How Technology And Automation Makes Businesses More Eco-Friendly

Julie Starr • Oct 13, 2021



Companies throughout the world are increasingly focusing on developing sustainable business models, as they strive to become more environmentally aware. Consider how the “Greta Thunberg Effect” is inspiring both consumers and businesses to make more environmentally friendly buying decisions, and how it impacts the way companies do business. 

Business branding can help companies show their commitment to the environment. Corporate value is being built by going green. Resources are being conserved so future generations can still enjoy these resources. Automating the accounts payable department, for example, will lead to a decrease in paper use, thereby helping the environment.

Making A Business Model That Is Environmentally Friendly

As global markets adhere to environmental protection guidelines, companies have to cultivate a sustainable business model. In a recent statement, the European Parliament emphasized the urgency of fighting climate change. Companies need to incorporate going green into their overall business objectives, with the rise of environmental awareness around the globe. Thinking outside the box can go a long way towards protecting the earth’s precious resources, such as automating AP processes and Microservices to create a paperless environment. 

Going green and showing your commitment to this international cause can be achieved by reducing the use of resources. Be prepared to deal with obstacles and imperfections as you pursue environmental awareness. To show the community that your efforts are worthwhile, share your struggles and victories with them. Make going green an integral part of your company’s marketing and PR campaigns. Benchmark your company’s performance against industry benchmarks. Mention ways your company has reduced the amount of paper collected and stored, and how this has had a positive impact on the environment. Read More about other technologies that can help to achieve this. 

Developing Your Green Business Branding

Consistently and subtly communicating to consumers that your company’s mission is to conserve and protect our natural resources is one way to tell them your company is environmentally responsible. Showing that your business is environmentally conscious can be as simple as participating and sponsoring local cleanup campaigns and finding industry-specific ways to conserve resources. With automation, no paperwork is needed, no storage space is needed, and no staff is needed to manage these processes.

A Competitive Advantage 

Modern businesses face intense competition, which makes staying current crucial. In order to understand how consumer behaviors and perceptions are affected by global concerns, companies need to keep up with current events. Staying on top of global trends gives companies a competitive edge . A compelling cause in the world is environmental conservation. Being environmentally and socially responsible shows that a company cares more than its competitors. 

It is now so common for big international companies to promote a world-class green image that it has become more than just a buzzword. As consumers expect companies to be environmentally conscious of their operations, going green helps companies to increase their value today and into the future. In order to transform traditional companies into green enterprises, it is important to invest in and implement cutting-edge technologies such as AP automation, microservices, and information systems.

By Julie Starr 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.
By Julie Starr 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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