Today, going green is far more than just a buzzword. It’s something that many individuals, groups and companies are actively doing in order to reduce their carbon footprint, use less resources, and be kinder to the environment and the planet.
For many businesses, going green can’t come quickly enough. Greener practices in the office will contribute to a more ethical industry overall, set a good example for other businesses and start-ups, help change individual employee views on environmental issues, and help your brand spend less, all whilst creating a green, ethical brand that customers are more likely to trust. So, we’ve put together some top tips to help you make your company a greener enterprise.
#1. Choose Ethical Energy Companies:
One of the best things that you can do to help your business go green is to choose an ethical energy company. This could be by using an energy company that allows you to generate as much green energy as possible using your own solar panels, or by signing up with a company that uses renewable energy wherever possible. Along with reducing your company’s carbon footprint, this will also help you save money on ongoing operating costs. Shop around for green business energy suppliers to find the best fit for your company. For an example of a comparison site, click here.
#2. Recycle:
Encouraging everybody in the office to recycle can make a massive change to the amount of waste that your workplace is producing. Items such as cans, tins, paper and cardboard get thrown out every day at work, and something as simple as providing designated recycling bins for employees to use instead of one waste bin will help everybody separate recyclables from non-recyclables, without any additional work needed. It’s also worth looking into whether there is anything that you can recycle yourselves in the workplace, such as re-using paper items.
#3. Cut Down on Single-Use Items:
Single-use items like plastic cups at the water cooler, paper napkins, and plastic straws are no stranger to offices. But, with the impact that these items are having on our planet, it’s worth rolling out a new initiative in the workplace to encourage employees to bring reusable alternatives instead. Encourage employees to bring their own reusable water bottles and metal straws for example, and provide cloths and rags for cleaning instead of paper towels.
#4. Encourage Less Driving:
For many people, the commute to work is a necessary part of their day – but road pollution is a serious threat to the environment. There are several things that your company can do to encourage employees to drive less and do their bit towards reducing road pollution. A carpool scheme, for example, can help employees to drive less by sharing a ride with colleagues – and this is beneficial for everybody, thanks to a more interesting commute and less money spent on fuel as a result. You might even want to consider implementing a cycle to work scheme where your company offers financial assistance towards the cost of employees getting a bicycle that they can use instead. These are just some of the most popular ways businesses today are going green – if you’d like to add an idea of your own, we’d love to hear from you in the comments
