Ultimate Guide to Shifting Your Company into Eco-friendly Status

Julie Starr • November 3, 2021



Now more than ever, consumers are deeply researching their purchases. They want to make purchases from companies that are helping the environment, that are helping the world, not destroying it. A consumer cares and wants to know the values and ethics that a company has. Consumers are savvier more than ever, and this is only going to continue thanks to the web and the speed of widespread information. They’re actively seeking companies and products that align with their beliefs and that will want to be a part of the movement to help mother nature.

They’re willing to invest more money in products if it means that their families, loved ones, and the ecosystem can have a future on this planet. Today, businesses of all sizes are shifting towards sustainable practices. Customers are picking up on this and they have taken notice.  If you want to be one of the businesses that help save the Earth, then continue reading on how you can make both big and small changes in your company that can help the environment and allow you to gain more attention!

Look into saving energy

Looking into ways to save energy is one of the fundamental steps towards creating a more sustainable and eco-friendly business. Energy use can vary dramatically depending on the location, type, and size of a business. There are some simple ways to put a stop to this in your office such as switching all of your work to be remote (ditching the office), but there are also some other simple solutions that can be implemented as well:

  • Look into power management systems such as Energy Star
  • Switch your light bulbs
  • Bring in more direct light into the workspace
  • Use windows rather than AC in the summer months
  • Shut down all tech and lights after hours

While some of these may not be possible depending on the type of business and the type of work building (such as a store or office).

Take a look at your suppliers

Understandably, the cheapest route is going to be far more tempting but if you want to think about the environmental impact then keep in mind this may not be the best route. It may be time to look into your supply chain and possibly consider switching companies. This may help in clearing any efforts of exploitation (even if it’s not intentional).  Some questions you should ask yourself about your supplies should include “Are they fair-trade?”, “Are they sourced sustainably?”, “Are they made with recyclable or biodegradable materials?” or other questions that involve what type of product you’re needing for your business. This should also include your packaging materials. Consumers care about eco-friendly packaging so it’s best to begin looking into this as well.

Look into green delivery

If your business focuses more on retail or eCommerce, then this could be something to look into. Small businesses with a focus on sustainability tend to look into green delivery and green shipping methods. This can include logistic companies that have pick-up points, bike delivery drivers, or electric vehicles. This is one small way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint.  Some other tips for shipping and delivery can include:

  • Using as little paper as possible
  • Don’t put small packages into large boxes
  • Offer discounts on multiple orders
  • Look into cutting down on waste by having fewer boxes in the package

While it’s true many customers enjoy the unboxing experience, especially small business owners. It’s better to be as eco-friendly as possible and skip out on all the frills.

Use as little paper as possible

If you’re able to, try your best to switch the company into a paperless one. There is no need for sending out paper bills or invoices. The same can be said for documents. All of these can be used online and in digital format. There are special apps, websites, and software for sending out invoices. Internet banking is commonplace now. There are fillable PDF forms, so whenever you need signatures, this is a great alternative. Also, try to stop single-use paper. There isn’t a need for it, and this can even include toilet paper and paper towels as well.

Get your teammates onboard

Businesses create a lot of weight, far more waste than the average household.  Try to encourage everyone to begin recycling and reusing. This can be as simple as providing some recycling bins and a compost bin. There doesn’t need to be a lot of work. Encourage employees to bring in their lunch, encourage reusable containers. This can also include providing employees with a branded gift of a reusable shopping bag, water bottle, or even coffee cup. Other small ways to make a big impact can include:

  • Getting a rain collector
  • Switching to low-flow toilets and faucets
  • Discuss food waste in the workplace
  • Sell leftover cafeteria food
  • Encourage green initiative events such as a company cleanup
  • Encourage everyone to switch to sustainable commutes
  • Cut down on business trips

These are all small ways that you can help out in switching the lifestyle of your employees as well as the company culture as a whole.

Look into environmental certifications

Consumers are actively aware of business practices and they’re specifically wanting to purchase from companies that have the right certifications. It’s best to obtain a green business certification or some other type of sustainably-related certification. This shows your commitment to the environment and it’s also a way to get recognition from customers as well. Some examples can include:

There are plenty of other certifications out there and they can even vary by country or region. Just look into one that is obtainable for your business. 

Reduce unnecessary travel

It’s okay to admit that business trips are one of the best parts of work. But it’s best to cut down on them for the sake of the environment. The pandemic has proven that many meetings such as workshops, networking events, meetings, and socials can all be helped virtually. So it’s best to move forward and begin looking into a more eco-friendly way to continue these.

Minimizing travel is not only going to save a lot of money for the company but it’s also going to massively help the environment as well by cutting down your carbon footprint. This doesn’t mean that travel has to stop, but it’s best to only have company travel when it’s necessary. In the end, this is going to massively help with creating a more stable and productive business .

Make charitable contributions

If you’re wanting to offset your and your company’s environmental impact then it’s best to first begin actively supporting organizations that are aiming to help the environment. This can include conservatories, ethical charities, and those that aim to clean up our oceans. Some other ideas that you can do to help out can include

  • Donate a percentage of proceeds to environmental programs
  • Set up a fundraiser within your community
  • Start a promotion such as planting trees for every item sold
  • Getting your team on board and actively volunteering with these charities

This is a great way to create a relationship with a charitable organization while also gaining the trust of consumers as well.

Reach out and talk to consumers

It’s important to know what the consumers want. So why not go ahead and just ask? This can also include leading influencers within the industry or even a specific niche. You can ask influencers (your customers and social media followers too) what type of changes should be made to your business. They’re going to be very direct with what they believe is best. Also, listening to these customers and followers will make a big impact and a long-lasting positive impression.

