Are you looking at ways to make your business more environmentally friendly?
If you haven’t yet considered ‘going green,’ then it might be time to think about it…
Why? Well, apart from doing your bit to save the planet, the general consensus is that attitudes towards sustainability have changed over the past decade, and people are now more conscious of things such as recycling and renewable energy.
Did you know that as of 2023, 78% of US consumers say that a sustainable lifestyle is important to them?
Customers are also more likely to buy from companies that are environmentally friendly. In fact, 77% of Millenials from a recent survey say they consider sustainability when choosing a brand/business.
So, if you’re looking to run your businesses in a more environmentally-minded manner, we’ve gathered together 5 ways to help you transform into an eco-friendly, Earth-loving, sustainable force of nature!
Get ready to go green!
Clearly, this one doesn’t work if you run an outside business such as a dog walking company! But when you consider the best small business ideas, lots of them include using the internet. If this is the case, then working from home is a surefire way to ensure you save on things such as electricity, and CO2 emissions from daily commutes to and from the office. Statistics show that on average, each person reduces their carbon footprint by around 1,800 pounds just by working from home each year.
No matter what type of business you run, most of us use office supplies such as pens, paper, ink, laptops, folders, notepads, paper and general stationery. One of the quickest ways to go greener is to search for sustainable office equipment such as biros that use recycled plastic. The Green Office is a great place, as they are one of the best in the sustainability business! Start in your search for more environmentally friendly supplies today.
At least once a year, most businesses large and small will have a clear-out and replace all of their old stationary with new, shiny items. However, most of the stationary that we throw away is in perfectly good order and can be used for years to come. Have you ever considered what happens to all the yearly equipment you throw out? Well, neither had we until now. From perfectly good printers to working laptops and blank notepads and pens full of ink; all this stuff will most likely end up in landfill. The U.K alone produced 6.8 million tonnes of waste back in 2021 - so do your bit and donate your unwanted office items to a local charity or (even better) a local school who might be in desperate need of your supplies.
You may be asking yourself; how does printing affect the environment? Well, paper production as a whole contributes to deforestation, as well as use of an enormous amount of energy, air pollution and waste issues. In fact, a recent study found that nearly half of all printed documents are thrown away after 24 hours. So stop printing your wage slips, newsletters, updates etc and save the planet today!
Seeking out local suppliers to provide you with your business solutions is great for a number of reasons. Firstly, there’s less fuel being used for deliveries, secondly, you get to support other local businesses in your community, and thirdly, you may even make a local friend or two!
Making your small business more sustainable doesn’t have to be a huge challenge... In fact, just a few tweaks here and there can make a big difference. Naturally, all good businesses reflect the climate of the buying public, and our general desire for going green shows no sign of slowing down. The world is now full of eco-friendly business examples, such as Nike, Starbucks, Ikea and The Bidy Shop. Could yours be the next to go green?
Let Hikino help you on your journey towards making your company good for the environment. Download Hikinjo today and find everything from local suppliers, to local places to donate used office goods to:
Available on Apple & Play Store
