3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

Julie Starr • October 4, 2024

Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? 


Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. 


Mining

Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? 


It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. 


Fossil Fuels

Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. 


Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. 


Fashion

The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint. That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. 


Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. 



The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices. 

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • October 7, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

Why Technology Is A Must For Business Success In The Modern World

By Julie Starr • October 3, 2024
Business is all about attracting the right people and making as much money as possible. Of course, you will want to satisfy customers and break all kinds of boundaries, but the main goal is to turn a profit. There are lots of ways to make this happen and you are bound only by the creativity you have in your mind. You have to market your business properly and stay consistent with the likes of your brand and approach. If you do the basics properly, it gives you the platform to try all kinds of extravagant things along the way. In this day and age, you must ensure that you are integrating technology as much as possible. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to create a successful business without the use of digital devices and other technology. We are in the year 2024 and old-school practices probably will not suffice. You don’t have to be an expert with computers, but it’s a good idea to get to grips with everything. Technology can help you rise above your competitors and reach the success you dream of nowadays. Here are a few specific reasons as to why this is the case: Use Automation Whenever Possible Of course, using automation for absolutely everything will take away the human element and make it all inorganic. There are certain jobs that automation could do in order to be a real game-changer, however. We are talking about repetitive tasks such as inventory management and scheduling. Using a robot in this instance will reduce human error and ensure that consistency is there. There are lots of affordable pieces of software that can help small businesses and large businesses alike. You will be able to manage your business with a lot more ease if you introduce this kind of automation. Data Analytics For Smart Decisions Decisions have to be made nearly every day in the world of business, and you will need all of the right information in front of you. Harnessing data allows you to make the right kind of calls and view market trends each week. Technology in this day and age allows you to analyze pretty much every aspect of your business and the market around you. Adopt Industry-Specific Tech In this day and age, we have software and applications that are suited to pretty much every field of business. For example, people in the agricultural field can use something like a modern farming app in order to monitor conditions, track patterns, and automate irrigation. In retail, you could adopt point-of-sale software in order to make this aspect so much more convenient. There are countless other examples out there if you look hard enough. Strengthen Cybersecurity As Much As You Can It goes without sayinthathe businesses are targeted by criminals looking to take advantage of anyone. The most successful you become, the more vulnerable you may be. Regarding the technology you have, you must implement strong cyber security measures such as firewalls and encryption. Safeguarding your business from these kinds of attacks will protect the reputation and well-being of both yourself and your customers.
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