What Does ‘Green’ Mean In Business?

Julie Starr • May 23, 2022



‘Green’ can have a lot of different meanings in the business world, thanks to just how many ways there are to stay green. And while that’s a bit of good news for you, it can also complicate the matter in some ways – being environmentally conscious is one thing, but following through when you’ve got so much to do is another entirely. 

This is why we want to make this debate easier. Whether you’re starting out green or you simply want to make a change for the better , here are some good ways to be eco-friendly and forward-thinking while running a modern company. 

A Regular Analysis of Carbon Emissions

Don’t be intimidated by the word ‘analysis’ here – it’s a normal part of running a company in the modern era! And if you don’t sit down to analyze the way you work year by year, it’s going to be much harder to reduce your footprint or even think about going carbon neutral entirely. 

Take an analysis like this in stages. Start by thinking about the emissions you directly release, in terms of your day-to-day work. Then focus on the resources you use, such as your normal utilities, and how they affect the environment. And then work back to your suppliers and any company in your network you rely on to deliver results – how are you contributing to their carbon footprint? 

Working with the Right Network

Suppliers and vendors, lawyers and business consultants – all of these business types can come with a green sticker. And when you work with a network of companies that aim to be eco-friendly in every way, your overarching economic impact will be far less drastic for the environment around you. 

But where do you start? By doing your research! For example, you can click here to find more advice on closing contracts with fellow conscious companies. Be sure to work as locally as possible at the same time, to help keep your carbon footprint low on your quest to build sustainably. 

Correctly Dealing with Any Waste Products

Waste products are another normal and frequent part of running a business. It’s how you get rid of them that’ll determine how eco-friendly you are. Of course, this is all dependent on the type of waste you produce. 

If you work in the hospitality sector, for example, you’re likely to be able to compost a lot of your waste. If you work in an office, you’ll need to recycle most of what you throw away. Look into disposal units in your local area and see what’s on offer; it’s much more effective to bulk up waste and let it be dealt with by professionals than to just chuck things into the trash and think no more of them! 

Running a green business takes a strategy and consistent effort made to fulfill on goals and commitments. Use ideas like those above to take your company an eco-friendly step further. 

 

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
Share by: