10 Ways to Reduce Your Business’ Carbon Footprint

Julie Starr • Jun 05, 2020



As a business owner, sometimes it’s easy to get carried away trying to increase sales and profits. In fact, it’s so easy that you miss the opportunity to go green. Going green as a business essentially involves reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced in your office, and it’s actually great because it helps the environment while saving you money. 

Additionally, it ensures that consumers view you in a whole new light as (an environmentally friendly company) which can in turn, positively affect your customer loyalty and sales. To get you started on the right path to going green, here are 10 ways to reduce your business’ carbon footprint. 

  1. Recycle your waste

In an office environment, it’s is not uncommon to regularly produce a significant amount of waste, especially when there’s a lot of employees in the mix. One way your business can reduce its carbon footprint is by taking up recycling . Simply placing several recycle bins for specific types of material (eg plastic, paper, glass, and metal) around the office, will encourage your employees to recycle some certain materials instead of throwing them in the actual trash. 

  1. Switch off appliances

Here’s a very simple way for your business to reduce its carbon footprint, switch off appliances at the end of the day. Most times in offices, you’ll find that people forget to switch off computers, printers, and other devices before closing for the day. By enforcing a policy that requires every employee to switch off appliances when they aren’t in use, your business can take a step in the right direction.

  1. Switch to LED lights

One of the great things about LED lights is that they are one of the most energy-efficient lighting options available on the market. This lighting choice has been reported to consume up to 15 times less energy than regular halogen lights. So, making the switch to LEDs is a good way for your business to reduce its carbon footprint. 

  1. Reduce paper usage

Paper is the number one waste material in offices and can leave a heavy carbon footprint on the environment. Consider adopting a paperless approach in your business, or at least significantly reduce the paper usage in the office. It’s not hard in this time and day, simply convert to using digital files instead. This way, you’ll end up helping your office adopt a more environmentally friendly approach. 

  1. Laptops instead of desktops

One thing most people aren’t aware of is that desktops use up 80 percent more power than a laptop computer. One effective way to reduce energy usage is by encouraging the use of laptops over desktops in the office. Some laptops are more energy-efficient than others, so you can also do some research on that. 

  1. Buy recycled products

Recycling office materials is a good way to reduce the production and release of carbon dioxide in your office space and in the environment. However, you can take things up a notch by actually purchasing products and materials that are equally recycled. The great this is that you can even use this as an angle when marketing your business, with the help of an eCommerce agency . 

  1. Read online newspapers

Although some companies adopt a paperless approach in their operations, they fail to consider that reading physical newspapers can also affect their carbon footprint. In your office, as you try to reduce your paper consumption, also try to ensure that physical newspapers are consumed less as well. Reading online newspapers allow you to be up to date on the news without contributing to your paper waste. 

  1. Make use of fans instead of air conditioners

Air conditioners are well known for consuming ridiculous amounts of energy just to function. Sure, it is effective in cooling down your office space, but it’s not exactly environmentally friendly. One way to reduce your carbon footprint is by making the switch to fans which consume less energy. 

  1. Unplug phone and laptop chargers 

Sometimes in an office setting, people tend to leave phones and laptops plugged in long after these devices have been fully charged. This only contributes to energy wastage, so encourage your employees to unplug their phones and laptops as soon as they are fully charged as a way of conserving energy. 

  1. Allow working from home

With all the advances in the telecommunications industry, working from home is no longer something that is difficult to handle. Encourage your employees to observe a couple of work from home day, as this can save a significant amount of energy that would otherwise have been consumed in the office.

Embracing Sustainability: How To Shift Your Business Efforts For A Greener Future

