Key Hacks to Make Your Business More Sustainable in 2022

Julie Starr • December 29, 2021



Running a successful modern business means successfully evolving to capture the essence of what the market and the consumer are seeking. You have to work out how to stay relevant as well as keep ahead of the competition right now. There are a lot of things that play a part in this process, and it is something that you should be looking to make the most of right now. 

One of the key things you can do when trying to run a modern company is to make sure you work on making the brand and business more sustainable. This comes with so many benefits, and there are a lot of great ways of being able to achieve this. Try to think about some of the best ways of being able to make your company better, and do what you can to boost sustainability as much as possible as a business owner. 

Let Your Employees Work Remotely

Letting your employees work remotely is an excellent way of making the company more sustainable and doing your bit for the environment. But, even more than that, it also has the added bonus of making sense as a measure against COVID, as well as helping the company in the event of another global lockdown. Working from home boosts efficiency, cuts down on carbon emissions, and increases the likelihood of more people being able to do their jobs more often. This is one of the key measures you should take if you are looking to try to make your company more sustainable in the process too. 

Go Paperless

So many businesses these days are taking the plunge and doing what they can to go paperless as much as possible. This is something that you need to try to make the most of moving forward right now, and there are a lot of things that you can do to help you improve upon this as much as possible. Going paperless is not only environmentally friendly but also highly efficient too. It’s a great way of being able to improve productivity and help the company become better organized as a result. There are so many great ideas you can use to help you improve your business, but going paperless is one of the most effective right now. 

Choose Your Partnerships Carefully

Choosing your partnerships very carefully is one of the best things that you can do to help your company thrive and grow, as well as to maintain sustainability as much as possible. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and you need to try to make sure you focus on the best ways of being able to achieve this right now. Selecting companies that are ethical and sustainable to partner with is hugely important, and there are a lot of things that can play a part in this process. Try to make sure you come up with some of the best ways of being able to achieve this, and use it as a move that will make your brand more sustainable and successful in the process.

Buy Greener Products

One of the best things you can do to make for a more sustainable business is to make sure you buy greener products and services. Of course, it goes without saying that you will need to ensure you provide your customers with greener products, and this is something that plays a big role in this as much as possible. But, stocking up your business with essential products is a vital part of the day-to-day running of any successful brand. And, this is where, when it comes to things like low temp refrigeration , you can make a big change by going green as much as possible when it comes to improving your company. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and it is important to come up with ideas that will help you make this better. 

Sustainable Packaging

Packaging can be one of the areas where so many businesses fall down in a bid to keep things as environmentally sound as possible. So, you need to try to come up with some of the best ways of being able to switch up your packaging so that it is more sustainable and eco-friendly. This is one of the best things you can do when it comes to improving your company and making things more eco-friendly in the process. There are plenty of things you can use to help you improve your company’s packaging as much as possible. 

Cut Down on Water Use

Using less water is a great way of being more environmentally friendly, so your company needs to look at some of the best ways of being able to cut down on its water use . Within the working environment, you can come up with some excellent ways of achieving this, such as fixing any taps or pipes that are dripping and getting low-flow toilets installed. These are just a few of the key ways of being able to make your company more sustainable and green in the future. This is something that you have to try to make the most of as much as you can. 

Set a Green Example

Setting a green example for your employees is a great place to begin when it comes to trying to make the company more sustainable. So, there are a lot of things that play a part in this, and it is important to ensure you do the best you can to come up with some of the best ways of achieving this, such as making recycling a key part of the company and trying to reduce your own carbon footprint.

There are a lot of things that you can do to help make your business more sustainable and embrace a greener way of doing things. These are some of the best hacks that you can use that will help you approach this in the best possible way. Try to take steps to help you improve and enhance your company, and make it the best it can possibly be right now. This is something that you can achieve through a more sustainable business. 

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.