Every one of us has a duty of care for the planet. The more influence you have over the environment and ecosystem, the more you have to use eco-friendly practices. Running a large business is a prime example here. Your actions have a higher chance of negatively impacting the environment via carbon emissions from long-distance shipping or excessive use of energy by running a large office or retail space. Some of these things are unavoidable for certain businesses, however. Instead, it’s crucial to either reduce your waste or negate the damage you do to the environment.
Support Green Initiatives
A popular choice for business owners looking to lessen their environmental impact is to support green initiatives, either locally or worldwide. This could be an internal initiative such as switching to paperless methods in the office, allowing staff to work remotely, effectively removing their carbon emissions from commuting, or working with eco-friendly businesses. Some also choose to support specific causes such as replanting trees and ocean-cleaning services, promoting sustainability, and preserving our rainforests and oceans.
Cut Down On Waste
One of the most important things that many of us can do today is to cut down on how much we waste. Cardboard packaging, uneaten food, paper, and plastic are all common waste materials, all of which, if not sorted correctly, will go straight to landfill. However, the best way to cut down on waste is not to stop throwing things away but to reduce the number of things you use and consume altogether.
When it comes to food waste, this is regularly unavoidable, and it’s unwise to start regulating the portion sizes of your employees. However, you can encourage these employees to dispose of their food waste in compost bins which you can supply in your kitchen area. It would help if you also looked into using sustainable products like carbon neutral packaging from Polythene UK. Their Polyair™ packaging, for example, is made using sugar cane waste, making it a carbon-neutral choice that is fully recyclable.
Use Recycled Materials And Products
When buying materials and items for your business, another great way to ensure that you’re finding ways to remain green and eco-conscious is only to buy recycled products where possible. If you’re still using paper in the office, then choosing a recycled option for your printers is a fantastic idea. Be wary of everything you purchase too. While sustainability is beneficial for the continued preservation of the environment, a sustainable option is not the same as a zero-waste or reduced waste option. If your goal is to use recycled goods, you need to search for those products specifically.
Encourage Your Team To Recycle
As well as using recycled goods for your workplace, it’s essential to encourage your team to use good recycling practices. Provide your team with a recycling area to quickly discern which waste can be recycled and where. While many of us love the idea of putting a bit more consideration into this process to better help the environment, in a high-pressure environment, this can feel like an excessive chore. Make this process as easy as possible and consider even having a member of staff volunteer to oversee the recycling efforts of your entire business.
