Green companies are often more attractive to customers. They want to see that the products and services they use come from conscientious businesses. So being an eco-friendly company could help to make you more money. Of course, there are other benefits to going green within your business. You could save money by taking even just some small steps to being kind to the environment. You can improve your business reputation. And you’ll feel good about your contribution to the world. Making your business greener doesn’t necessarily mean making huge gestures. You can make small and large steps to create a green business.
Create Employee Policies
At work, as at home, your behavior can make the biggest difference to how eco-friendly you are. Of course, in a work environment, you are trying to adjust the behavior of your employees. It’s not just yourself or your family. One of the best things you can do is to create guidelines for your employees to follow. You can draw up a handbook or just create a list of rules you can circulate around the office. For example, you can set guidelines for printing and photocopying or for water usage. You may wonder how you can get people to follow these guidelines. You can try using rewards to get people to do their part.
Monitor Office Supplies
The office supplies you use can play a big part in how green your business is. For example, using too much paper can be wasteful. You might also use a lot of disposable pens, meaning that you’re throwing many away. It’s important to keep an eye on the office supplies that you use to ensure you’re not wasting them. You can cut down on paper by doing things digitally or make sure everyone has reusable pens. Another way to save on stationery is to use recycled paper. If you must print things out, even using a smaller font when printing text will save paper.
Get Recycling
Recycling has become more and more popular over the last few decades. Many people sort their refuse into different types of recycling on a daily basis. You can improve the carbon footprint of your business by ensuring that you recycle. The things you recycle could cover a huge range of materials. In the office, you might recycle paper or plastic bottles. If you have factories or manufacturing plants, you might have byproducts you can recycle. Look into how you can recycle various things. Even food products could be recycled into animal feed, fertilizer, or other products. The most common things to recycle are paper and cardboard, glass, metals, and plastic.
Restrict Water Flow
Your business’s water use is important to monitor too. Some businesses will use more water than others. For example, they may use it for cooling purposes when running equipment. However, any business can look for ways to reduce their water usage. One of the ways to get your staff to use less water is to restrict water flow in bathrooms and kitchen areas. You might avoid doing this at home because you feel it would ruin your experience in the shower. But in the workplace, everyone can still wash their hands properly with a lower flow of water. You can place aerators on faucets and toilet cisterns. You can find out more about them at http://eartheasy.com/live_lowflow_aerators.htm.
Install a Sprinkler System
Do you have landscaping on your business premises? Many companies do, to enhance the look of their building. However, grass and plants need to be watered to keep them healthy. Many businesses use much more water than they need to keep their grass green. One of the most effective solutions to this is using a sprinkler system. They can distribute water evenly and sparingly. Your grass and plants will get the water they need without being overwatered. Find out how you can install a commercial sprinkler system online at ProIrrigation.com/commercial/. You can learn about the other benefits of using one, aside from the environmental factor. Using less water for your landscaping could help you save money on water and maintenance too.
Consider Telecommuting
Not all the effects your business has on the environment take place on the premises. People traveling to work can also have an impact. Many of them are likely to drive, and those that don’t often take buses and trains. If you want to address this, you could consider allowing telecommuting. It doesn’t have to be something that anyone does all the time. It could be one or two days a week. Many people are more productive when they work at home. A home environment is sometimes distracting. But it can often be more productive than a busy office.
Save Power
There are so many small ways your business can save power. Not only is it good for the environment, but it will save you money too. Even steps like avoiding leaving computers on standby can help you use less energy. You can also do things such as switching to energy-saving LED light bulbs or using motion sensors. Just making better use of natural light can also be useful. If you want to take larger steps, you could consider alternative sources of power. Many businesses choose to install solar panels. They can be used to create energy or to warm water, which can be used for heating.
Eco-friendly Equipment
Most businesses need equipment to run, from computers to heavy machinery. Choosing green options isn’t always easy. One thing to do is look for energy-efficient equipment that will use less energy. It will reduce your company’s energy bill and help you take a green approach. When you buy equipment, you can also consider getting items that perform more than one function. If you can buy fewer items, you can reduce the amount of manufacturing required. Secondhand equipment is important to consider too, especially as it will save you money.
Pay Attention to Temperature
Keeping your office a comfortable temperature for your employees is probably a concern. However, many businesses go overboard when they turn on the heat or airconditioning. Does half the office put an extra layer on when they arrive during the summer? You might be turning the temperature down too much. And if everyone is able to sit in the office with only one layer in the winter, maybe it’s a bit too warm. You may be able to save money and energy by turning the thermostat up or down. If you’re willing to adjust your dress code, it can help to get the right temperature for everyone.
Add Plants to Your Office
One small way to make your business greener is to add plants to your office. As well as making it a more eco-friendly environment, it also adds cheer to the space. Plants will help to oxidize the air and absorb pollutants. It creates a more comfortable office that has life in it. Having plants could even be good for the happiness of your employees. Watering them and keeping them alive can be good for morale.
Green Cleaning
Your business premises need to be cleaned, which often involves a lot of harsh chemicals. Sometimes you need those chemicals to clean properly. However, you can also look into greener methods of cleaning. The best thing to do might be to look for a green cleaning company that specializes in using eco-friendly products. You can also communicate with your current cleaning service to discuss options. If it’s up to everyone in the office to keep things clean, it’s as simple as buying the right products. They could help to protect your employees and the environment.
Source Eco-friendly Furniture
The materials used to make office furniture aren’t necessarily the best if you want to go green. For more eco-friendly options, you can find office furniture suppliers that use better materials. For example, they might make an effort to use sustainable wood. Or they might use alternative materials such as bamboo. Many manufacturers and sellers will also reduce their carbon footprint by limiting transport. For example, they will choose a more local supplier to avoid exporting from elsewhere. Buying secondhand furniture and recycling old furniture are also good options to help you go green.
Go Digital
You should make moves that will help you make long-term changes to your business. Reducing paper use is often a primary aim of many businesses. If you want to do this, making your business more digital is a smart option. By using cloud storage, email and even tablets, you can avoid printing and photocopying. Becoming a more digital business will help to set you up for the future. You can move toward cutting out paper completely, except on occasions when it’s necessary. Using tablets and laptops in meetings means you don’t need to hand out documents. Keeping data online means no more filing cabinets.
There are small and large ways you can make your business greener. If you’ve already got started with a few things, keep it going with some more changes.
This article was provided by ellie jo