5 Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Office Today

Julie Starr • June 3, 2022

Making a huge difference when it comes to the environment will take time. But you can reduce the carbon footprint of your office by making some immediate changes.

Focus Solely on Digital Marketing

Marketing is integral to modern business. But older marketing strategies rely on outdated mediums like newspapers, glossy mags, and even flyers. Of course, you could use printers that use sustainable materials and recycled paper. But still, you could be wasting your time. Digital marketing is at the forefront of modern advertising, and it can potentially reach a vast amount of people. Further, many digital marketing agencies work with white label marketing services . This means materials and campaign strategies come from one source, reducing waste.

Ban Paper from the Office

You could try going paperless to reduce your carbon footprint. It sounds simple and takes time for your business to adjust. But you can implement it immediately. Rather than memos, encourage the use of email-only communication. And if more complex tasks are required, you can use fantastic collaboration apps. Additionally, you will save a ton on paper expenses, toner and ink, and the energy use of your printers. The only real work is getting everyone at the office set up on various digital systems and training them to use them properly.

Reduce the Carbon Footprint with Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles have undoubtedly been on your radar for some time now. And now, you can purchase electric scooters, vans, and small trucks . So there’s something for every business. You can start your green journey with an electric car since they emit 0% pollutants because of the battery power. So the potential for reducing your carbon footprint is enormous. Additionally, you could encourage your employees to buy EVs and carpool them. Buying an EV is as simple as any other car. Then, you could pop down to a local dealer this afternoon.

Switch to a Renewables Supplier

In recent years, renewable energy has contributed to an ever-growing amount of global electricity demand. However, time is running out, so it’s moving even faster. Still, 70% of electricity is generated by harmful fossil fuels. However, the good news is that green energy use has increased by 10% in just two years. To reduce your company’s carbon footprint significantly, you can switch to a green energy supplier. Or you could supplement your energy with solar panels to generate clean and free energy at the office for significantly reduced bills.

Partner with Transparent Brands

Transparency in business is beginning to change thanks to the public perception of corporate roles in ecological issues. New brands and startups are more concerned with customer expectations, such as ethical and sustainability practices , and are therefore more open. Nevertheless, the majority of established brands within specific sectors, such as drinks production, are yet to follow. Not surprisingly, these companies are some of the most harmful. So, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate with whom you do business as a means to a green end.

Summary

You can begin reducing your carbon footprint today. Going paperless is one easy option. And you could also consider switching to a green energy supplier or buying electric vehicles.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

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.

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

By 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.