Going Green in Your Business: Tips for Every Department

Julie Starr • August 23, 2022



When it comes to going green in your business, there are a lot of things to think about. It’s not just about installing energy-efficient lightbulbs and recycling paper anymore. In order to make your business more environmentally friendly, you need to think about every aspect of it – from the accounting department to the marketing department. This article will provide tips for how to go green in every department of your business. 

One of the most important things you can do to make your business more environmentally friendly is to focus on energy efficiency. This means using less energy overall, which will save you money and help the environment. There are a lot of ways to make your business more energy efficient, but some simple tips include turning off lights and equipment when they’re not in use, using power strips so that you can quickly turn off multiple devices at once, and investing in energy-efficient appliances. 

But that is not all; each department in your business can go green.

Accounting

In the accounting department, one way to be more environmentally friendly is by going paperless as much as possible. This means using electronic invoicing and billing instead of paper whenever possible. Not only will this save trees, but it will also be more efficient for your accounting department. You can also encourage your employees to use digital filing instead of paper filing whenever possible.

Marketing

The marketing department is another area where you can go green. One way to do this is by using eco-friendly promotional materials, such as recycled paper for flyers and brochures. You can also use digital marketing techniques instead of traditional methods, such as direct mail. Additionally, you can host environmentally friendly events, such as tree planting days or beach cleanups.

HR

The HR department is another area where you can implement sustainability practices. One way to do this is by offering incentives for employees who carpool or use public transportation. Additionally, you can host educational seminars on sustainability for your employees.

IT

 

The IT department is another area of your business that can be more environmentally friendly. One way to do this is by setting up computers to go into standby mode when they’re not in use. You can also encourage your employees to use video conferencing instead of traveling for meetings. Additionally, you can recycle old computers and electronic equipment. From here, you could also work with a National IT Management Company for further tips and tricks on green infrastructure.

 

Product Development

If your business creates products, sustainability should be a key consideration in product development. One way to do this is by using recycled materials whenever possible. You can also develop products designed to be energy efficient or have a smaller carbon footprint. Additionally, you can create packaging made from recycled materials and easy to recycle. 

When searching for sustainable suppliers for your product, be sure to ask them these sustainability questions . It is essential because their sustainability practices will have an effect on your product, company, and the environment. 

Shipping

If your business ships products, then you can make the shipping process more environmentally friendly. One way to do this is by using recycled materials for packaging. You can also use biodegradable packing peanuts or bubble wrap. Additionally, you can use more fuel-efficient shipping methods, such as ground shipping instead of air shipping.

Customer Service

The customer service department is another area of your business where you can be more environmentally friendly. One way to do this is by using digital methods instead of paper whenever possible. For example, you can send e-statements or invoices instead of paper statements or invoices. You can also use a live chat feature on your website instead of telephone calls. Additionally, you can recycle any packaging that is sent back to your company. 

Facilities

The facilities department is responsible for the upkeep of your office or store. However, there are many ways to make this department more environmentally friendly. One way to do this is by using green cleaning products such as those that are made from recycled materials or biodegradable. Additionally, you can create a recycling program for office supplies and paper.

Going green doesn’t have to be complicated – there are a lot of small changes you can make in every department of your business that will add up to significant results. Implementing some of these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making your business sustainable. 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.