It's A Golden Age To Go Green With Your Self-Storage Business, And Here's How

Julie Starr • July 12, 2024

We live in an age where two-thirds of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-conscious products. As environmentally friendly operations go, self-storage facilities at least seem like they’ve got it right. After all, this is a business model quite literally founded on the idea of reducing waste. Without self-storage units, it’s certainly safe to say there’d be a lot more waste in landfills right now! 


Unfortunately, when you look at self-storage businesses through a green gaze, it’s also plain to see that there are flaws in traditional models. Self-storage units are typically accessible 24/7, for instance, and are responsible for burning a significant amount of energy. Then there are the levels of waste these companies typically produce, as well as the need for things like always-on heating.


But all is not lost. Self-storage companies that already have an eco upper hand can easily turn to methods that will create a more sustainable business. In this article, we’ll consider how your self-storage company can go green for good. 


A Focus on Building Design

The majority of self-storage companies operate from within intrinsically green commercial steel buildings, which can be easily removed and recycled, at a moment’s notice. This is great news from a sustainability standpoint, but it’s possible to take that even further.


This is especially true from an insulation standpoint, when in-built insulation methods can reduce the need for HVAC systems that are always on full power. Equally, making the most of natural lighting with large windows can reduce the need for bright strip lighting throughout the day. These may seem like simple steps, but thinking about them from the moment you decide to pursue a self-storage setup can lead to significant financial savings and, more importantly, truly sustainable operations. 


Automated Energy Savings

Self-storage units tend to operate on 24/7 self-serve models as standard, meaning that strip lights may be on all night. Equally, most competitive self-storage companies offer continual heating services to keep client belongings in top condition. 


These are crucial offerings in the industry, but they come at a steep environmental cost. Luckily, that’s a cost you can easily overcome by using automated energy functions. Something as simple as sensor-led LED lighting can slash energy outputs overnight. Equally, HVAC systems that automatically turn off once individual units reach a certain temperature can make a world of difference to heating bills and usage, thus creating a more sustainable business and reducing costs.


Waste-Reduction Initiatives

Self-storage units that often provide packing materials to their clients can be guilty of wasteful practices. The use of fully recycled cardboard is the most obvious way around this, as are recycling programs and composting initiatives. 

Many self-storage companies also find it beneficial to introduce a ‘box-for-life’ strategy, which means that any broken client boxes are immediately replaced with recycled options on-site. This minimizes the risk of poorly-sourced, brand new boxes company-wide. 


Takeaway

Self-storage operations seem sustainable, but most companies in this area could do better. Lead that change by putting these green self-storage go-tos into action.

