Many modern businesses strive to create a greener and more sustainable working environment in an effort to reduce pollution and unnecessary waste. There’s a number of eco-friendly options to make a business more sustainable that many companies adopt into their business plans. Take a look at your current practices and determine what your company could benefit from and how you can improve upon existing procedures.
Remote Work
The COVID-19 pandemic created an environment in which working remotely was necessary to reduce the risk of infection. It also showed that remote work isn’t just possible—it plays a significant role in creating sustainable company practices. The more employees who work from home, the less gas their vehicles burn and release into the air. Many businesses are starting to bring workers back into their offices, but offering remote options is among the best ways to create a greener company.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
The basics of sustainability are the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. Determine where you can reduce the amount of materials you use during work operations by making a note of the average amount of waste you produce. Reuse old yet functional supplies and equipment to prevent the creation of further unnecessary waste. And finally, recycle your waste so that manufacturers can reuse it instead of creating more products. Just be aware of what happens to items after you recycle them; this can give you a better understanding of what and how to recycle.
Highlight Energy Efficiency
One of the most significant sustainability options for your business is implementing energy-saving methods to reduce electricity usage. Typically, this comes in the form of lighting and the inefficiency of older lighting fixtures. Modern LED fixtures produce greater and more even levels of light, utilizing energy more efficiently to produce the most light with as few watts as possible.
However, many companies still use incandescent light bulbs, which generate light through heat. This heating process means that the bulbs burn more energy to produce the light than they burn to actually light the space. Making the switch to efficient LED bulbs can significantly reduce your electric bills while making your business more sustainable.
Not all options for better energy efficiency are viable for every company; you’ll have to pick and choose which steps you can realistically take. But options will always be available to you, allowing you to find ways to create a greener company in order to remain competitive in the marketplace and benefit the environment.
