Everyone on earth has a personal responsibility to preserve the environment around them. When you run a business, your responsibility extends to your operating practices. As a small business owner, you have more pull than the average citizen; you can make a greater impact in the realm of sustainability.
Whether you push for more eco-friendly practices or leave your carbon footprint alone is up to you. If you want your small business to go green, here are three simple ways you can do so.
Offer Flexible Scheduling
The first way you can help your small business go green is by offering flexible scheduling. When your entire employment force is working in-office all week, you’re burning through a lot of resources. Your electricity, paper, and heating or cooling consumption rates will all be up, leaving your company’s carbon footprint darker than it needs to be.
However, by offering flexible scheduling where your employees can opt to work from home, you can reduce the amount of resources your business needs to operate. Your carbon management rating will improve the less time people spend at the office, as you won’t need to fuel the building as often.
In addition to helping manage your carbon footprint, offering a flexible schedule for your employees also saves you money. It’s a simple fact– the less you have to power the building, the lower your energy bills will be. Saving money on your energy costs can free up your budget to invest in other eco-friendly solutions that may cost a few dollars more. By switching to flexible scheduling, you can help your small business move toward sustainability.
Recycle In-Office
The second way you can help your small business go green is by recycling in-office. It’s no secret that offices go through a lot of paper goods, from records to paper towels to the junk mail you get every day. Rather than putting this paper in the garbage where it just contributes to landfill pollution, set up a recycling bin somewhere in the office where you and your employees can recycle clean paper goods.
Things like cardboard, newspapers, and even the paper towels from the restroom can all be tossed in a recycling bin and delivered to your city’s reclaim center. Depending on your community, you may be able to set up a secondary bin for cans and get a few dollars here and there from turning in the scrap metal. Before you set up any in-office recycling system, make sure you check your city’s regulations. The last thing you want is to have a full load of recyclable paper and nowhere to put it.
Check Your Efficiency
The third way you can help your small business go green is by checking the efficiency of your office. More often than not, the electronics and lighting that come installed in buildings aren’t energy efficient and end up being terrible for the environment. Rather than letting these devices run your energy bills up and deepen your carbon footprint, swap them out for high-efficiency alternatives.
For instance, switching your old halogen bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs can save you money on your power bill while helping your small business make a positive environmental impact. Opting for devices that use solar power to charge instead of needing to be plugged in can take advantage of the natural light around the office to keep things running, ensuring you’re doing your part to improve overall sustainability.
Along those lines, using the natural light around your office is a great way to save money on heating and lighting bills while being environmentally conscious. Rather than turning the heat on for a mildly cool day, open the blinds and let the sun warm the room. Instead of turning the overhead lights on, rotate your shades and let some light in from the source you already have. Getting creative with energy-efficient means of power will help you stay green.
Overall, having a responsibility to the planet doesn’t mean your small business can’t function properly. With these tips, you can help your business thrive while promoting sustainability.
