Can Making Your Business More Virtual Make It More Sustainable?

Julie Starr • February 23, 2021



Many of us have been working virtually over the last year. Some businesses may choose to go back to normal eventually, while others might decide that a greater amount of remote working is suitable for them. You might be thinking about how making your business more virtual could benefit you, and one of the things that you can consider is how it might help you to make your business more sustainable. Remote working could be used to introduce green practices, from reducing the amount of office space that you use to less traveling required for your staff. So how could making your business more remote make it more sustainable?

Remove or Reduce the Need for Commuting

When you have a remote team, you can make your business more eco-friendly by removing the need for people to commute . Your staff won’t need to drive to work or use other methods of transport every day, before and after their workday. This cuts down on the amount of fuel that they need to use if they drive, not only reducing their carbon emissions but also saving them money. Even for people who prefer to hire a desk or join a coworking space, they can choose somewhere convenient for them that’s easy to get to.

You can help to cut down on travel in other circumstances too. People may not need to travel to attend job interviews, for example. Business travel might be less necessary if people can meet online instead of traveling to meet in person.

Reduce Your Office Space

If your business is more virtual, you don’t need as much space to accommodate your staff. You don’t have to get rid of offices and business premises completely, but you might be able to reduce the amount of space required. While you might still have a warehouse to deal with your order fulfillment, you might not need to have an office for your admin and support staff. Instead, they can work from home (or wherever they choose to work from). If you do ever need to provide space for them, such as for important meetings or team days, you can hire the space you need for the amount of time that you need it.

Less need for office space and other buildings means that you won’t be using energy and other resources for your business. If you work with other businesses that provide virtual services for you, you reduce the impact on the environment by sharing these services with other businesses. If you use a virtual answering service , you know that they are helping you and a number of other businesses instead of having to sustain your own team of people to answer phones. Of course, it’s also important to consider that your employees will instead be using these resources at home, which will cost them money and will be a more hidden way that your business makes use of essential resources.

Cut Down on Waste

Less business space also means that your business can produce less waste. If you don’t need an office, you don’t have to have office supplies . There’s no need to have paper, printer ink, paperclips, pens, or other resources that can be important in an office environment. Everything can be conducted online instead, using cloud applications and other tools to carry out necessary tasks. People who are working remotely also tend to spend more time at home, which means they might make choices such as making their own lunch instead of going out to buy something that produces a lot of waste.

If you digitize your business, there’s no need to do anything on paper. Not only does that save paper, as well as other resources such as printer ink and electricity, but it also means you don’t need space to store all of your paper documents and records. There’s no need for filing cabinets and rooms full of paper documents when you can just keep everything stored digitally instead. You can explore a range of options too, such as having your own servers or making use of cloud storage services, which can enable you to use shared servers.

Create a More Diverse, Sustainable Workforce

Making your business more virtual can also help you to hire a more diverse and sustainable workforce. When you’re able to hire from a diverse pool, you can find people who share the same values as your business, especially where sustainability and eco-friendliness are concerned. As well as creating businesses that are sustainabl e in an environmental way, this also helps to make your business more future-proof. You can offer equal opportunities to a wide range of people, regardless of their background or identity. You are able to offer more support to those who might need it through virtual working.

Use Sustainable Marketing Methods

Marketing is one of the key things that you can think about if you want to use remote working to ensure your business is sustainable. When you take your business completely online, you can remove the need for marketing methods that might be less useful. Sending out direct mail is potentially not particularly beneficial for an online business. Cutting back on marketing methods like this and focusing on online marketing not only helps you to save money but can make your business more sustainable. Use digital marketing methods to promote your business instead of print marketing or other techniques that aren’t so eco-friendly.

Make Your Supply Chain More Efficient

If you sell physical products, you might decide what making your business virtual means that you have more flexibility with how you fulfill orders. You could choose a more convenient place for your orders to be fulfilled, helping your business to cut down on carbon emissions. You can let another company take care of your fulfillment for you so that you’re able to manage everything remotely. This allows you to choose a location anywhere that helps to cut down on travel time between suppliers, fulfillment, and customers.

