We’re all becoming much more aware of what impact on the environment our actions have – and your customers are no different. Being a business that does its best to be more sustainable is not only great for the environment but can be really good for business too – and who doesn’t want that?
Your Products
One of the first places to start is how sustainable your products are – including the products that you source to create your products. Are you buying from ethical suppliers? Have you taken into account the environmental impact of what you are buying? Consider if there are better ways to source products that you need and whether this can help your business to be more sustainable overall.
Your Packaging
Without a doubt, you should consider the packaging you are using, especially if you’re a company that offers mail order services. No one wants to receive items through the post or pick them up off of the shelf and have them damaged and broken. However, product packaging is also something that people are very aware of when it comes to sustainability and environmental effects. Swapping to something such as compostable packaging means that you are helping to ensure that the impact your packaging has on the environment is kept to a minimum.
Reduce Paperwork
Have a look around the office or whatever area you do your business admin in and see how much paper you use without thinking about it. The truth is that most of us use more paper than we need to – especially with things like sending letters and invoices. Try to swap to paper-free options such as online admin systems and online invoicing. This can take some getting used to, especially if you’re a company that has used paper methods for a while but the environment really will thank you for making the swap.
Get The Whole Team Involved
Getting the whole team involved is great for team building and the happiness of your employees – because everyone likes to feel that they are making a valid contribution to a business. For example, you could offer incentives to those who walk to work rather than drive short distances. Making sure that there are areas to store bikes or charge electric cars within your business premises can help too!
If you have any ways to make your small business more sustainable we’d love you to share them below!
*Collaborative post