Earning money should not be at the expense of Mother Nature. You can start an empire but still be responsible for the effects that your operations have on the Earth.
Most small business owners usually look for ways to increase their profit. There are many ways you can achieve this. You can look for suppliers that can give you lower prices. You can reduce your manpower. Or you can find ways to lower your operating expenses.
Some may think that being eco-friendly is more expensive. The cost of the changes that you will need to implement may require some capital at first, but you will certainly reap the benefits in the many years to come.
Shift to renewable energy.
While this may mean that you will need to make a single significant investment, you will reap on the rewards indefinitely. Invest in a commercial solar power system so that your business can save on your electricity bills. You can also invest in a solar battery storage system so that you can store the excess power that your solar panels harvest throughout the day. You can later use it when the sun has set, lessening your dependence on the electricity supplied by the grid.
If you have an efficient commercial solar system, your business operation will not be disrupted by sudden blackouts. You can still provide reliable services regardless of power supply disruptions. On top of all these benefits, you can enjoy tax benefits and utility bill savings. It will also be good to note that you are lowering your company’s carbon footprint by reducing your dependency on fossil fuel.
Change your packaging.
If you are still using plastic packaging, you may have to rethink how you package your products. Choose sustainable packaging options such as recycled, edible, plantable, plant-based, compostable, biodegradable, or reusable. The lesser the packaging that you use for your products, the better. You can also provide rewards and benefits to customers who bring their own reusable packaging when applicable.
If you own a cafe, use reusable mugs for dine-in customers. For take-out customers who bring their own tumblers, you can give discounts to encourage customers to bring their reusables for take-out orders.
Choose a local supplier.
When you choose a local supplier, you also support local businesses, which will be healthy for your local economy. Choosing a local supplier means that your supplies do not need to travel across the world to reach you, reducing your carbon footprint again. The lesser distance will also mean lesser packaging is needed since they will not travel miles around the world. You will also save on the fees for shipping when you choose local suppliers.
Reduce the need for paper.
With everything turning digital, you can reduce the need for printed documents in your backend processes. Documents that can be effective in its digital form should remain in its digital form. The best thing about digital documents is that you can bring them around whenever you need to read and review them.
Another way to reduce the need for paper in your company is to have employee forms in digital form, including payslips. The amount of paper that you can save will depend on how document-heavy you are. Not only will you save on paper and cartridge ink, but you can also help save trees in the process.
Reduce your water consumption.
This does not mean that you should not use water when you need it. Water is needed for hygienic purposes. You can have a water recycling system that will collect your wastewater and treat it for reuse.
Another way to reduce your water consumption and water utility bill is by having a rainwater harvesting system. You can use the rainwater that your system has collected for non-potable uses and purposes.
Have a recyclable waste collection facility.
Depending on the type of products and services you offer, having a waste collection facility for your by-products, such as empty packaging that comes with what you sell, can be truly beneficial. This can be especially helpful if you are selling electronic products, the by-products of which can be challenging to dispose of. Make it easier for your customers to care for the environment and provide them an easy and accessible way to dispose of their wastes.
Use chemical-free products in your establishment.
You can switch to chemical-free products for your cleaning products to lessen your impact on the environment. Harsh, chemical-laden products are not only harmful to the health of your employees, but they can also harm Mother Earth. Once these harsh chemicals are washed down the drain, they can affect the water bodies in your area and the animal life in them.
Choosing to be mindful of your actions can have lasting effects on the environment. Being an eco-friendly and sustainable brand will also help make your business more attractive to same-minded customers.
