As Green As It Gets: Could Your Business Be Doing More?

Julie Starr • November 19, 2021



The future of the planet is dominating the headlines. If you run a business, you may have been inspired to think about whether you could do more. If there is room for improvement, and you’re eager to do your bit, here are some ideas to consider. 

Recycling, reusing and repurposing

Businesses and organizations all over the world produce a vast amount of waste. In some cases, there is no alternative but to dispose of products and materials, but often, it is possible to recycle, reuse or repurpose the waste we throw away. Running recycling initiatives in the workplace is an excellent way to engage employees and customers in eco-friendly ways of working and it can make a positive difference to the environment. Recycle what you can and consider reusing or repurposing anything that cannot be recycled. From office furniture to leftover food, it may be possible to donate to charities and nonprofits or sell items so that somebody else can benefit from them.

If you don’t already have a recycling program in place, provide containers for your employees to use, hang posters to let people know what kinds of materials they can recycle and send out an email to alert teams to your new initiative. 

Taking advantage of technology

There are several ways in which technology can help us to decrease emissions, eliminate paper use, increase efficiency and reduce waste. Investing in technology offers a raft of benefits for forward-thinking companies. In addition to boosting productivity and cutting costs, technology can also help you run a greener business. With digital technology and smart devices and systems, you can reduce the amount of paper you use, the mail you send and the physical records you keep, speed up communications, and reduce energy consumption. 

If the technology you use is dated, or you’re still using traditional techniques and methods, consider updating and upgrading. From smart systems that regulate the temperature of offices and motion sensors to digital marketing, streamlined online communications and eco-friendly machinery for manufacturing, it’s wise to talk to experts and gather ideas and recommendations based on the requirements of your business and your key objectives. Visit website links and pages, read reviews and compare services, packages and prices to find reputable companies that will help you to identify better ways of working and drive your business forward. Often, embracing innovation and moving with the times can help you to capitalize on new trends, lower expenses and increase productivity, while also adopting more environmentally-friendly systems and processes. 

Greener commuting

Most businesses have teams of employees, some of which commute to work or make journeys for meetings and conferences. If your employees drive to work or attend events in different cities or countries, it’s beneficial to try and promote and incentivize greener travel . Carry out an audit and analyze data to see how many journeys you are making and look for ways to cut out unnecessary trips and reduce your carbon footprint. Use technology to replace in-person meetings in different states or countries with video calls and conferences and encourage your employees to use public transport or carpool. You can run carpooling schemes to make it easier for your team to get to work, or champion cycling, walking or jogging by offering access to bikes, providing on-site showers and changing facilities and giving people more flexibility in terms of their working hours. 

Over the course of the last two years, a large number of companies have switched to home working or hybrid working. For many, this will be a temporary measure, but if it has worked well for your business and your customers and employees, it’s beneficial to think about remote working in the future. If your employees are at home, this eliminates the need for commuting, which saves time and money for workers and reduces emissions. Talk to your team and gauge reactions and opinions. You may find that some people thrive at home, while others would prefer to be at the office or to combine both. 

Eco-friendly materials

Most businesses make, sell or buy materials to offer products or services to customers. If your company is not already actively looking for sustainable materials , now is the time to start. Research suitable alternatives to the products and components you use now, seek advice and keep an eye on what other firms in your industry are doing. If you can switch to sustainable, eco-friendly materials or supplies, this will help you to go green and enhance your brand image. 

Implementing initiatives in the workplace

Protecting the planet is a team effort. Every little helps, but it’s virtually impossible to achieve goals and hit targets without large numbers of people getting involved and jumping on the wagon. As an employer, make it your mission to get your employees and customers involved in initiatives that will have a positive impact on the environment. Simple measures like providing recycling bins and a water cooler and reusable or recyclable cups instead of selling bottled water and encouraging clients to download or save tickets, passes or forms on their phones instead of printing reams of paper will help. Talk to your team, ask for suggestions, get your clients involved on social media and start putting ideas into action. 

Working with eco-friendly brands and businesses

Businesses often work together to offer services and products for customers. If you work with partners or suppliers, or you’re looking to outsource areas of the business, try to find companies that share your values and support eco-friendly schemes. If you create and sell products, for example, work with suppliers and manufacturers that use sustainable materials and packaging and logistics firms that have green vehicles and environmentally-friendly route planning programs. By working together, organizations can achieve more and improve their brand image and reputation. Studies suggest that almost 90% of consumers want to buy from brands that help them to be more ethical and eco-friendly . 

