Be More Sustainable by Reducing Business Paperwork

Julie Starr • April 2, 2024

Do you feel as though your company produces far too much paperwork? If so then now is the time for you to do something about that. The first step, for those who want to reduce paperwork, would be to identify the type of paperwork they are currently dealing with. You also need to use checklists, flowcharts and even surveys so you can map out your workflow. By doing this, you can then help to understand the purpose, value and even the frequency of each document. From there, it’s easy to determine whether or not it is obsolete, redundant or essential.


Get a Digital Solution


The second tip would be for you to adopt a digital solution. You need something that can either replace or minimize the business tasks you have. It may be that you use cloud computing or that you adopt online forms. Scanners can be used to store documents electronically too. You can use apps to help with data entry, reporting and even processing too. By doing this, you can then improve accuracy as well as accountability and security.  If you want to take things to the next level then if you work in healthcare you can look into Meditech integration.


Simplify Things


Another thing you need to do is try and simplify things. You need to make everything clear and concise if you can. You can use templates or you can use standards and guidelines to ensure that all of your documents have uniform style and language. It is even possible for you to use bullet points so it becomes easier for you to present all of your information visually. You can do this to improve readability as well so make sure you keep this in mind if you can.


Review and Update Policies


Next, you need to review and then update any policies you might have. You need help when governing your administrative tasks too. It is more than possible for you to consult with your stakeholders as well as with your regulators and customers if you want. This is one of the best ways for you to get rid of any policies that might be outdated or that are no longer sufficient for your business. Remember that what worked at one point, may not work anymore, so you have to take steps to ensure that you look into anything that could have a bearing on your administrative tasks.


Train and Communicate


Another thing you can do is train and communicate with your team so you can ensure that they understand and then support your efforts. You can give them all of the skills and resources they need to adopt digital solutions while also aiding them in simplifying documents. These measures and other related things can help quite a lot as they can aid you with creating a culture of collaboration. At the end of the day, they can also help you with improving your relationship with team members. If you don’t train your team on how to reduce paperwork if you do not give them the tools that they need to get the job done or if you limit them in how much they can reduce their paperwork then this will work against you and it will make it much more difficult for you to achieve your goals. Remember, any paperwork you do generate can be recycled, if you want to do your bit for the environment.


Monitor


If you don’t monitor how you are doing and if you don’t take note of your progress then this will work against you and it will stop you from being as efficient with your business going forward. If you want to help yourself then measure how much paperwork you are saving and then take steps to try and increase this number. If you notice that over time, your business is dropping in efficiency then you may need to make additional changes. It is fine for your business to change as time goes on and at times, you may need to make extra efforts just to stay on track. With that being said, if you do not monitor your progress then you will never be able to make decisions such as this. Hiring an environmental officer for your company is a fine way for you to work around this, as they can aid you in making sure that you are always looking at things through a sustainable lens, and that you are making business decisions that go on to support your mission to help the environment. 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.