ValentinaRunning a business is one thing. Running a sustainable business is another. As a business owner, you’ll want to think about the sustainability aspect of running a business, if you want to make sure you’re doing your part for the environment, as well as appealing to your consumers. Here are a few tips to help you make the right moves for a sustainable business:
Research renewable energy plans
An area where businesses could improve in terms of saving energy and helping the environment is energy consumption and plans. From installing smart systems that turn off lights, etc., when a facility is not in use to the type of renewable energy plans that you use to power your office or building, there are several things to consider when it comes to powering up your business.
You could consider using solar panels or you could think about wind turbines if you’re in an area where this type of thing would work. Talk to an environmental consultant about the best options for your business.
Create sustainable products
As you’re starting your new business, you may be tweaking your products or services. Before rolling out what you have to offer, look into ways that you could bring sustainability to the table. For example, if you’re a clothing brand, you may look at sourcing recycled material to use in the design of your outfits.
As a coffee shop, you could set up a program where, for every certain number of coffees sold, you donate a percentage to an organization working towards improving the environment’s health. Where there is a will, there is a way when it comes to sustainability.
Look at better ways of packaging
Apart from creating more sustainable products, it’s also beneficial to look into improving your packaging. Sustainable packaging makes a world of difference, as much of our paper and plastic waste comes from packaging. In this consumer-driven world that we live in, coming up with sustainable packaging options could make a world of difference in how you show up as an eco-friendly brand.
From compostable packing peanuts to packaging created from mushrooms, it’s quite interesting how many different options are now available for better shipping and packaging practices.
Promote sustainability with your team
While you could have a number of practices in place in your company to improve as a sustainable brand, promoting better practices as a team is always the way to go. You could offer a reward program for your team members who choose to practice more sustainability in their day-to-day lives. This could look like offering a gift card for those employees who choose to ride bikes to work an X number of times a week.
Or maybe it’s including a bonus for team members who are participating in eco-friendly organizations and communities in your area. How you promote sustainability is up to you, but it can go a long way in setting you apart as a brand that is doing more for the planet.
Paperless and waste reduction 
If you want to take it a step further, think about how you can improve your sustainable practices by going paperless. While not always possible, when it is, it can be a game changer for doing what you can to reduce waste in your business. You could also swap out paper cups for glassware or make a move for team members to bring their own dishware. You may consider encouraging recycling at the office or looking for other ways of getting rid of an abundance of trash.
In Conclusion
If you want to build a successful business in today’s world, you have to do what you can to build a sustainable brand. It’s the way of the future, and it’s also something that will appeal to your consumers. Additionally, you’ll want to look into ways that you could get tax breaks for being a green business, so keep this in mind when looking into sustainable practices that you could incorporate.