In fact, you can choose to work with various partners in your supply chain and beyond who are also sustainable. Running a virtual business gives you more flexibility to work with whoever you want to so that you can choose your partners more carefully.

Consider the Impact of Your Reach

Working remotely can allow you to work with people all over the world. It might also mean that you decide to expand your business into different countries. If you’re doing this, you should think about how your actions might have a more global reach on the environment too. Are there any ways in which you might be having an effect on different countries in various ways? Maybe you’re helping employees or business partners in other countries to be more eco-conscious and to make better choices for sustainability.

Provide Support for Employees

Just because you’re not working with your employees in person, it doesn’t mean you can’t provide them with support. Whereas before, you might have encouraged them to cycle to work or set up an office recycling scheme, there are still ways you can encourage them to be green when they work from home. You can still do things like creating an eco-committee , putting on video conference workshops about sustainability, or challenging employees to do certain sustainable actions. It’s also a good idea to form partnerships with other sustainable organizations to provide more support and set a good example.

Your virtual business could be more sustainable than ever. When you work remotely, you can reduce your business’s carbon emissions and encourage employees and business partners to be sustainable too.

6 Things All Modern Businesses Need in 2025

By Julie Starr • April 22, 2025
If you’re starting your own business, then you know all too well that it’s equally an exciting and overwhelming time. There’s so much to think about, and you want to get it right from day one. But it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as you might think. Let’s go through everything your new business needs to hit the ground running this year. A Clear Business Plan Before anything else, take the time to figure out your game plan. This doesn’t need to be a long, boring document that you’ll never look at again. Think of it as a simple guide that answers three key questions: Who are you selling to? What are you offering? And how are you going to get noticed? Once you’ve written that down, you can always tweak it as your business grows. From a communications standpoint, clarity on your audience and value proposition also sets the foundation for authentic brand storytelling—something Taiga Company helps clients refine at every stage. Responsible Financial Management Money is one of those things that can make or break a business. The good news is you don’t need a finance degree to get it right. Start with a simple budget. Know how much is coming in, what’s going out, and what you’re setting aside. Think about things like stock, marketing, bills and wages if you’re hiring. Keep it realistic and keep it updated. Doing this from day one will make life much easier later. Reliable Cloud Services In 2025, storing everything on your laptop isn’t really a safe bet. Files go missing, computers break, and you don’t want to lose important stuff. That’s where cloud services come in. They keep your files secure, backed up and easy to access from anywhere. Whether it’s documents, customer info or creative work, having it all saved online gives you peace of mind. And when you're building a business in a digital-first world, having secure, accessible assets also means your team can collaborate more efficiently across channels—essential for strong communications. Flexible Payment Options Most people don’t carry cash anymore, so if you’re only accepting it, you’re going to lose sales. Get yourself a card reader that takes all the usual stuff like debit cards, credit cards, contactless and Apple Pay. The easier you make it for someone to pay you, the more likely they are to buy. Simple as that. A Basic Website Even if you’re not selling online, you still need a website. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just something that tells people who you are, what you do, and how they can contact you. Think of your site as your digital front door. If someone hears about your business, chances are they’ll look you up online. Make sure what they find actually helps them. A clear website is also one of the most powerful communication tools your business has. We work with clients to ensure their digital presence reflects their story, purpose, and value. A Way to Spread the Word You can’t rely on people just stumbling across your business. You’ve got to put yourself out there. Social media is a great start, but don’t stop there. Think email newsletters , posters in your local area or even just chatting about your work whenever it comes up naturally. The more you talk about your business, the more others will too. Starting a business in 2025 is a big move, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. Get the basics in place, stay flexible and keep learning. With the right tools and the right message, you can build momentum and create connection. Taiga Company helps growing businesses translate operational essentials into brand trust and long-term impact.

