Can Your Team Go Green? Killer Strategies For Hitting Sustainability Goals In Your Business

Julie Starr • January 25, 2022



With environmental awareness on the rise, an increasing number of firms are adjusting their practices in order to become more ecologically friendly and reduce their overall carbon footprint. In addition to being beneficial to the environment, taking an environmentally conscious strategy can assist in attracting new customers who are also interested in being environmentally conscientious. Consumers are no longer happy for businesses to be using green-washing techniques; they want to see actual concrete action being taken to reduce the impact that the business has on the environment. 

It takes time and effort to establish sustainable behaviors, and it does not happen immediately or by chance. It requires a thorough plan of action as well as a detailed methodology for how the company expects to attain its objectives. Unlike smaller organizations, which may find it easier to adapt their policies to the new reality, larger corporations will likely require more time and resources to do so. However, the increased public acceptance that comes with environmentally friendly activities makes the work worthwhile.

Here, we explore how organizations may work toward and achieve the objective of establishing sustainable, “green” practices throughout the organization from the very top to the very bottom.

Involve all of the stakeholders in the business and harness the collective wisdom

In their stakeholders, companies have a wealth of collective intelligence to draw upon. Engage those in your immediate vicinity, including clients, coworkers, and suppliers, and solicit their suggestions for ways to become greener and more environmentally conscious.

If you feel like you can’t do much in your own business, look at how you can help others

As a business, you may not always be able to develop an environmentally friendly product or practice but you may contribute to the efforts of groups who are doing just that. Encourage your teams to get engaged with non-profit organizations that are working to promote environmentally responsible behavior. This is a terrific way to begin a collaborative endeavor with your team, fostering camaraderie and fostering an authentic approach to making the world a better place in which to live.

Small steps lead to a big impact

Implementing tiny, but significant improvements can result in more environmentally friendly behaviors. Install water filters in place of bottled water for events, and ask staff to bring in their own reusable utensils and straws to use in the corporate cafeteria to reduce the use of plastic in the workplace. Create standard operating procedures to reduce the amount of paper used, as well as the amount of printing and recycling. Employees must be educated on the benefits of these changes in order to support them.

Audit your energy uses

To begin, look for ways to minimize expenditures while simultaneously increasing your sustainability. An energy audit is a good starting step since it appeals to both your environmentally concerned employees and your budget-conscious employees. The results of an energy audit often include recommendations for lighting efficiency improvements that result in cost savings over the long run. Inform your clientele about your sustainability efforts as well—it is excellent public relations!

Encourage stewardship

Business executives and CEOs should view themselves as stewards of the company rather than as owners of the company. When a leader perceives themselves as a steward, they will make decisions with the future in mind, rather than the present. The long-term decisions of a corporation will be prioritized over short-term decisions if the entire organization is focused on stewardship of the environment.

Turn off the lights!

This is pretty standard and obvious stuff, yet it is important to keep in mind. According to the research, when a business only turns the lights on when they are required to do so, the power savings not only collectively cut demand for energy and dramatically lower their carbon footprint, but they also enhance their bottom line as a result. Use artificial intelligence (AI) or human intelligence to turn off lights and screens when they are not needed.

Implement sustainable travel practices

The damage that travel can do to the environment can not be underestimated.  Every company can make changes to its policies to encourage environmentally-friendly travel practices such as taking nonstop flights, paying carbon tax to fund environmental restoration projects, using reusable packing supplies instead of single-use disposables, and most importantly, increasing the use of video conferencing.

Go digital

Businesses should make the transition to digital operations. Businesses will benefit from the adoption of digital ordering, invoicing, inventory management, and supply chain platforms since it will reduce the amount of paper that is exchanged and thus lower operational costs. A few of the inventive choices for a business to go green include the use of solar electricity, the installation of smart equipment that monitors temperature, light, moisture, and movement, and the prohibition of single-use plastics in the workplace.

Ask for ideas

Inviting all workers and vendors to contribute their thoughts on any missing opportunities for the company to become more environmentally conscious. Consider having a diverse employee team or a consultant review the crowdsourced ideas and determine whether or not they are feasible. Make a selection of the most potential and influential candidates. Once you have put them into action, make sure to follow up with your stakeholders to let them know how things are doing. 

Outsource

Outsourcing some of your processes, particularly business IT support services, to an eco-friendly partner can have a positive impact. The staffing is there when you need it rather than having people come in, adding to the pressure on the roads and using additional resources while not being needed. An outsourcing partner will generally work with multiple clients so will have the technologies and equipment that they need already, so you do not have to buy more and potentially create even more waste.

Integrate it into your workplace culture

It is not sufficient to just establish a “green program.” Organizations must commit to it as a corporate priority and modify policies, procedures, technologies, and other aspects of their operations to achieve this. After that, gather ideas from a variety of stakeholders (customers, employees, and suppliers) in order to gain ownership. When people commit to regular green behaviors and share their commitment with their coworkers, change occurs. This involves serving as a green role model for their employees.

Have a B-Corp mindset

When an organization is certified as having a good impact on its employees, community, customers, and the environment,  it is referred to as a “B corporation” Even if your company does not wish to pursue B corporation accreditation, simply examining the application might help you determine where your organization stands in relation to others. Additionally, free resources can assist you in identifying areas for improvement. 

Recycle, recycle, recycle

Recycling is essential for long-term sustainability. Our natural resources will run out eventually if we continue to consume at our current rates, and it is only through recycling and reuse that we will be able to salvage what is left.

By adopting an effective recycling program, you can reduce your trash costs as well as the amount of waste you send to landfills. A composting system can help you reduce food waste to a bare minimum. To collect wasted paper, place a recycling box next to each desk in your office. Products and materials that can be reused should be sought after. Look out for environmentally acceptable methods of disposing of your old electronic equipment. Donate unused equipment to help decrease office waste and maybe qualify for a tax benefit.

Final thoughts

Make a list of goals and focus on long-term ambitions. Decide which goals will be most helpful in achieving your vision, which will have the greatest influence on the environment, and which will make the most sense for your company. Take into account the costs and rewards.

Progress in sustainability should be measured on a regular basis to determine whether or not tactics are effective and what needs to be changed. Because sustainability is a lifelong commitment to the environment and the next generation, it is important to develop ways to keep your objectives current.

The term “sustainability” refers to a lot more than just preserving and developing operations and earnings in today’s business world. Green initiatives are being implemented on a worldwide scale now, and businesses must be accountable enough in their operations to serve the greater good. That a company’s sustainability initiatives not only benefit the environment and the next generation but also provide a considerable return on investment in the form of improved brand recognition and cost savings, is a positive thing.

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