There are two main reasons for encouraging a greener outlook in your business. The first is that, of course, it is better for the environment. It will give your company a better reputation as a responsible business who looks out for its community. And that means more customers – some of whom may be a lot more loyal to you than they are to other businesses.
The second reason is, perhaps, even more important. Being an eco-friendly company lowers your costs, makes you keep an eye on things closely and boosts your profit margins. Regardless of your thoughts on global warming, any sensible person would agree this is an avenue worth pursuing. Here’s a little guide to some things you can put in place in your business.
Image Source Flickr Walmart
Audit everything
Before you get going, you will need to perform a green audit. Have a look at everything in your business and see where you can cut things down. Perhaps you could lower the office thermostat by a couple of degrees. Or, maybe you could get the windows fixed and loft insulated, so you stop losing heat. You could even think about replacing your car fleet with hybrid vehicles. Go through everything, make a note, and do a couple of these audits every year.
Encourage A Greener Atmosphere
If you don’t promote and encourage your staff to embrace green issues, they will be less likely to do so. It doesn’t take much – you could organize a carpool, for example, or encourage people to turn off lights when they leave a room. All these little things can add up over time. If every employee pulls their weight, you will cut down your company’s carbon footprint. And, of course, you will also save money.
Stop Using Paper
Want to know one of the biggest waste problems in businesses around the world?It’s paper. Think about it – all those documents printed off needlessly, and fax machines chewing through endless reams of paper. Instead, try the electronic alternatives for everything. Get an email fax service, and send correspondence via email rather than a letter. Get some electronic Christmas cards for business, instead of sending them out in the post. And, if anything does have to be printed out, make sure that it prints out the exact pages, rather than an extra couple of blanks at the end. It’s a little change, but one that will save you plenty over the course of one or two years.
Watch Your Energy Use
The biggest change you can make will come from cutting back on the energy you use. A few simple changes to the way you work is all you need to think about. Train your staff to be more energy efficient by turning out lights and switching off their devices every night. Keep your heating and air con well-maintained, so that they work as efficiently as possible. You could save thousands on your utility bills using these methods, at a cost of nothing but time.
If you have any other suggestions on how to run a greener business, we would love to hear from you. Hit us up in the comments, and we’ll get right back to you!