Green fleets and logistics

We live in a world where the skies, tracks and roads are packed with vehicles transporting products from one corner of the globe to another. Global travel and efficient logistics enable us to benefit from swift delivery and international trade, but there is a cost. Vehicles produce emissions, which are harmful to the environment. If you operate a fleet of vehicles, or you transport materials or deliver products via rail, road or air travel, making simple changes can impact your carbon footprint. Invest in eco-friendly vehicles , look for ways to save time and reduce mileage when making deliveries and search for options that involve offsetting emissions. It’s also an excellent idea to offer customers the opportunity to choose eco delivery options at the checkout. We have become accustomed to next-day delivery, but many consumers don’t need the products they order straight away and they may prefer to wait if it means using a more eco-friendly delivery service.

Reducing energy consumption

Reducing energy consumption has two main benefits for businesses. The first is saving money and the second is making a positive difference to the environment. Use smart meters and analyze bills to monitor usage and get an accurate idea of how much energy you use in an average week or month. Identify areas where you can make changes and encourage your employees to get on board. Use motion sensors to shut down lighting systems and thermostats to regulate the temperature. Swap traditional bulbs for energy-efficient light bulbs and turn devices and appliances off at the power socket. Invest in modern heating systems, which are more efficient and use less energy. Choose energy suppliers that provide access to renewable energy sources and consider options such as installing solar panels. If your business is based in an area that receives a lot of sunshine, you could save a substantial amount of money by generating solar energy. If this route interests you, research providers and see if you are eligible for a grant or financial assistance. 

Corporate social responsibility

More and more customers want to buy from businesses that align with their values. If you run a business, and you want to make a difference, it’s beneficial to explore initiatives and organizations you can support. Discuss options with your team, ask for ideas from customers and look for schemes or charities that complement your core values . There are several ways you can do your bit from donating a portion of your profits to wildlife and conservation charities to planting a tree for every purchase. 

Everybody is talking about the future of the planet. We have reached a critical juncture, and businesses can play an integral role in protecting the environment and preserving natural environments. If you could do more, now is the time to make changes and encourage your employees and customers to get involved. Even small modifications can make a big difference. From recycling and repurposing, reducing energy consumption and using sustainable materials to investing in smart, energy-efficient technology and figuring out greener ways to travel and commute, there are multiple ways to make a positive contribution.

5 Simple Ways to Make Your Online Business More Sustainable

By Julie Starr • August 9, 2025
Running an online business can feel like a constant balancing act. You’re trying to grow, keep customers happy, and still have time for yourself. The trick to making it all work long-term is to build habits and systems that last. You don’t need a complicated plan or endless resources to do it either. Here are five straightforward ways to make your business more sustainable without overcomplicating things. Focus on long-term customer relationships If you want your business to last, you need customers who keep coming back. That doesn’t just happen because you’ve got a good product or service. It’s about making people feel valued every time they interact with you. Simple things like remembering their name, following up after a purchase, or sending a quick thank-you email can make a huge difference. People are far more likely to support a business they feel connected to, so keep those relationships personal and genuine rather than purely transactional. Make your marketing work smarter A big part of sustainability is making sure your marketing isn’t draining your time or money. You want it to be efficient and get results. This is where working with seo consultants can help. They know how to make sure people can find your business online without you throwing cash at random ads. Even if you can’t hire someone right now, you can start by focusing on keywords, improving your website’s loading speed, and posting valuable content that answers the questions your customers are already asking. Streamline your products or services It’s tempting to try to offer everything to everyone, but that’s rarely a good idea. The more you offer, the more time, money, and resources you’ll end up using. Instead, focus on the things you do best and make them as good as they can be. When you streamline what you’re selling, you can put all your energy into perfecting it, which makes it easier to maintain quality over time. Customers notice when you consistently deliver something great, and they’ll trust you more for it. Keep an eye on your finances No matter how much you enjoy the creative or customer side of your business, the numbers are what will keep you going long-term. That means knowing what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where you can cut costs without cutting quality. Set yourself a monthly check-in to look at your spending and profits. If you spot something that’s not working financially, don’t leave it for months, hoping it will improve. Tackle it early and you’ll avoid bigger problems down the road. Look after yourself You can’t run a sustainable business if you’re running yourself into the ground. Burnout isn’t just bad for you, it’s bad for your customers and your bottom line. Make sure you’re setting boundaries, taking breaks, and switching off when you can. That might mean scheduling a full day without work every week or turning your phone off after a certain time. The more balanced you are, the better decisions you’ll make, and the easier it will be to keep your business moving forward without constantly feeling like you’re in survival mode. Sustainability in business isn’t about doing one big thing; it’s about making intelligent, consistent choices that build over time. Start small, keep checking in on your progress, and before you know it, your business will feel a lot steadier and more future-proof than it did before.

