Post by account_disabled on Feb 20, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -5
If you're running a small business, then you might think your environmental impact is inconsequential, but the people who buy your products don't see it that way. Faced with a worsening environmental crisis, consumers are starting to go green with their wallets. Businesses of all shapes and sizes need to continually analyze consumer sentiment because as people learn more about climate change and its effects, they are changing their purchasing habits. In a survey by US shipping service Sendle , 57% of respondents said that climate change had caused them to somewhat or completely reevaluate their shopping habits, and nearly 71% said that They had set goals to buy more sustainable products in 2020. And sustainability is an important topic for consumers of all age groups, with at least 75% saying it is moderately to extremely important to them. 11 ways SMEs can be greener Source: Sendle. Consumers are more likely to shop with sustainable brands, and will alter the way they shop to reduce environmental impact. So clearly, what's good for the planet is also good for small business customers. The first thing companies must do on their path to sustainability is understand their current carbon footprint. Having this information will help identify the areas where the changes will have the greatest impact. 11 ways to make your business more sustainable Each company has its own particularities, so the steps that one company takes will not necessarily be the same as those taken by others.
Here are several ways for small businesses to reduce their environmental impact. 1. Offer remote work As more work is done online, there is less need for people to be in a physical office. Remote work has taken off in recent years, allowing employees to have flexibility in their work lives and substantially reducing the time they spend commuting. This is great for the environment. Fewer cars on the road, sitting in traffic, equals less carbon dioxide (CO2) being emitted into the air. This small change can help reduce traffic and a business's overall carbon footprint. Additionally, with Europe Cell Phone Number List fewer people in the office, businesses can save money typically spent on workplace storage, lighting, and heating. 2. Provide benefits to public transportation users When employees need to be in the office, you can still influence how their commute contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Public transportation (buses, trains, vans) is the greenest way to get to work, and companies can encourage employees to take advantage of these transportation options. Small businesses can offer their employees public transportation benefits that help the environment, either directly or through their human resources (HR) software. To provide these benefits directly, many city transit agencies offer subsidized passes for businesses.
Use sustainable products The items that companies purchase to ensure the smooth functioning of their workplaces – whether printer paper, cleaning products or take-out packaging – can be harmful to the environment due to the processes that go into making them. For all those commonly used paper items, like toilet paper rolls and stacks of printer paper, office managers can look for labeling that says they are made from post-consumer or pre-consumer waste. Recycled products like these maintain a circular economy and reduce waste overall. For cleaning products, there is an entire cottage industry of green cleaners that don't include toxic chemicals, opting instead for natural ingredients that work just as well. Using these products keeps toxic ingredients out of streams and your waste out of landfills. 4. Use second-hand finds Decorating the office doesn't mean paying a lot of money for new furniture. It takes a lot of energy and raw materials to make all those new tables, chairs, sofas and desks. Companies can take the green route, finding beautiful vintage pieces to fill their offices or opting for upcycled furniture. This ensures that fully functional furniture is not thrown into landfills in favor of newer styles. Who wouldn't want some amazing mid-century furniture in their office?.