How Outsourcing Services Can Help Your Business Advance Sustainability Goals

By Julie Starr • April 20, 2025
Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative. From shifting customer expectations to regulatory momentum and investor pressure, today’s competitive landscape demands more than short-term cost savings. Companies are being called to demonstrate leadership by embedding sustainable practices across their value chain. For many organizations, this transformation can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Strategic outsourcing can unlock both environmental benefits and operational efficiency—helping your company do more with less while strengthening its sustainability performance. By partnering with service providers who specialize in sustainability, you can streamline operations, reduce environmental impact, and build trust with customers, employees, and investors alike. Below are some key areas where outsourcing can support your sustainability journey. Green Energy Consulting Services Are you wondering how to lower energy consumption without impacting business performance? Green energy consultants specialize in reducing carbon footprints through practical, scalable solutions. These experts analyze your energy usage and identify opportunities like switching to renewables, upgrading to energy-saving systems, or adopting smart technologies. Outsourcing initiatives such as solar panel installation or wind-powered electricity procurement signals your organization’s long-term commitment to environmental leadership. And as with many sustainability investments, the result is not just impact—it’s also efficiency and cost savings. Framed in the right way, these actions can become powerful stories that demonstrate your company's values to customers and stakeholders. Sustainable Supply Chain Management A sustainable supply chain is essential for companies aiming to lead in today’s circular economy. Third-party logistics providers and supply chain consultants can help in auditing your supply chain to uncover inefficiencies, and recommend improvements aligned with eco-conscious goals. By outsourcing this function, you gain access to experts who help embed sustainability into procurement practices—using local materials, reducing waste, and improving freight efficiency. Many providers can also connect you with suppliers that share your environmental standards, enabling a cohesive approach to sustainable sourcing. These supply chain enhancements not only reduce emissions and waste—they also reinforce your brand’s environmental credibility across the stakeholder ecosystem. Eco-Friendly IT and Cloud Computing Running a tech-intensive business? Traditional on-site data centers are energy-intensive. Outsourcing IT infrastructure to green cloud providers can dramatically lower your environmental impact. Cloud vendors who use renewable energy for data storage and server operations offer an efficient alternative to on-premise solutions. They also reduce hardware waste and improve system performance—making them both eco-friendly and future-ready. For organizations prioritizing digital sustainability, this move can be a cornerstone of your environmental strategy—and a strong signal of innovation to your stakeholders. Sustainable Junk Removal Services Sustainable operations include responsible waste management. Outsourcing junk removal to companies that prioritize recycling and charitable donations keeps unnecessary items out of landfills and extends the life cycle of materials. These services allow businesses and individuals to declutter responsibly, supporting both environmental and community well-being. It’s a simple but visible action that can reinforce your sustainability message both internally and externally. Carbon Offsetting Services Not all emissions can be eliminated—but many can be offset. Specialized outsourcing firms help companies calculate, track, and neutralize their carbon emissions through strategic reforestation projects , renewable energy, or community resilience projects. These providers simplify the path to carbon neutrality, enabling your business to meet emissions targets without overwhelming internal resources. When shared transparently, these efforts can build credibility and show stakeholders your commitment to real climate action. Green Building and Facility Services For organizations with a physical footprint, outsourcing to green building service providers supports both environmental and business performance. Whether you're retrofitting with energy-efficient systems, reimagining interior layouts for LEED certification, or upgrading lighting and HVAC, retrofitting to eco-friendly office design supports long-term thinking. Outsourcing this expertise ensures you’re not only meeting today’s expectations—but also building for tomorrow’s workforce and market needs. Outsourced R&D for Sustainable Products Developing greener products doesn’t need to be done in-house. By outsourcing R&D to sustainability-focused experts, your company can bring innovative ideas—like biodegradable packaging or low-impact materials—to market faster. These partnerships inject creativity and specialized knowledge into your product development pipeline, helping you stay ahead of regulatory shifts and consumer demand. More importantly, they support a brand narrative rooted in innovation and responsibility. Conclusion: Aligning Profit with Purpose Sustainability isn’t just about compliance—it’s about competitiveness, resilience, and leadership. Outsourcing to sustainability-minded providers allows your business to focus on core strengths while accelerating progress toward environmental and ESG goals. From energy and IT to supply chain and product development, these partnerships offer a smart path forward—one that balances operational efficiency with lasting impact.  At its best, sustainable outsourcing isn’t a sideline strategy. It’s a meaningful part of how forward-thinking companies align profit with purpose—and demonstrate what’s possible when businesses lead with values.