“Go Green.” We often see this call-to-action in advertisements, advocacy campaigns and establishments. Businesses have become more conscious of their impact on the environment and have joined efforts in minimising their carbon footprint to help preserve our planet’s biodiversity. But how do you get your business and your entire team to go green?
Making your company more environmentally friendly entails great responsibility as it involves the way you do business. However, you can always start with a few steps that can lead to achieving greater things.
Before you map out how to make your company be a green business, it is good to first take a look at companies that practise eco-friendly methods or consult experts that are knowledgeable on this area, then have a committee within your organisation that will help plan and execute your initiatives.
At EO Melbourne, we are privileged to have all these businesses that are operating in this field: Energy Ease, Pacific Solar, Sunwiz, Sunpower Renewables, TCK Solar, and Your Energy Partner.
To give you ideas on where to start, here are five ways on how your business can become eco-friendly:
1. Reduce, reuse, recycle
Minimising waste, utilising things again after use, and making new products from waste or used items are among the basic methods of being an environmentally-responsible citizen. These three words summarise the ways we can help our planet. To put these into practice, you can segregate your wastes so that you can reuse bottles and plastic containers or create something from fabric or paper products.
To cut down on waste, avoid the use of paper cups, plates or utensils and instead choose reusable mugs and utensils in your office. Go paperless by having forms or documents in electronic copies. If printing on paper is necessary, use both sides or utilise again the blank pages at the back of old files. Also, brief your employees the proper way of doing this because educating your team is key to getting them on board and encouraging them to take action.
2. Use products and supplies that are energy-efficient or from sustainable sources
Make sure you use non-toxic cleaning products or you buy organic products for your meals and other supplies. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient ones and use LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs. Prefer recycled products as much as you can. Choose suppliers that are also practising eco-friendly ways and look for local vendors for your materials and equipment.
Also, check out your office design and find alternative ways where you will be able to use more energy-efficient materials or tools in your day-to-day office activities. Carpool if you must, and limit transportation by doing online meetings or voice calls.
3. Conserve water and electricity
Water and electricity are a staple for every household and most especially businesses. As we use them every day, we need to be conscious of their usage as there can be activities or practices that result in a lot of wastage of these resources. Use as much natural light in your offices as much as possible. If the design limits having natural light in your workplace, consider installing motion sensors for lights in your meeting or rooms and faucets in your toilets and pantries.
Another option is to observe lights-off hours during breaks or after office hours. You can shift to desk lights when there are fewer people in the office. Always put reminders to turn off lights and electronic appliances when not in use.
4. Put plants or have a garden in your office
Plants not only make an office attractive but they also clean the air. Also, plants help reduce noise levels, relieve people from stress, increase productivity, enhance creativity, combat illnesses and lower absence rates.
Aside from that, having some greens or a garden in your office also reminds you and your team to be always conscious of the environment. Assign them a plant or give them a schedule to take care of your office garden so that everyone takes accountability in looking after them and carries these responsibilities wherever they are, being mindful of their duty in protecting our planet’s resources.
5. Use alternative sources of energy
You can install solar panels, windmills or rain catchers in your work areas to utilise alternative sources of energy. While this may be easier said and done, it can be achieved with careful planning and good execution. It is a good step towards becoming a more environmentally friendly business.
You can start with these initiatives and expand your company’s green campaign as you go along. And before you bring this to your external audience, be sure to run an internal campaign among your team members so that it becomes part of your corporate culture. The important thing is to embed the mindset and values of being responsible for taking care of our environment within your organisation.
Do you have other suggestions on how to make a business eco-friendly? Share with us in the comment section below.