How Outsourcing Services Can Help Your Business Advance Sustainability Goals

By Julie Starr • April 20, 2025
Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative. From shifting customer expectations to regulatory momentum and investor pressure, today’s competitive landscape demands more than short-term cost savings. Companies are being called to demonstrate leadership by embedding sustainable practices across their value chain. For many organizations, this transformation can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Strategic outsourcing can unlock both environmental benefits and operational efficiency—helping your company do more with less while strengthening its sustainability performance. By partnering with service providers who specialize in sustainability, you can streamline operations, reduce environmental impact, and build trust with customers, employees, and investors alike. Below are some key areas where outsourcing can support your sustainability journey. Green Energy Consulting Services Are you wondering how to lower energy consumption without impacting business performance? Green energy consultants specialize in reducing carbon footprints through practical, scalable solutions. These experts analyze your energy usage and identify opportunities like switching to renewables, upgrading to energy-saving systems, or adopting smart technologies. Outsourcing initiatives such as solar panel installation or wind-powered electricity procurement signals your organization’s long-term commitment to environmental leadership. And as with many sustainability investments, the result is not just impact—it’s also efficiency and cost savings. Framed in the right way, these actions can become powerful stories that demonstrate your company's values to customers and stakeholders. Sustainable Supply Chain Management A sustainable supply chain is essential for companies aiming to lead in today’s circular economy. Third-party logistics providers and supply chain consultants can help in auditing your supply chain to uncover inefficiencies, and recommend improvements aligned with eco-conscious goals. By outsourcing this function, you gain access to experts who help embed sustainability into procurement practices—using local materials, reducing waste, and improving freight efficiency. Many providers can also connect you with suppliers that share your environmental standards, enabling a cohesive approach to sustainable sourcing. These supply chain enhancements not only reduce emissions and waste—they also reinforce your brand’s environmental credibility across the stakeholder ecosystem. Eco-Friendly IT and Cloud Computing Running a tech-intensive business? Traditional on-site data centers are energy-intensive. Outsourcing IT infrastructure to green cloud providers can dramatically lower your environmental impact. Cloud vendors who use renewable energy for data storage and server operations offer an efficient alternative to on-premise solutions. They also reduce hardware waste and improve system performance—making them both eco-friendly and future-ready. For organizations prioritizing digital sustainability, this move can be a cornerstone of your environmental strategy—and a strong signal of innovation to your stakeholders. Sustainable Junk Removal Services Sustainable operations include responsible waste management. Outsourcing junk removal to companies that prioritize recycling and charitable donations keeps unnecessary items out of landfills and extends the life cycle of materials. These services allow businesses and individuals to declutter responsibly, supporting both environmental and community well-being. It’s a simple but visible action that can reinforce your sustainability message both internally and externally. Carbon Offsetting Services Not all emissions can be eliminated—but many can be offset. Specialized outsourcing firms help companies calculate, track, and neutralize their carbon emissions through strategic reforestation projects , renewable energy, or community resilience projects. These providers simplify the path to carbon neutrality, enabling your business to meet emissions targets without overwhelming internal resources. When shared transparently, these efforts can build credibility and show stakeholders your commitment to real climate action. Green Building and Facility Services For organizations with a physical footprint, outsourcing to green building service providers supports both environmental and business performance. Whether you're retrofitting with energy-efficient systems, reimagining interior layouts for LEED certification, or upgrading lighting and HVAC, retrofitting to eco-friendly office design supports long-term thinking. Outsourcing this expertise ensures you’re not only meeting today’s expectations—but also building for tomorrow’s workforce and market needs. Outsourced R&D for Sustainable Products Developing greener products doesn’t need to be done in-house. By outsourcing R&D to sustainability-focused experts, your company can bring innovative ideas—like biodegradable packaging or low-impact materials—to market faster. These partnerships inject creativity and specialized knowledge into your product development pipeline, helping you stay ahead of regulatory shifts and consumer demand. More importantly, they support a brand narrative rooted in innovation and responsibility. Conclusion: Aligning Profit with Purpose Sustainability isn’t just about compliance—it’s about competitiveness, resilience, and leadership. Outsourcing to sustainability-minded providers allows your business to focus on core strengths while accelerating progress toward environmental and ESG goals. From energy and IT to supply chain and product development, these partnerships offer a smart path forward—one that balances operational efficiency with lasting impact.  At its best, sustainable outsourcing isn’t a sideline strategy. It’s a meaningful part of how forward-thinking companies align profit with purpose—and demonstrate what’s possible when businesses lead with values.

Ways the Agriculture Industry is Changing Rapidly

By Julie Starr • April 18, 2025
If you are running a business that is in the field of agriculture at all, there are a whole host of changes that are happening at a rapid rate. You certainly need to make sure that you are keeping one eye on these as they are happening - no matter whether you run a business that is directly related to this area or you are simply adjacent to it. Here are just a few of the main ways that the agriculture industry is changing at the moment. Rapid advances in tech Like almost every other industry on the planet, the number of changes that are occurring in the agriculture industry are staggering. If you don’t keep a close eye on these changes, you are more than likely to be left behind the people that are. So, you will need to look closer at the future of biotechnology in agriculture amongst other things. There are also several other distinct ways that tech is changing agriculture. First of all, there is the increased mechanization and automation that is occurring. This is likely to be developed further by the AI revolution that is happening at an increasingly rapid rate. Precision farming is also an area that is developing at a rapid rate. This essentially means more closely monitoring a whole range of different areas from pest control to research management. On top of this, there is also a move towards methods of more urban farming, which often looks at the possibility of vertical farms as well as those that can take place in an indoor environment. Changes in the environment As the effects of climate change continue to matter in a whole host of different areas, it is certainly the case that this is going to make a difference to the world of agriculture. There are more and more practices that are being developed specifically to ensure that they are resistant to changes in the environment. This means that harvests can be just as big no matter what is going on in the external world. As weather patterns become more and more unpredictable, this is going to become increasingly vital. Focus on sustainability Again, this is a concern that impacts a lot of different industries, but there is no doubt that sustainability is going to have an impact on the world of agriculture. Ultimately, if things cannot be done in a sustainable way, this is going to have a huge effect on the world. This comes in a few different forms, but it certainly places focus on keeping soil health as good as possible, as well as keeping pesticide and fertilizer pollution down as low as it can be. Changes in diet There has been a big push towards vegetarianism and veganism over the past few years. There is no doubt that these changes in diet then have to be reflected in the agricultural industry as well. While there are many other changes that could be discussed, these are just a few of them.