Turning Your Business Green: Simple Steps to Get Started

Julie Starr • July 3, 2024

So, you’re thinking about turning your business green? That’s awesome! Not only will you be doing your bit for the planet, but you’ll also win brownie points with customers who care about sustainability. Plus, it’s a smart move financially in the long run. Let's dive into some practical steps to help you make your business greener and more eco-friendly.


Take a Good Look at What You’re Doing Now

Before you start making changes, you’ve got to know where you’re at. Take a walk around your office or workspace and really look at how things are running. Are you using a lot of non-recyclable materials? Is your energy bill sky-high? Identifying the areas that need improvement is the first step.

Think about it like a health check-up for your business. Maybe you notice that your lights are on all day even when it’s sunny outside or that you’re printing way more paper than necessary. These are little red flags that you can address with some simple fixes.


Set Some Green Goals

Once you know where you need to improve, it’s time to set some goals. Don’t go overboard and try to do everything at once. Start with a few realistic targets, like reducing waste by 20% or switching to eco-friendly packaging. Make sure your goals are clear and achievable – you want to be able to see your progress and give yourself a pat on the back when you hit them!

Having specific goals helps keep you on track and gives you something to aim for. Plus, it feels great to see how far you’ve come when you start ticking those goals off your list.


Switch to Renewable Energy

One of the biggest changes you can make is switching to renewable energy sources. This might sound like a huge deal, but it doesn’t have to be. You could start by signing up for a green energy plan or looking into solar panels.

Take a look at companies like JDI Plastics. They’re really taking sustainability seriously and have some great initiatives. You can check out what they’re doing here: https://jdiplastics.com/sustainability/. It’s inspiring to see how a business can really make a difference.



Embrace the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

It’s the mantra everyone learned in school, but it really works. Start by reducing the amount of waste you create. This could mean cutting down on single-use plastics or finding ways to use less paper.

Next, think about reusing what you can. Maybe you can repurpose some of your office supplies or find a new use for scrap materials. Finally, make recycling a no-brainer for everyone. Set up clearly marked recycling bins and make sure everyone knows what goes where. It’s a simple step that can have a big impact.


Choose Green Suppliers

Your business doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The suppliers you choose can have a big impact on your sustainability efforts. Look for suppliers who are committed to eco-friendly practices. This might mean choosing companies that use recycled materials or offer sustainable products.

By picking green suppliers, you’re not just improving your business, but you’re also supporting a wider network of companies that care about the environment. It’s a win-win!


Get Everyone on Board

Going green is a team effort. Make sure your employees are in the loop and excited about the changes. This could be as simple as having a chat about why you’re making these changes and how everyone can help.

Encourage your customers to join in too. Maybe you can offer discounts for returning packaging or run a campaign to promote eco-friendly products. The more people you get involved, the bigger the impact you’ll make.

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.