Why Even Non-Sustainable Services Can Take Steps Towards Sustainability

Julie Starr • September 20, 2024

There’s a common misconception about environmentally-friendly businesses - that everything they do is always good for the environment at all times, and that without living up to some kind of impossible standard, they simply cannot or should not even bother making improvements.


This much is, of course, false. Any sustainability advocate will celebrate 1% improvements, provided that isn’t used as a shield or excuse to continually harm the environment for profit. As much as possible, harm reduction and offsetting an impact can be helpful.


In fact, even companies that aren’t organized to be sustainable can make appropriate choices and limit their impact in tangible ways. We’d suggest that this means “no one has an excuse,” but a much warmer way to put it is that “every company has a fantastic opportunity to innovate and redefine themselves anew.”


So, how might a non-sustainable business achieve an outcome like that? Let’s consider this below:


Dealing With Emissions

It’s not always possible to cut emissions out entirely, and even the most staunch green activist is likely going to agree with you about that. Of course, there are ways to reduce them, like switching to energy-efficient appliances, using greener transportation options, or even setting up a plan to offset emissions. The intent is to be mindful of how you’re contributing and make incremental improvements. For instance, using cleaner energy sources like solar or wind can go a long way, even if it’s just to power part of your manufacturing line. You can also gain benefit by:


Supporting Charities

You don’t have to save the world yourself. There are many excellent green charities that dedicate their full time approach to making changes and your funding could really help. As a business, supporting them financially, offering resources, or even organizing company-wide volunteer days can make a massive impact too. You’ll be giving back while showing that your business cares about causes that matter. This can also be good for marketing too - it shows that you’re not just giving vague reports about your goals, you’ve actually done something and enriched your industry for it, even if you weren’t quite as tooled as this initiative is.


Sourcing From Sustainable Areas

Consumers get to vote with their wallet, but so does your company. To use an example, a company that uses wood products might switch to suppliers who follow sustainable forestry practices, as they help to preserve forests while still getting the materials they need and replanting for the future. It’s a win-win for the most part, and by giving your money to a sustainable outfit, you’re increasing the demand for that particular resource and practice. The same goes for food-based businesses sourcing organic, locally-grown ingredients instead of those that contribute to environmental degradation or sprays too many chemicals, for example. It’s a little bit of influence you get to have, but it’s not insignificant.


With this advice, you’re sure to see that even non-sustainable services can sometimes take good steps towards sustainability, even if they’re not wearing the full outfit yet.

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.