Making Changes To Be More Green In Business Is Necessary

Julie Starr • March 24, 2022



Being green and being sustainable are two of the most important things that businesses should be trying to do right now. We understand that not all companies know how to do this, and they don’t understand that there are some pretty simple changes that can be made that will make a huge difference on the planet as a whole. But, by the time you have finished reading this, you will have a better idea. In this article, we’re going to be talking about some of the things that you can do to change your business for the better, pushing it into greener territory. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Energy Uses

First, you can look at the way that your business uses energy. Electricity of course is the most common form of energy that we use both in business and in everyday life. However, the problem is that electricity is not sustainable and probably costs your business an arm and a leg every single month. The best way to avoid this is to look at a different type of energy to use. Now, there are a few options for you to consider, but the one that we are going to look at today is solar power .

While solar panels might cost you a fair chunk of money to set up, if you live somewhere where the sun shines a lot, it is more than going to pay for itself. It might not be possible in the beginning to completely rely on solar power, and it might never be because it is weather dependent, but any change here is a substantial one. If you can become less dependent on electricity as a form of energy, you are making a big impact on the planet.

Hire An Expert

It might be the case that you decide you don’t know that much about being sustainable or going green, so you are going to hire someone who does. They will be in charge of working out the best ways to make your business more sustainable and more green, helping move your business into the future. You can find these experts through a biotech recruitment agency or by advertising online, so it just depends on which way you want to do this.

You might not realize just how much you could be doing until you have this individual on your side. We promise that they are going to be a fantastic investment because it means that you know this side of your business is taken care of, without you having to try and sort it all out yourself.

Go Paperless

A lot of companies have already done this, but if you are one of the ones that is dragging behind, it’s time to go paperless . We live in the world of technology anyway, so what is the point of using paper for the majority of things anymore? We understand that there are some cases in which this is going to be necessary, but for the majority of things, you can go paperless. Do you know how many millions of trees are cut down needlessly every single year, only for paper to be wasted anyway? It’s not like we need the trees for oxygen or anything, or the planet needs them to balance it out.

It might seem inconvenient in the beginning, but it’s just an adjustment period. We’re sure that you can manage without the paper. Or, if you are really struggling, work on cutting down first and then going completely paperless. Sometimes doing it in steps makes the transition easier.

Recycle

We know that we just said to go paperless, but paper is not the only material that can be recycled. Throughout your business process, there are likely a lot of materials going to waste that can be recycled. If you throw them away without recycling then this is the end of their life cycle on the planet, but it shouldn’t be. Materials that can be recycled can be used for something else, making use of what we already have rather than having to come up with more for the sake of being lazy.

Recycling took off in households a number of years ago, but there are a lot of businesses that still haven’t caught on to the idea that this is what needs to happen. It’s not difficult to separate the recyclable waste from non-recyclable waste, and it doesn’t take a lot of time either. There really is no excuse for this.

Make Use Of Online

When it comes to things like advertising, make sure that you are making use of all the tools that are available to you online. For example, you can post on social media which will give you a far reach, much further than if you were marketing traditionally. Of course, traditional marketing is still alive and well and you can still utilize this, but you want to use online as much as you can. When you are using a sustainable power source to use your tech, and you are not using paper to advertise your business, you are doing a lot of good for the world.

Online will provide you with more potential than other methods anyway. You can post on a number of different platforms, getting the attention of more people than you probably thought possible without causing damage to the world. It’s a win-win for everyone, including the Earth.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the changes that you can make to your business in order to make it a little more green. If you can make any change to your business to make it slightly more green than it is right now, it’s a fantastic start. You don’t have to get everything sorted right away, and you don’t need to bring all the changes in at the same time. Every small step towards being more sustainable is better than none. We wish you the very best of luck.

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.