You’ll have a lot to think about and a lot of tasks to perform when you run a small business. Adding more to that list of things to do might seem impossible, and perhaps it’s something you actively try not to do, and in some cases, that’s not too much of an issue. However, it’s crucial to take steps in this direction when it comes to being more environmentally friendly and running a greener business. You might not think it’s that important, but your customers certainly will, and that’s what counts.
More and more people are actively choosing to buy from eco-friendly businesses. If you can show that you are green and do what you can to help the environment, you will make a positive impact in general and potentially be more successful too. Read on to find out how to go about getting started.
Offer Remote Work
Remote working is becoming hugely popular, and although it was something that many businesses were forced to do in 2020 and 2021, it has become an idea they have stuck with. It can save you money and give your employees a better work-life balance, meaning they are more loyal and productive.
In terms of being a greener company, remote working can also help with this. When people aren’t commuting to and from an office every day, they will lower their carbon footprint since they will use less fuel and their cars will stay off the road.
If you do have to have people come to the office, it’s a good idea to encourage them to use public transport where possible; perhaps you could offer vouchers or even provide a loan for fares to help out.
Use Sustainable Packaging
To sell a physical product, you need to consider your packaging. It has to be strong and high quality to protect the item and show your customers that they are getting value for money, but it should also be eco-friendly.
This means that you need to use little to no plastic packaging; find suppliers who offer compostable boxes and only use compostable boxes for your own packaging; use recycled paper, ideally shredded, for padding your stock; and use eco-friendly tape.
It would help if you also considered the courier you use to ship the parcels. Try to find one that uses electric vehicles or bikes rather than big vans or other less planet-friendly vehicles.
Use Second-Hand Items
When starting a business, it’s a good idea to use second hand items such as laptops, office furniture, and vehicles. You might think that as you become more and more successful, you can replace these items with newer ones.
That is a goal to aspire to, but it’s not necessarily one that will help your efforts to be more eco-friendly. In fact, sticking with second-hand items could be good proof to your customers that you are looking out for the health of the planet rather than your own needs. Just make sure that whatever equipment you use is going to give you the results you want and that it’s not so inefficient when it comes to energy that it’s doing more harm than good.
