If you want to know how to make your business eco-friendlier, read along to learn some strategies and methods for creating a sustainable company.
Eco-Friendly Business Tip #1: Work from Home
The COVID pandemic has made it clear that many of the jobs that we assumed had to be completed in person are entirely possible to do at home. Think of how much air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions we could eliminate if people continued to work from home instead of sitting in traffic on the way to and from the office every day. Even a hybrid schedule, such as only working from home on Wednesdays, is a step in the right direction.
Eco-Friendly Business Tip #2: Recycle E-Waste
Modern companies tend to produce a lot of electronic waste. Electronic waste, or e-waste, is rubbish made from the parts of discarded electronic devices, such as smartphones, televisions, or computers. If you do not discard your e-waste responsibly, it could be dumped into a developing country’s landfill. The process by which landfills shred, dismantle, and burn products is harmful to our health and our planet.
If you don’t want to contribute to the problem, look for ways to more responsibly discard your e-waste. You can search online for e-waste recycling facilities near you or get involved with charities that ask for electronics as donations.
Eco Friendly Business Tip #3: Work with Alternative Energy Sources
If you’re serious about learning how to make your business eco-friendlier, a good place to start is with your energy sources. It’s difficult to run a truly eco-friendly company if most of your power comes from coal. Instead of relying on planet-draining energy sources, consider adding solar panels to your building’s roof. You also might be able to gain energy from a turbine farm. Some charitable groups or government organizations will actually offer cash rebates for solar energy installations.
Eco-Friendly Business Tip #4: Remember the Five Rs of Waste Management
As you continue on your eco-friendly journey, it’s worthwhile to keep in mind some general rules to guide your thinking. The five Rs of waste management—refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle—is a pneumonic device that will help you think of eco-friendly business practices.
- Refuse: Minimize waste production by refusing to use materials that you know damage the environment, such as single-use bags or water bottles.
- Reduce: When you cannot eliminate ecologically harmful materials from your business, at least trying to reduce your reliance on them is a good practice.
- Reuse: Try to use single-use products as many times as you can before you throw them away.
- Repurpose: People can find many creative uses for their old office goods. For instance, binder clips can hold power cords, printer paper can be used for scrap, and tin cans can hold pens.
- Recycle: Once you have tried all the other Rs, recycling is the next best way to improve the environment.
