The Sustainability Of Remote Business

Julie Starr • May 20, 2020



A lot of businesses have had to live, at some scale, with remote working as a reality rather than an option. However, it has shown many businesses the benefits of going remote, not just for the productivity and work-life balance of the team, but also for the sustainability of the business. Here are four key ways in which a remote team could be a more sustainable one.

Cutting the commute
While some remote workers might be considered “digital nomads,” and are constantly on the move, this isn’t the case for most remote workers. In fact, most people working remotely will do so from their home, meaning they lose all the environmental impact of traveling back and forth from the office every single day. To see how much your business could help cut the carbon emissions of your team, there are commute emission tracking websites made to precisely that purpose. You can see just how much greener your business could be by cutting the commute alone.

Downsizing the office
There are a lot of ways that an employer can help make their office a greener place. However, the fact is that such a concentration of resources and people is likely to be a place where a lot of waste is generated. With remote working, you don’t have the waste of the office to deal with. You can still maintain the professional image your business needs with a virtual physical address , too, if you’re worried about how not having an office would impact your business. Similarly, without an office, you don’t need to purchase all the technology to equip your workers to do their job there, either. In a remote set-up, most employees will work with their own tech.

Passing on the paper
 One of the resources you’re going to cut down most on when going remote is the amount of paper purchased and used. Going paperless is one of the biggest steps an office can take towards going sustainable. In the average office, it’s estimated that 70% of all the waste produced is mixed paper products. As recyclable as it is, not all of it will be able to be reused and when the average office goes through about 2 pounds worth of mixed paper a day, the remote paperless option can be a huge improvement.

Empowering remote employees
 The one potential disadvantage of going remote in your business is that you don’t have the ability to influence the environment of your workers or to get them to work in a more sustainable workspace. At least, you don’t have that option directly. You can, however, incentivize them to make their own home office a little greener . For instance, you can introduce a scheme by where they can purchase some green home installations, like LED bulbs, at a discount through the company.

Another great way to empower your employees to lead the way to sustainability while working from home is to create sustainability programs. It is common for companies to have multiple employee programs that are voluntary; however, if you want to achieve sustainability, consider having a program related to this and making it mandatory for all employees to participate.

Including your workers regardless of location is an incredible way to ensure everyone is on board and adheres to measures. Also, ensure you enact the proper communication channels for employees to air out their views, get assistance and advice where need be, and suggest better methods.

Lastly, to empower your employees effectively, it would be wise to reward all efforts. Nothing is as great as celebrating success, no matter how trivial it is, by rewarding efforts. It can be as simple as sending out business thank you cards to anyone who promoted sustainability, be it your employees, sponsors, or community members. You can also give the requisite recognition honors to participants.

From cutting the carbon emissions of traveling to reducing paper use as best as possible, it’s clear that remote working could be the future of the sustainable office as we know it.

Embracing Sustainability: How To Shift Your Business Efforts For A Greener Future

