What Does It Really Take to Make a New Business As Sustainable As Possible?

Julie Starr • November 17, 2022

The toughest thing about starting a business in the modern world is how we can approach it from a sustainable mindset. Because we are at the tipping point of irreversible climate change, we must consider the impact of the right business that has an eco-friendly and sustainable approach. But when we are starting an eco-friendly business, what do we really need to bear in mind?

Follow the Templates of Successful Organizations

There are some fantastic companies out there that are operating eco-friendly. For example, IKEA has introduced several initiatives to be more eco-friendly, including a buy-back scheme. When you start to think about the overall goals an organization has, you can, in effect, use their template. If you are in the process of finding the right business framework, even web pages like Franchise Direct have organizations already in existence that you can buy into, and utilize their eco-friendly templates. If you are in the process of finding the right business framework, even web pages like Franchise Direct have organizations already in existence that you can buy into through Business Brokers , and utilize their eco-friendly templates.

Think About Working Arrangements

If you want to make a more eco-friendly business, you’ve got to look at the bigger picture regarding those carbon footprints. You may think that you need to get people back into the office, but this is the quickest way to increase your business’s carbon footprint. From transportation to using computers in an office, and everything in-between, it can have a detrimental impact on your overall carbon footprint. This is why you may want to consider flexible or hybrid working. Remote working is the best way to achieve a lower carbon footprint, but you can also cut your business expenses in so many different ways.

Partnering With Sustainable Companies

The business world will always rely on its reputation. Consumers are far savvier now in who they purchase from, and this is why you’ve got to present a united front and find sustainable partners that will help you to realize your vision. Because there are so many aspects of the supply chain that can have a detrimental impact on our carbon footprint, working with those supply chain partners that have the same mindset can make a massive difference to the quality of your organization going forward. You could use products made from recycled material and work with suppliers of those materials.

Purchasing Reused Items

Naturally, one of the fundamentals of an eco-friendly business is reusing where possible. The fact is if you need to set up a business office, you can easily make some concessions in the furniture you purchase. Second-hand furniture is easily found because you just need to search on social media or in your local newspaper. There will be times when you cannot get completely second-hand furniture, but this is where going back to the suppliers can ensure that you are doing what you can to minimize your carbon footprint.

When it comes to starting an environmentally friendly business, it’s not just about the type of business, but about how you conduct your practices. There’s a lot that you can do to make your business more eco-friendly throughout its entirety and make it the best business it can be.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • October 7, 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 • October 4, 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.