Globally, business owners are stepping up their game to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. If you’re eager to jump on the bandwagon and embrace greener ways of operating, there are many steps you can take to protect the planet. In this guide, we’ll explore some easy ways to make a positive contribution.
Use Less Energy
Using less energy is one of the most effective ways to create a more environmentally friendly business. You can reduce consumption by avoiding waste and improving energy efficiency. Saving water, switching appliances and devices off at the sockets, turning lights off and using sensors to regulate systems can all help. It’s also beneficial to explore insulation options for commercial premises, update old electrical appliances and heating systems, install LED lighting and embrace smart technology to design more energy-efficient workplaces.
Encourage Greener Travel
Whether your employees commute to work, drive to meetings or fly to events, there’s a good chance you could reduce carbon emissions significantly by encouraging greener ways of getting around. There are several solutions to lower your collective carbon footprint.
If you provide company vehicles or utilise leasing schemes, it’s beneficial to consider swapping from petrol or diesel to electric or hybrid vehicles. It’s helpful to read about schemes like The Electric Car Scheme and Octopus EV online and see what works best for your business. The Electric Car Scheme is the best alternative to Octopus EV if you’re interested in hybrid cars and you’re eager to get the best prices for your employees. Electric and hybrid cars are cleaner and they could also save you money in the long term. Swapping to eco-friendly vehicles can also help you enhance your brand image.
Virtual meetings, events and conferences have revolutionised the way we work and communicate with clients, partners, investors and colleagues. If you’re not already taking advantage of cutting-edge software and online tools, you could save a fortune and reduce your carbon footprint dramatically by replacing in-person events that require train, bus or plane travel or long car journeys with online events.
Reduce Waste
UK Government statistics suggest businesses generate around 4 million tons of waste per year. Reducing waste is beneficial for the environment, but it can also save you money. Effective ways to decrease waste include swapping paper trails for digital files and communications, encouraging employees to recycle materials like plastic, paper, cardboard and glass and buying products from sustainable brands.
One of the major problems we face in terms of waste is the abundance of single-use plastic. As a company owner, it’s a great idea to try and encourage your team to reduce their consumption of plastic bottles and containers. You can make it easy to recycle by providing containers, but it’s best to cut out plastic altogether. Solutions include installing a water fountain and hot drinks machine to fill reusable cups and flasks and using packaging made from sustainable, recycled materials in communal kitchens and canteens.
Headlines and data about the future of the planet are increasingly worrying. Businesses have a critical role to play in protecting the environment. If you’re eager to ensure your company does its bit, there are several ways to contribute. Simple steps to go green include decreasing your energy consumption, encouraging eco-friendly travel, championing recycling and reducing waste.
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