boxes reduce plastic and paper waste, they also help extend your brand's reach by making your product appear sleek and stylish on shelves. Custom packaging boxes can be custom designed with logos, designs or messaging that fit the aesthetic of your company, allowing customers to beautifully store their products and remember your company's name. 

Try opting for paper or cardboard options instead, as these can be recycled after use. You may also want to consider zero-waste packaging options which are made entirely from compostable materials. These are sure to be a hit with customers as a greater number of people are much more likely to purchase from a brand that takes sustainable packaging seriously.

6. Make your business greener, literally

Adding potted plants and shrubs to your office is not only great for the working environment but also creates a modern and aesthetically pleasing space.

Bringing nature into the office can massively improve the air quality as more oxygen is produced, as well as boost the moods of employees by creating a happy and relaxing place to work. You may use the service of Ndevr environmental climate consulting company for more ideas to make your business more eco-friendly.

7. Go paperless

With the huge increase in online and remote working over the past few years, almost anything can now be done electronically. This means there is no more need for paper invoices and bills and documents can be sent through email rather than printing and sending them through the post.

This change can massively decrease your company’s paper usage, as well as save you money on paper and printer ink supplies. You can also sell your printer ink to shops that offer cash for unused toner cartridges. You’ll even find most people prefer working digitally as documents and important files can be sent and received within seconds, speeding up the working process while also saving the trees.

There are so many ways businesses can be more environmentally aware and eco-friendly, and by implementing some of the simple changes listed above you can take your company in the right direction to becoming less wasteful.

Author Bio: First Mats started life as safety matting specialists, but have since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. The focus of First Mats is to provide safety-focused products that improve the wellbeing of staff through quality approved products, backed up by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk