Cutting Down on Both Personal and Commercial Waste

Julie Starr • May 06, 2022



The state of the environment seemed to be deteriorating with each passing year. While recycling is up from a few years ago, at 32%, everyone could do better. The reduction of personal and commercial waste is a high priority. However, it may be difficult to put into action. But it’s simple if you know what you’re doing. Along with recycling, energy efficiency is important for the environment. Single-use plastics are killing marine life at an alarming rate.

Everything should be recycled.

You’ve most likely heard this one before, but it’s important to recycle whatever you can whenever possible. In a typical office, paper makes up 70% of the waste. Don’t dispose of paper since it can be recycled greatly. Pre-sorting trash increases recycling efficiency. The only thing you have to do is use various containers for different kinds of rubbish. There might be bins for paper, glass, and recyclable metals like drink cans, for example.

Use Recycled Materials

You may contribute even more to the recycling process by buying recycled items and resources. If you must use paper in your company, for example, only recycled parchment should be used. Once you have completed your secure document shredding , you could use the remnants for packaging, or even at home as bedding in your hamsters’ cage.

Energy Awareness

Electricity is essential to both your personal and professional lives. That’s simply the way things are nowadays. However, the mere fact that energy exists does not justify its misuse. With current energy costs reaching historic highs, you may save money by just using what you need. Simple changes can save energy: 

  • Don’t keep gadgets on standby for extended periods of time.
  • Install energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
  • Connect appliances to energy-saving outlets.
  • Purchase energy-saving appliances.
  • Reduce your thermostat setting.
  • Wash at a cooler temperature.

Just by making these few adjustments, you will save a decent amount of money. If you add them all together, though, you might have a substantial influence on your energy use and expenses.

Consider a Paper-free Office

A paperless workplace is an option to explore in addition to cutting down on waste. One of the primary reasons Bill Gates founded Microsoft Office was because of this belief. Basically, you should only use paper when it’s really important. Modern technology simplifies this. Video conferencing has never been simpler, thanks to Zoom, Skype, and Teams, as well as document tools that facilitate teamwork.

Prohibit Single-Use Products

Single-use goods are a major contribution to the plastic scourge. Microplastics, which are found in everyday things like flatware, water bottles, food containers, and dog waste bags, are a major threat to marine life. Currently, our seas contain more than 5 trillion particles of microplastic.

  • Microplastics claim the lives of one million seabirds every year.
  • 100,000 marine creatures are also killed.
  • Plastic is discovered in 100% of newborn sea turtles.

Making even the tiniest adjustments may make a big difference in this troubling problem. Replace plastic bags for dog waste with biodegradable ones, use reusable water bottles, and only purchase food packaged in paper. Finally, the vast majority of significant firms are either making the move to environmentally friendly packaging or have already done so. 

 

Keep Your Business Comfortable And Yet Sustainable

By Julie Starr • 11 May, 2024
Keeping your business comfortable and yet sustainable is a great idea. By keeping your business sustainable, you are doing your part for the planet, ensuring that you are doing something to take care of it. A lot of businesses don’t bother with this, but that’s the problem. You need to be different, and work out how you’re going to keep your business comfortable and sustainable at the same time. That’s what we’re going to be working on today, so keep reading if you’re interested in learning more. How Are You Powering Your Locations? The first thing that we’re going to say is that you need to think about how you are powering your locations. Whether it’s a business office, a warehouse, or any other large space, you need to think about the way that you are powering it. If you are using traditional electricity then you’re going to be contributing to part of the problem. We only have so much fossil fuel available, and it’s killing the planet to use. It’s a better idea to use a renewable form of power such as solar or wind, depending on where you live and the weather conditions. Look into this as an option if you can. We’re not saying that you have to completely rely on one or the other, you could use a combination as well as traditional power. Any power that’s coming from somewhere else is a bonus! Keep The Spaces Comfortable For Employees Employees work in a variety of places for your business. Again, perhaps some work in an office, some work in a warehouse, and some work in other locations, but they all need to be kept comfortable. For example, if we take the warehouse and you think about it, it’s not that comfortable, right? You’re not going to have couches and plush chairs all over the place, but you can still make it as comfortable as possible. You could use an industrial drum fan or something similar to keep the space cool, ensuring that your employees are content working there. Ensure Recycling Is A Top Priority The final important point that we want to make is that you should ensure that recycling is a top priority . It has been pushed on people for a long time now, and it’s essential that you are doing this to the best of your ability. Reusing materials wherever possible gives your company a more sustainable approach to business, setting the example for others. Recycling is the very least that you can do, it’s not hard, but it makes a world of difference to the planet. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should be doing to ensure that your business is comfortable and sustainable. We do understand that for some companies this is going to be a little more difficult than others, but there are always ways if you are dedicated enough. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage going forward.

Is Your Small Business an Appealing Place to Work?

By Julie Starr • 07 May, 2024
Bringing passionate, enthusiastic and talented people into your business is obviously a top priority when you’re growing a company. However, the only way to onboard the brightest talent is by ensuring that your brand is an appealing place to work. Driven employees have certain expectations when it comes to choosing their ideal workplace, so you need to show them what you have to offer. Whether you’re looking into your business ethos , or reassessing certain compensation plans, you can do so much to ensure you’re attracting the best possible employees. Consider some of the following methods and your small business will soon be the go-to place for skilled, driven and talented individuals to work. Pay and Benefits Should Be Competitive When you’re running a small business, the idea of paying regular salaries to your employees will always be on your mind. Keeping up with bills and ever rising costs will never be easy, but you have to offer a competitive salary in order to attract the right type of people to your business. You should also consider all elements of a compensation plan so that your employees always feel valued for their contributions at your workplace. It may be worth talking to your current staff members to see what would be most important to them so you can assess it in the near future. Create a Career Development Plan Working towards the next goal is certainly something that most career driven individuals are keen to do. Staying stagnant in the same role for a prolonged period of time can reduce motivation and cause issues with staff retention. Making sure that there are clear progression opportunities will help to bring in the most talented and focused employees who are willing to put in the work and climb the ladder within your business. Adopt an Eco-Conscious Approach More and more employees are looking for workplaces that put the environment at the forefront and actively choose sustainable processes. Taking care of the planet and going green with your business may help you to align with the right talent for your company. Although this might not be the priority of everyone, it’s certainly a very popular value that a number of people carry in the modern day. Working in an environment where sustainability is a priority is extremely appealing and these people will help you to work alongside like minded colleagues within your business. Your small business goes above and beyond you as an individual; it’s also about the people who work for you and the potential employees you could be onboarding very soon. You can be sure that you’re reaching out to the right type of people and attracting the best possible talent by offering competitive salaries and benefits and working in a sustainable way that always keeps the environment in mind too. Hopefully, these ideas will give you a huge advantage when it comes to bringing in new people who would be an asset to your business.
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