Sustainable Choices That Heavy Industry Businesses Can Easily Make

By Julie Starr • August 8, 2025
Are you hoping to build a heavy industry business? It’s the kind of company that can have globally sweeping positive and negative effects. On the one hand, you’re contributing to the industry, ensuring there’s enough supply to meet demand, and you can do your best to operate in a sustainable way that prioritizes the environment. But on the other hand, the heavy industry has long been the most significant business polluter in the world. Despite advancements in industry technology and usage, their ranking relative to other sectors, such as food and beverage , and shipping and logistics, has remained unchanged as of 2025. Requiring extensive use of large, heavy, and expensive machinery, the fumes produced by heavy-duty factories in sectors like mining, aerospace, nautical, and metal production regularly cause harm to both human and animal life. It’s why anyone interested in investing or scaling within an industry like this needs to focus on their company’s carbon footprint. There are various ways to ensure you’re limiting your harmful output and waste, and you’ll want to use as many as possible within your operation. Check out our recommendations below. Work with Green Suppliers No matter what stage you sit at in the hypothetical supply chain, you’re likely to source at least part of your overall production material from a supplier. If that’s not the case, you’ll still need to work with companies that provide machinery and equipment, as well as replacement parts for these industrial items. All in all, to make as sustainable a choice as possible, you’ll want to commit to working with a ‘green’ supplier who makes eco-conscious choices at every step. Eco-friendly suppliers will strive to both implement sustainable practices within their production line, as well as provide sustainably made and/or extracted materials. The products and/or parts they send out are likely to be recyclable when they reach their end-of-life period, or they’ll run a scheme where you can send old or broken parts back to them. Offset Your Carbon Emissions Offsetting carbon emissions converts the waste output from your operations into something more positive. If you’re interested in programs like this , you can use official government platforms or climate charity websites to contribute. You’ll be able to find a variety of projects that have been undertaken to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and they’ll be located in various regions across the world. You can choose to patronise as many of them as you wish, but if you want to focus on specific types, you’ll also be able to do so. When approaching a program like this, it’s usually best to offset month by month, as this helps you stay on top of your carbon footprint. Be sure to invest in as much carbon removal per tonne as your business has potentially contributed to the atmosphere in the last month. But before you go any further, there’s one thing you need to keep in mind here: Carbon offsetting is just one sustainable practice you can turn to, but it’s not the only one your business will ever need to use. Yes, it’s one of the most sustainable practices a heavy industry business can invest in. But that’s only true when it’s partnered with real-time carbon-lowering efficiencies within day-to-day operations. Repair, Rather Than Throw Away Repairing is the best option if a repair is possible. This should be the first step when evaluating old or broken-down equipment. If it can be salvaged, it should be. Otherwise, you’ll have to replace the equipment in question. Not only is that expensive, but it also means more waste to manage. And not all heavy industry tech can be recycled. Sometimes it’s potentially hazardous and needs to be disposed of carefully, and this could have harsh impacts on the surrounding environment. Repairing is your best bet, at least 80% of the time. You can get back up and running faster, and you don’t need to account for a large investment at short notice. And more equipment can be repaired than you might think. It’s not just small, singular parts that can be pulled out. Entire internal systems in even large vehicles, such as freighter ships, can be replaced by secondary parts. A marine logistics provider or deep-sea fishing operator would save a lot of money just by ordering a Cummins Rebuild Kit for one of their vessels. Deciding to put the ship out of commission and eventually scrapping it will contribute to the large-scale waste common in companies like this. Aiming to repair and limit environmental damage will get that same boat back onto the waters in seaworthy condition. Operate with Lower Emission Logistics Shipping your products to businesses and markets always generates a carbon footprint. Unless you’re operating only within the local area and you’re able to transport products back and forth on foot, this is an unavoidable issue. And seeing as you’re a heavy industry business, that’s not very likely. But some shipping options are better than others. Indeed, there are low-emission choices to be made, and you’ll want to look into these logistic partners only. You’ll likely find that air travel is a total no-go zone. Alternatives to this are long-haul road transportation or a traditional shipping company that operates via sea. Yes, even trucking your products over land generates a lot less carbon waste that can damage the environment than flying something! Staying Green as a Heavy Industry Player Working sustainably within the heavy industry is a career-long project. You’ll need to continually make moves to consider what could be streamlined into something greener and less consuming next. In the end, this can help your long-term costs decrease and stay low. Fewer risky investments, fewer fees from environmental bodies, and more productive time within your business. So, it’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it