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

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.

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.