 

Greener Clicks: How to Reduce Your Environmental Impact with Sustainable Digital Marketing

By Julie Starr • March 31, 2025
In the race to decarbonize our world, one area often overlooked is digital marketing. While it might seem inherently clean compared to print or physical campaigns, our online activities have a real and measurable environmental footprint. From servers powering your website to emails filling up inboxes, every click, stream, and scroll contributes to carbon emissions. At Taiga Company, we believe digital strategies can be powerful and low-impact. Here’s how to get started. Optimize for a Low-Carbon Web Why it matters: Websites and digital ads are hosted on servers that consume electricity, often powered by fossil fuels. Every time a user loads your site or ad, it uses energy. How to reduce your impact: Host green: Choose web hosts that use renewable energy or offset emissions. Clean up your code: Streamlined, efficient code reduces load times and energy use. Compress and reduce images: Smaller files mean faster pages and fewer emissions. Limit heavy media: Videos and animations are carbon-intensive; use them mindfully. A faster, leaner website isn’t just better for the planet—it also boosts SEO and user experience. Email Marketing with Intention Why it matters: Every email sent, received, and stored requires energy. Multiply that by millions of sends, and the impact adds up. How to reduce your impact: Clean your lists: Remove inactive subscribers to avoid waste. Segment wisely: Only send emails to those who will truly benefit. Use plain-text when possible: It’s lower in data and often more accessible. Reduce frequency: Send fewer, higher-quality emails with genuine value. Intentional emailing reduces not only emissions but also improves deliverability and engagement. Sustainable SEO and Content Strategy Why it matters: Search engines crawl, index, and serve up billions of web pages daily. Thoughtless content and bloated sites add to the load. How to reduce your impact: Create evergreen content: Focus on high-quality pages that stay relevant longer. Streamline your site structure: Fewer clicks to find content = less energy use. Use minimal plugins and scripts: Especially ones that load on every page. Green your CMS: Some content management systems are more resource-efficient than others. Sustainable SEO isn’t just eco-friendly—it’s good strategy. Fewer, better pieces often perform better than content mills. Rethink Marketing Automation Why it matters: Automated emails, ads, and data syncing can create a lot of digital clutter. That clutter eats up storage and energy. How to reduce your impact: Audit regularly: Retire old workflows and outdated automations. Optimize syncing: Reduce how often and how much data is transferred. Segment with purpose: Better targeting means fewer wasted sends. Use expiration dates: Don’t let outdated content or assets live forever. Efficient automation can reduce emissions and improve performance. Digital marketing isn’t going away—and it shouldn’t. It offers powerful tools for connection, education, and growth. But like all tools, it can be used more sustainably. At Taiga Company, we’re committed to helping organizations lower their environmental impact without sacrificing reach or results. Sustainable digital marketing is not only possible; it’s essential. Ready to make your marketing aligned with your company's corporate sustainability plan? Let’s start the conversation.

World Water Day 2025: How Beverage Brands Are Leading on Water—and Why Communicating It Matters

By Julie Starr • March 24, 2025
At Taiga Company, we work alongside brands who are not only doing the hard work of sustainability—but are learning how to talk about it in ways that connect with their stakeholders. This World Water Day , we’re reflecting on how leading beverage companies are advancing bold water stewardship goals and communicating those efforts clearly, thoughtfully, and strategically across digital platforms. Water is foundational to the beverage industry. From ingredient sourcing to packaging to community health, it’s a resource that demands attention—not just in terms of conservation, but in terms of how that commitment is shared with consumers, investors, regulators, and partners. Below, we’re highlighting three beverage companies whose recent water stewardship actions—and storytelling—stood out. PepsiCo: From Field to Community, Global Water Replenishment in Action PepsiCo launched 16 new water replenishment projects across nine countries in 2024 alone, restoring more than 1.7 billion liters of water to local ecosystems. These projects are practical and people-centered—ranging from irrigation efficiency in Texas to sustainable farming practices in the Dominican Republic. What stood out: clear project data, human-focused storytelling, and alignment with global frameworks. PepsiCo’s water webpage provides easy access to targets, progress updates, and case studies, helping stakeholders understand both the “why” and the “how.” Suntory Global Spirits: Water at the Heart of the Brand Suntory’s brands—from Maker’s Mark in Kentucky to Yamazaki in Japan—share a common origin: water. The company’s commitment to being net water positive by 2050 isn’t just a corporate goal—it’s integrated into brand storytelling, on-site conservation efforts, and supplier engagement. Their message is rooted in authenticity: water isn’t just an operational input, it’s an essential ingredient in their identity. Learn more on Suntory’s efforts via their LinkedIn post . Asahi Group Holdings: Building Local Water Resilience Together In the Netherlands, Asahi’s Koninklijke Grolsch partnered with stakeholders in the Twente region to develop a local water platform focused on reducing consumption and innovating wastewater reuse. This goes beyond operational efficiency—it’s about building water resilience within a shared ecosystem. Their community-first framing and long-term investment approach were key themes in this post . Why This Matters At Taiga Company, we believe that sustainability actions only go as far as their ability to be understood, felt, and trusted. Communicating water stewardship isn’t just about reporting metrics or sharing photos of wetlands (although both can help). It’s about giving stakeholders the context they need to see a company’s values in motion—clear commitments, thoughtful execution, and measurable impact.  If your team is evolving its water strategy—or simply looking for better ways to communicate what you're already doing—we’d love to be part of that conversation.
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