How to Go About a Green Rebrand of Your Business

Julie Starr • May 19, 2022



Today, customers expect the businesses they buy from to take an interest in the wider world and the issues that really matter. And one of those issues is the planet and the climate situation. If you want to show your customers that you’re engaged and that you’re taking these issues seriously, it might be time for a green rebrand.

We’re going to talk today about how you can approach a green rebrand for your business, what it might look like and how you should communicate these changes to your audience. So read on now and find out more about that.

Go Beyond the Image

First of all, it’s important to remember that the image and outward appearance of the changes you’re making is less important than the actual image. The most unethical thing you could do is to project an outward image of being sustainable and environmentally friendly if you’re actually doing nothing to make sustainable changes. So make sure that you’re going behind the image here and actually make the kinds of changes that’ll have an impact.

Donate to Environmental Charities

Many businesses get involved in some sort of charitable giving or fundraising, and that definitely helps to improve perceptions of your business . If you’re already giving to charities and you’re looking to switch things up by giving to some different charities, now is the perfect time to find good causes that are supporting environmental protections and other green causes. These are exactly the kinds of charities that you want your business to be seen supporting.

Conduct Energy Audits

If your business uses a lot of energy, it makes sense to carry out a full audit so you can get clear of how and where your energy consumption is being used. When you understand the way in which you’re consuming energy, you can look for ways to cut back and use less of it in certain areas. You might also want to introduce your own renewable energy sources via solar panels or wind turbines.

Use Your Platform for Green Messaging

When your business has a strong platform and people listen to the things you say, many people would argue that you have a real responsibility to use that platform for good. That might mean looking for ways in which you can spread green messages and make sure that people keep talking about it. For real change to happen, it needs to be a priority issue for governments and powerful organizations worldwide.

Shout About the Changes You’re Making on Your Website and Social Media

It’s definitely important to make it known that you’re making these kinds of changes to your business. There are two sides to these kinds of changes. First of all, you want to do what’s right, and you want to run your business sustainably. But you also want to show your audience that you care and that you’re engaged with the issues that matter. That’s why talking about your rebrand, and the changes you’re making via your social media pages and web page is definitely important.

Change a Visible Aspect of Your Products

If your business sells products, it might be a good idea to think about the materials you use to make them and how they might be made a little greener going forward. For example, you could try to use less plastic or try to make your products using more recycled materials. Another thing to think about is the packaging that you use for your products. Lots of businesses are now trying to ditch plastic packaging and trying to find more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives.

Go Local

Choosing a more local approach to sourcing your supplies and materials is something else you want to consider. When you order products from the other side of the world, it takes a lot of energy and emissions to get them to your location, which obviously puts a strain on the environment. That’s why a more local approach to running your business is ultimately a lot better for the environment, so that’s something you should at least think about.

It’s important to consider the various things that have been discussed here today if you’re seriously thinking about rebranding your business. Doing so doesn’t need to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to be something that holds your business back in any way. In fact, it’ll help you take things in a more positive direction.

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.