A Sustainable Business: 6 Things You Need To Do

Julie Starr • February 27, 2022



There is no question that the world is changing, and with it, the way we do business. As a result, consumers are more interested than ever in sustainable brands, and companies that don’t adapt will find themselves at a disadvantage. If you’re looking to make your business more sustainable, there are six things you need to change. Keep reading for tips on making your brand more environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and profitable!

Make Sustainable Practices A Priority

One of the most important things you can do to make your business more sustainable is to make sustainability a priority. This means ensuring that environmental and social responsibility are considered in all aspects of your company, from product development to marketing to employee training.

It’s also important to set measurable goals for sustainability and track progress over time. This will help you identify areas where you need to improve and ensure that your efforts have a positive impact.

Finally, it’s essential to have a strong leadership commitment to sustainability. The top brass needs to be on board with making changes towards sustainability, or else they’ll likely never happen.

Throw Out All The Plastics

Plastic is one of the biggest threats to our environment, and it’s something that businesses can easily do without. Switching to sustainable materials like bamboo or metals can help reduce your environmental impact.

When it comes to packaging, make sure you’re using recyclable materials whenever possible. If you can’t find a recyclable option, try to choose products that come in minimal packaging.

You can also consider changing your signage for something more sustainable such as a large metal signboard. What you should know about cnc cutting is that it can be used to cut out very intricate designs, giving your new signage a unique and stylish edge. In addition, this signage can be used to promote the fact that your business practices sustainability.

Implement A Company-Wide Recycling Program

One of the easiest ways to make your business more sustainable is by implementing a recycling program. This can be as simple as providing bins for employees to recycle paper, plastic, and other waste.

You can also get creative with your recycling initiatives by implementing composting programs or upcycling projects. The more you can do to reduce the amount of waste your company produces, the better!

Sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s a necessity. If you want your business to thrive in the years to come, you need to prioritize sustainability.

Educate Your Employees About Sustainability

Your employees are your most important asset, so it’s essential to educate them about sustainability. This can be done through training programs, internal communications, or even just by setting an example as a leader.

The goal is to get everyone on board with making sustainable practices a part of their daily routine. Once your employees are on board, they’ll be more likely to make sustainable choices in their personal lives as well.

Sustainability starts with education, so make sure you’re doing your part to educate your team!

Evaluate Your Supply Chain

Your supply chain has a significant impact on your company’s sustainability. Take a close look at your suppliers and evaluate their environmental and social practices.

Make sure you only work with suppliers who share your commitment to sustainability. If you can’t find any that meet your standards, consider switching to a more sustainable product or material.

It would help if you also considered the carbon footprint of your supply chain when making decisions about transportation and logistics. For example, the further away your suppliers are, the more emissions will be produced in order to get their products to you.

If possible, choose local suppliers or those that use green transportation methods. This will help reduce your company’s carbon footprint and support sustainable businesses in your community.

Make Sustainability A Priority In Product Development

Product development is a critical part of any business, and it’s imperative to make sustainability a priority. When designing new products, ask yourself how they can be made more sustainable.

By making sustainability a priority in product development, you’ll help ensure that your products are as eco-friendly as possible.

Not only is this good for the environment, but it can also save your company money in the long run. Sustainable products often have lower manufacturing costs and require less energy to produce.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of things businesses can do to become more sustainable. But it’s important to remember that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. There will always be room for improvement, so don’t get discouraged if you’re not perfect from the start. Instead, just keep taking small steps, and you’ll eventually get there!

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.