By Julie Starr • 26 Apr, 2024
Imagine walking into a world where every business breathes sustainability. Great, right? That’s where we’re all headed, and today, we’re looking into how your business can join this green revolution. It’s not just about planting trees or cutting back on plastic; it’s about a total game-change in how we think about business. Reimagining Your Supply Chain Alright, let’s talk about your supply chain. It’s the backbone of your company, and it might be time to give it a little eco-friendly makeover. Instead of just churning products through a one-way street from creation to landfill, think about making it a circular journey. How? By designing products that can be recycled or reused at the end of their life. This little twist not only reduces waste but could also save you some money and spark some serious innovation. Investing In Sustainable Technologies Now, onto tech. Investing in the latest tech can seem like a luxury, but when it comes to sustainability, it’s more of a necessity. Technologies like AI can make your operations super efficient, slashing energy costs and reducing waste before it even happens. And then there’s blockchain. It’s not just for crypto enthusiasts; it can help you keep your supply chain transparent, letting everyone check if you’re keeping your green promises. Empowering Employees And Building A Culture Of Sustainability But technology and plans are only part of the picture. The real magic happens when your team gets in on the action. Start with some fun workshops or team challenges—anything that gets everyone thinking about sustainability. Maybe set up a green squad within the company who can lead the charge and come up with fresh ideas. Remember, if your team is excited about a project, they’ll put their hearts into making it work. Customizing Your Sustainable Transformation Tailoring your sustainability efforts can be tricky, but it’s a lot smoother with some expert guidance, like ZBrains’ Zoho Consulting services. They’re great at tweaking Zoho’s tools to fit just right with what your business needs. Need to track your energy usage or cut down on waste? They’ve got an app for that. Automation? Yep, they can make those repetitive tasks disappear, too, all while keeping Mother Earth happy. Building Partnerships For Sustainable Innovation Going solo can be tough. Why not buddy up? Collaborating with other companies or non-profits can lead to some groundbreaking eco-friendly innovations. It’s all about sharing what you know, pooling resources, and sometimes, pushing for changes that make it easier for businesses to be green. Plus, working together means you can share the spotlight when your cool new sustainable project hits the headlines! Going Beyond Compliance Lastly, don’t just play by the rules—aim higher. There’s a whole world of eco-certifications out there that can push your business to do better. Whether it’s getting a LEED certification or joining the ranks of B Corps, going the extra mile not only helps the planet but also polishes your brand’s reputation. Think about it: customers love companies that care, so why not be the one they love? Conclusion Switching up your business to be more sustainable might seem like a big leap, but it’s all about taking one step at a time. Whether it’s rethinking your supply chain or empowering your team to lead the charge, every little action counts. Ready to start? Let’s make your business not just better, but greener and more resilient for the future.

How To Identify Companies That Match Your Values

By Julie Starr • 22 Apr, 2024
As you try to develop a sustainable brand , you need to consider what other companies you work with. These could be collaboration opportunities or suppliers and vendors that help you develop the product or service you want to sell. But, many companies may not share your values, so how can you identify the right companies that meet your eco-friendly attitude? Make Use Of Marketing Platforms It's frustrating to reach out to multiple companies to identify collaboration opportunities. For one, there’s no guarantee you even get a response, and cold emailing or other measures are rarely successful. However, you can use marketing platforms and their many features and resources to companies or influencers that align more closely with what you feel is right. Various platforms offer unique options that enable you to whittle down possible companies until you find the perfect match, saving you plenty of time. Research Their Website However, you can’t just leap into any partnership since these platforms may have outdated information, or companies could have selected everything they think will get them a partnership. As with any approach, extra research is essential. Once you’ve identified a company that seems to match your values, it’s with checking out their website. Look at their blog and customer reviews to get an idea of where their ideals lie so you can get a more transparent picture. Meet With Companies Businesses can also meet directly with potential companies when they have established the possibility of a partnership. Whether you’re looking for a better green transport service or need central laboratory services , having face-to-face conversations is a must. You can open discussions via video calls before arranging an in-person meeting which gives you the chance to visit their location, such as an office or warehouse, to ensure that you aren’t stepping into something you may regret. Look For Accreditation and Certification Modern businesses require certification and accreditation to back up claims they are the most sustainable or to prove they have adhered to necessary compliance laws and regulations. Usually, you can find this on their website but there could also be PR pieces on various industry news sites that can prove the company has obtained the necessary certificates. Identifying these certificates will add confidence they are the right company to work with. Offer Value To Them While you hope the potential partnership brings value to your company, you also need to provide value to them. This point is key for strategic collaboration as it otherwise means you take without offering anything in return. Consider what your business can do, such as increase their awareness or help them develop new research projects. In doing so, you will have a mutually beneficial partnership that helps both companies achieve the goals they have outlined for the year. Values and Value Every partnership or collaboration should bring value. This value should apply to your business and any partnerships but also your customers. If you can identify companies that align with your brand values, you’ll have an easier time developing a positive relationship that ensures you stay on track to meet your goals.
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