Sustainability Ideas for Your Business

Julie Starr • June 11, 2021



In the past cost reduction was all that mattered to businesses that wanted to turn a profit and grow, but these days the motivations and practices need to be more sustainable and progressive to achieve the same results. This is largely due to changes in consumer demand, culture, and government policies. 

So how can you make your business more sustainable? You can start by reading the ideas in this article and taking steps to implement them in your business. If you’re not thinking about sustainable packaging and ethical distribution channels today, you will be in the near future. 

Change you packaging 

The days of cheap plastic packaging are all but over, even companies that still use it will admit that it’s less viable due to the changes in customer expectations. Additionally, sustainable packaging can also be cheap and it provides an effective marketing tool. 

If your business is using cheaply produced plastic it’s an excellent area to look at to grow your business and make it more progressive. Sustainable packaging can be FSC cardboard or biodegradable plastic. 

Redesign your distribution 

Making your business more sustainable is about looking at your processes and materials and making decisions based on environmental and marketing criteria. When it comes to your distribution channels there is likely to be room for improvement. 

Initially, businesses are set up to be as cost-effective as possible, but that isn’t always the most sustainable methodology. Today’s savvy consumers are well aware of distribution channels and can see how a company performs on sustainability. 

Take sustainable payments

The world of payment processing is changing and becoming more sustainable as a result. Digital wallets and online money might not be in the mainstream just yet but with more platforms and systems emerging, like card scanners , it’s only a matter of time. 

So how is this way of taking payments more sustainable? In the first instance, there is no paper money, instead, there are ——, so there is a smaller carbon footprint as a result. Unlike cash, digital payments only use a fraction of the energy to produce and distribute. 

Chemical-free cleaning 

If you want to make your business more sustainable you need to target the big stuff like your distribution channels and your packaging, but equally, you need to think about how your company is running internally and whether you need to introduce more eco-friendly products. 

Chemical-free cleaning is easier than ever with more brands and products catering to this practice. Chemical-free cleaning is often as effective as products using bleach and other chemicals that are damaging to the water supply.

Energy efficiency 

As with Chemical-free cleaning within your business you need to look at the energy efficiency of your building to see if you can make any reductions and savings. Considering your business energy efficiency is both sustainable and cost-effective. 

Some ideas include investing in eco-friendly appliances like eco kettles and smaller computers and laptops with a variety of standby features. You might also optimize your office for energy efficiency and install a smart meter to track energy usage.

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.