Ways To Make Your Company More Sustainable

Julie Starr • December 31, 2021



Making your company sustainable doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many things you can do that will decrease your impact on the environment and make it easier for your business to continue. This blog post will go over some of the best ways to start making your company more environmentally friendly, which could also result in a happier workforce!

Saying No To Plastic Straws

Plastic straws are a major contributor to plastic waste. They’re often used once and then tossed in the trash, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. To reduce the amount of plastic waste produced each year, many restaurants and businesses have started saying no to plastic straws. If your company is looking for ways to become more sustainable, consider doing the same.

There are several alternatives to plastic straws that you can use instead. For example, you can offer paper or bamboo straws or even stainless steel straws. If customers need a straw for their drink, ask them if they’d like one made from biodegradable materials. You may also want to remind customers not to leave their straws behind when they finish their drink.

Reducing Your Company’s Waste

Another way to make your company more sustainable is to reduce the amount of waste. Start by evaluating how much waste your company creates and finding ways to cut back. You can do this by recycling and composting as much as possible, using reusable containers and utensils, and choosing products that come in recyclable packaging.

You may also want to consider implementing a green purchasing policy. This means that you only purchase products that have a minimal environmental impact. For example, you might choose energy-efficient light bulbs or office supplies made from recycled materials.

Promoting Sustainable Practices

Sustainable practices aren’t just good for the environment; they can also benefit your bottom line. That’s why it’s important to promote sustainability within your company. You can do this by educating employees about the benefits of sustainable practices and encouraging them to adopt green habits.

You can also make it easier for employees to go green by providing recycling bins, composting bins, and energy-saving light bulbs. And don’t forget to lead by example! Show employees that you’re committed to sustainability by making eco-friendly choices in your own life.

How To Be A Paperless Office

Scan important documents and save them on your computer. If possible, store the files in a cloud so that anyone can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. This will help avoid paper clutter and lose valuable information if you misplace a document! If you are a real estate agency, using real estate logo templates will help you save time and paper.

Take notes digitally instead of writing things down by hand to free up space for other tasks. Your handwritten notes may become obsolete at some point, whereas digital records are always accessible – even when there’s no power!

Switching To Renewable Energy Sources

Switching to renewable energy sources is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to make your company more sustainable. There are several renewable energy sources available, such as solar, wind, and hydropower. Each of these sources has its unique benefits and drawbacks that you’ll need to consider before making the switch.

Solar power is becoming increasingly popular due to its low cost and ease of installation. Solar panels can be installed on rooftops or in open fields, requiring very little maintenance. Additionally, solar energy is a good option for companies located in sunny climates.

Wind power is another popular choice, especially for companies located near large bodies of water. Wind turbines can be installed offshore or onshore, and they are relatively low-maintenance. However, wind turbines can be expensive to install.

Hydropower is a good option for companies located near large bodies of water. Hydroelectric dams can generate electricity, and they are relatively low-maintenance. However, hydropower can be expensive to install.

Composting & Recycling At Work

It is essential to make sure your company recycles and composts. This will help reduce the amount of waste you produce, which will decrease how much trash you have to pay for.

Composting can be a great way for employees to get involved with helping out their community while having fun at work! However, it’s important that there are multiple ways people can participate – including recycling, reusing materials that would otherwise go into landfills or incinerators (such as paper), reducing their consumption of resources such as water and electricity whenever possible, purchasing recycled products rather than new ones made from virgin materials, using energy-efficient technologies when feasible, etc.

Minimizing Waste In The Office Kitchen

One way to make your company more sustainable is by minimizing the waste in the office kitchen. This can be done by composting food scraps and using recyclable materials whenever possible. You can also encourage employees to bring their reusable water bottles and coffee mugs instead of using disposable cups. Teaching your employees about sustainability and how they can help contribute to it is a great way to make your company more environmentally friendly!

Promoting Sustainable Transportation Options

Another easy way for companies to become more sustainable is by promoting sustainable transportation options. This can include providing bicycle parking, offering employee discounts on public transportation, or even installing charging stations for electric vehicles. By promoting these types of sustainable transportation options, you can help reduce greenhouse gas.

Educating Employees On Sustainability Practices

One of the simplest and most effective ways to make your company more sustainable is by educating your employees on sustainability practices. This can include anything from reducing energy consumption to recycling and composting. You may also want to consider hosting workshops or training sessions on how to be more environmentally conscious in your everyday life.

Bring Your Own Cup Campaign

Recently, a lot of cafes have started implementing the Bring Your Own Cup campaign. This is where customers are encouraged to bring in their own reusable cups when they buy coffee or tea. Not only does this help reduce waste, but it also helps to save money for the customer. If every customer brought in their own cup, the cafe would not need to use disposable cups, which would result in less waste and lower costs.

In conclusion, it is important to realize that the issue of sustainability needs to be addressed by every company. Whether it’s creating partnerships with sustainable companies, providing programs for employees, or recycling materials, you can make a difference in your community!

 

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.