7 Ways To Make Your Business More Sustainable

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Gone are days when going green was optional. Drastic environmental changes have made people think about sustainability, and many of us now prefer to use eco-friendly products. According to sustainability index 2021, 77% of US citizens are concerned about whether the products they use are harmful or not. Many governments have also taken steps to control environmental pollution. The international standard-setting body ISO also addresses the issues and needs for sustainable economic development and published around 22000 global standards and guides. 

Yet some business owners and managers find it troubling to make their enterprise more eco-friendly and run sustainable operations. Some prevailing misconceptions like going green being costly are a major hindrance. However, that cannot be further from the truth since the long-term benefits of running a sustainable business overshadow its short-term expenses. You can save on waste disposal expenses, fixed operational costs, and litigation by rethinking your business model. So, if you want to make your business more sustainable, we’ve listed some tips below.

Employ sustainability experts

It is essential to have insight into business needs for innovation in traditional practices. For example, how does international business hold during COVID-19? Or how does a business ditch a brick-and-mortar model and adopt a more sustainable online model? Answering these questions requires companies to think strategically and take the help of professionals well-versed in developing sustainable business practices and models.

So, you can begin the journey to becoming a green business by hiring sustainability specialists or training existing resources in your company. The internet has a plethora of educational resources to accomplish the latter.

Adopt remote work

According to a report published by UNEP, transportation produces approximately 20 million giga grams of carbon dioxide per year. For reducing your business’s carbon footprint, it is important to burn fewer fossil fuels. So, implementing a flexible working model can significantly help you reduce CO2 emissions as fewer people will commute to the office. 

By allowing more people to do work online, you can save a significant chunk of your revenue lost on workplace maintenance, lighting, air conditioning, conservancy items, and office supplies. Remote work helps you burn less paper, consume less energy, and drastically improve your bottom line.

Get the B Corp certification

By joining hands with the B Corp community, you can assess multiple aspects of your business and get expert advice to become part of the much-needed process. The B Corp checks will assist you in meeting legal obligations for environmental responsibilities along with making a profit.  

Many industries use harmful substances or produce toxic byproducts and greenhouse gases. Becoming a part of the B Corp community will help you rethink such business practices and develop better alternatives.

Increase the use of reusable and second-hand materials

Buying new office supplies such as furniture can be quite costly and contribute to additional natural resources. So, it’s a good idea to purchase old furniture and use ceramic or glass kitchenware. This initiative will ultimately lead to sustainability by not producing waste for landfills and saving your money by not buying expensive new furniture and disposable material every month. 

Reuse and recycle

Similarly, instead of dumping old materials in landfills, you can recycle them. This way, you can reduce excessive waste and your business’s carbon footprint. You can also resell your waste to generate additional cash flow for your business. 

Use biodegradable packaging material

As per a Green Print survey, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than the collective weight of fish. If you are a supplier or manufacturer, it’s your responsibility to use biodegradable packing materials. Using recycled cardboard, paper, and compostable materials will prevent you from clogging waterways and sewage lines and harming aquatic life. While sourcing such packaging material may seem expensive, a quick search on the internet can help you identify affordable vendors. 

Adopt paper-free work 

A major reason for deforestation is paper manufacturing. So encouraging paper-free work can reduce your business’s carbon footprint and make it more sustainable. Digitalization will help you go paperless, save your employees’ time, and increase accuracy in your work.

Plus, you can incorporate cloud software to facilitate remote work. This way, you won’t need physical storage for the safekeeping of previous paperwork. You can also reduce electricity consumption by choosing suitable cloud locations since you won’t need to run your computers for hours.  

Make your workplace energy-efficient

Cutting our energy consumption can profoundly impact your carbon footprint and make your business sustainable in the long haul. Use natural light and wind effectively. Make structural changes in your office building to have more daylight and cross ventilation. In addition to structural modifications, replacing standard lights with LED lights and energy-efficient HAVC systems can help you reduce your electricity bills. 

Installing solar panels or wind power systems will also help you become energy-sufficient. You will depend less on the electricity coming in via the national grid.

Conclusion

The idea of promoting revolutionary sustainable business models is the need of the hour. This article mentions a few tips you can use to jump on the bandwagon and become an environmentally friendly business. Build a business plan to spread awareness and adopt sustainable business practices. It will help you improve your company’s bottom line and maximize profits in the long run.

 

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