How Your Business Can Become More Sustainable

Julie Starr • December 16, 2021



This blog post will discuss some ways to make your business more sustainable . The first step is to reduce the amount of energy you use at your office by using less power and switching out old appliances for new Office Technology Solutions . Next, look at how often you print documents and see if there are any alternatives like scanning or emailing them instead. Finally, try increasing recycling in your building by adding recycling bins or, even better yet, composting!

Reducing Energy Consumption

One of the most important ways to make your business more sustainable is to reduce energy consumption. There are several things you can do to accomplish this, such as:

-Installing energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures

-Making sure all appliances are turned off when not in use

-Encouraging employees to turn off lights, computers, etc. when they leave the office

-Replace old appliances with newer models that are more energy efficient

You can determine how much you’re currently spending on electricity by checking your electric bill for the kilowatt-hours (kWh) used per month or year. By reducing your kWh using these tips, you will help reduce your energy consumption.

Start Recycling

You probably already recycle at home, but did you know that it’s just as easy to do so in the workplace? Recycling can be pretty straightforward, depending on how many people work for your company and where your office is. You could even partner with a local shop or restaurant nearby to ensure all of that recyclable material gets where it needs to go!

Get Into A Greener Mindset

One way is to get into a green mindset. It would help if you were willing to do whatever it takes for your business, including cutting down on electricity usage or adding recycled materials. This means even if something costs double what another product would cost, you need to be willing to put your money where your mouth is and commit.

Many people think that sustainability and being green are synonymous with sacrifice, but it doesn’t have to be. You can make small changes that will add up over time and significantly impact.

Promoting Good Health In The Workplace

Promoting employees’ health is not only good for them, but it can also help your business save money. There are several ways to get started with improving employee wellness to create a more sustainable work environment. Making small changes every day will add up over time and net you better results than an intense push all at once.   There are a few simple things that you can do right away to improve the health of your employees:

-Provide water bottles in break rooms for everyone and encourage them to refill their bottles throughout the day rather than buying disposable cups or plastic bottles.

-Promote healthy snacks by keeping fruit available at all times and plenty of low-calorie snacks.

-Create a culture of physical activity by offering discounted or free gym memberships, organizing walking meetings, and having wellness challenges throughout the year.

Promoting Teamwork In The Workplace

Sustainability is not only about reducing negative environmental impact. It is also about creating a workplace culture that values teamwork and cooperation. When employees feel like they are part of a team, they are more likely to be committed to the company’s goals and objectives.

There are many ways to promote teamwork in the workplace. For example, some companies have implemented team-building exercises, such as group problem solving or scavenger hunts. Others have created committees or task forces that allow employees to work together on specific projects. Whatever method you choose, the most important thing is to make sure everyone in the company is aware of the goals and objectives of the sustainability initiative.

Promoting Green Living Among Fellow Employees

One of the most important ways to make your business more sustainable is by promoting green living among your fellow employees. People can do many small things in their everyday lives to help reduce their environmental impact. Some simple tips for promoting green living among your colleagues include:

-Encouraging them to carpool or take public transportation whenever possible

-Making sure office equipment is turned off when not in use

-Using recycled paper products and biodegradable cleaning supplies

-Promoting energy conservation by turning off lights and computers when they’re not in use

-Organizing community outreach events to clean up parks and rivers

-Providing information about eco-friendly products in the office break room

Promoting green living among your employees will encourage them to take small steps every day that add up over time.  Your business may not be able to become fully sustainable, but you can make an effort to reduce your environmental impact. There are many ways that companies of all shapes and sizes can do this! Implementing some of these changes can help your business run smoother and be more profitable in the long run. In addition, promoting sustainable practices among your employees can help improve their quality of life while also positively impacting the environment.

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.