By Julie Starr • 26 Apr, 2024
Imagine walking into a world where every business breathes sustainability. Great, right? That’s where we’re all headed, and today, we’re looking into how your business can join this green revolution. It’s not just about planting trees or cutting back on plastic; it’s about a total game-change in how we think about business. Reimagining Your Supply Chain Alright, let’s talk about your supply chain. It’s the backbone of your company, and it might be time to give it a little eco-friendly makeover. Instead of just churning products through a one-way street from creation to landfill, think about making it a circular journey. How? By designing products that can be recycled or reused at the end of their life. This little twist not only reduces waste but could also save you some money and spark some serious innovation. Investing In Sustainable Technologies Now, onto tech. Investing in the latest tech can seem like a luxury, but when it comes to sustainability, it’s more of a necessity. Technologies like AI can make your operations super efficient, slashing energy costs and reducing waste before it even happens. And then there’s blockchain. It’s not just for crypto enthusiasts; it can help you keep your supply chain transparent, letting everyone check if you’re keeping your green promises. Empowering Employees And Building A Culture Of Sustainability But technology and plans are only part of the picture. The real magic happens when your team gets in on the action. Start with some fun workshops or team challenges—anything that gets everyone thinking about sustainability. Maybe set up a green squad within the company who can lead the charge and come up with fresh ideas. Remember, if your team is excited about a project, they’ll put their hearts into making it work. Customizing Your Sustainable Transformation Tailoring your sustainability efforts can be tricky, but it’s a lot smoother with some expert guidance, like ZBrains’ Zoho Consulting services. They’re great at tweaking Zoho’s tools to fit just right with what your business needs. Need to track your energy usage or cut down on waste? They’ve got an app for that. Automation? Yep, they can make those repetitive tasks disappear, too, all while keeping Mother Earth happy. Building Partnerships For Sustainable Innovation Going solo can be tough. Why not buddy up? Collaborating with other companies or non-profits can lead to some groundbreaking eco-friendly innovations. It’s all about sharing what you know, pooling resources, and sometimes, pushing for changes that make it easier for businesses to be green. Plus, working together means you can share the spotlight when your cool new sustainable project hits the headlines! Going Beyond Compliance Lastly, don’t just play by the rules—aim higher. There’s a whole world of eco-certifications out there that can push your business to do better. Whether it’s getting a LEED certification or joining the ranks of B Corps, going the extra mile not only helps the planet but also polishes your brand’s reputation. Think about it: customers love companies that care, so why not be the one they love? Conclusion Switching up your business to be more sustainable might seem like a big leap, but it’s all about taking one step at a time. Whether it’s rethinking your supply chain or empowering your team to lead the charge, every little action counts. Ready to start? Let’s make your business not just better, but greener and more resilient for the future.

How To Identify Companies That Match Your Values

By Julie Starr • 22 Apr, 2024
As you try to develop a sustainable brand , you need to consider what other companies you work with. These could be collaboration opportunities or suppliers and vendors that help you develop the product or service you want to sell. But, many companies may not share your values, so how can you identify the right companies that meet your eco-friendly attitude? Make Use Of Marketing Platforms It's frustrating to reach out to multiple companies to identify collaboration opportunities. For one, there’s no guarantee you even get a response, and cold emailing or other measures are rarely successful. However, you can use marketing platforms and their many features and resources to companies or influencers that align more closely with what you feel is right. Various platforms offer unique options that enable you to whittle down possible companies until you find the perfect match, saving you plenty of time. Research Their Website However, you can’t just leap into any partnership since these platforms may have outdated information, or companies could have selected everything they think will get them a partnership. As with any approach, extra research is essential. Once you’ve identified a company that seems to match your values, it’s with checking out their website. Look at their blog and customer reviews to get an idea of where their ideals lie so you can get a more transparent picture. Meet With Companies Businesses can also meet directly with potential companies when they have established the possibility of a partnership. Whether you’re looking for a better green transport service or need central laboratory services , having face-to-face conversations is a must. You can open discussions via video calls before arranging an in-person meeting which gives you the chance to visit their location, such as an office or warehouse, to ensure that you aren’t stepping into something you may regret. Look For Accreditation and Certification Modern businesses require certification and accreditation to back up claims they are the most sustainable or to prove they have adhered to necessary compliance laws and regulations. Usually, you can find this on their website but there could also be PR pieces on various industry news sites that can prove the company has obtained the necessary certificates. Identifying these certificates will add confidence they are the right company to work with. Offer Value To Them While you hope the potential partnership brings value to your company, you also need to provide value to them. This point is key for strategic collaboration as it otherwise means you take without offering anything in return. Consider what your business can do, such as increase their awareness or help them develop new research projects. In doing so, you will have a mutually beneficial partnership that helps both companies achieve the goals they have outlined for the year. Values and Value Every partnership or collaboration should bring value. This value should apply to your business and any partnerships but also your customers. If you can identify companies that align with your brand values, you’ll have an easier time developing a positive relationship that ensures you stay on track to meet your goals.
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