5 Ways to Minimize the Carbon Footprint of Your Business
Wednesday, August 1, 2018, 6:00 PM | Leave Comment
As we become increasingly aware of the impact modern human living has made on the environment, it’s more important than ever for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
Improving actions and decisions with the intention of caring for the environment is more than a popular idea – it is essential for the well being of our world.
An individual can do this relatively easily with some research and planning, but if you are managing a business, it can sometimes be harder to identify where to cut back.
If you’re looking to reduce the carbon footprint of your business, try the following five ideas:
Image Source: Unsplash
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Let your employees work from home
If your employees would be able to perform their jobs just as well at home as at the office, why not let them do so a couple of times a week?
By letting your employees work from home, you will help the environment by reducing commutes and save power at the office. Your employees will likely be very keen about the idea, too!
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Be smart about your waste
It’s unavoidable that all businesses create waste – some much more than others. If you run a business that seems to produce an awful lot of organic garbage, you might like to look into disposing of it creatively. Why not do some research into your community’s local environmental initiatives?
You could collaborate with a business that focuses on repurposing organic waste by turning it into useful products. If your suppliers tend to send you items in unnecessary plastics, you might like to ask them if they would be able to minimise their packaging.
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Embrace the digital system
Most businesses will use at least some paper or traditional tools, but if you make an effort, you will probably be able to switch even more of your processes to digital means.
Consider the day-to-day operations of your business, identify every situation where paper is used, and think critically about where you might be able to implement technology.
Do you still distribute paper payslips, or do suppliers still provide you with physical receipts, when it would be more efficient to have them e-mailed?
Perhaps your employees are fond of printing or copying documents that aren’t entirely necessary? Even small switches can help – if you run a restaurant, for example, you might like to switch your booking list from a physical book to an online program. This will also benefit your customers, who will be able book tables online without having to call your restaurant.
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Switch off your unused appliances
Switching off unused equipment should be an unspoken rule for everybody running a business – however, many offices routinely leave their lights on at all hours of the night.
To avoid wasting power, unplug electronics when they’re not in use, only turn on lights when necessary, and encourage your employees to turn their computers off when they head home for the day. Wasted power is wasted money – and is terrible for the planet!
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Find alternatives to appliances that use a lot of energy
You can use many substitutes to reduce energy usage in your business.
For example, unless you live in an exceptionally hot climate, you’ll likely be able to rely on a ceiling fan or two rather than air conditioners, most of which are notoriously bad for a business’s carbon footprint.
Image Source: Unsplash
Image Source: Unsplash
Reducing your carbon footprint is a noble goal in both your personal life and work life.
Erasing the most wasteful aspects of your business by changing some of your typical procedures will both ease your conscience and enforce the fact that your business values caring for the environment.
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Cloe Matheson is a freelance writer, coffee drinker, and nature-lover from Dunedin, New Zealand who loves supporting sustainable businesses in her community. You can check out more of Cloe’s work on Tumblr.
