With the pollution of the planet and the worsening of global warming, large companies are increasingly obliged to adapt their activities to prevent the advancement of these phenomena.
According to The Guardian, only 100 companies are responsible for about 71% of total carbon emissions, suggesting the significant role of companies in exacerbating climate change. Among the main objectives are reducing carbon footprints, recycling waste, and/or reusing various materials.
During and after COVID-19 pandemic, some companies have decided to conduct their activities remotely to avoid the abuse of fuels or electricity. However, there are many other methods that may not seem obvious but are extremely useful and sustainable in the long term for any company.
This article proposes 5 activities that facilitate the transition of your business to a sustainable existence.
1. Reduce Food Waste
It all starts with educating your employees. It’s easy to be a little more wasteful when you live in a consumerist society. Create a culture of recycling, a culture of turning food waste into profit.
Look for advantageous collaborations with ecological catering companies or firms that recycle what is no longer useful in your offices. Support other local businesses and make sure nothing is wasted in vain!
You can encourage your employees to bring their own lunch or organize a home cooked lunch even once in a while to emphasize how easy it is to cook in a sustainable way.
Similar lunches can be veggie or vegan and can encourage meat-free meals that are known to be the best way to cut your carbon emissions.
2. See Alternative Transportation
Your carbon footprint is also reflected in the mobility of your employees. Even if you have made significant sustainable changes in how things are transported within your business, you need to think about your employees who commute daily to and from work.
Have you considered that, in addition to using public transport or their own cars, the company can encourage the use of bicycles with a salary bonus? Have you considered offering electric vehicles for personal use?
Depending on your budget, you can adopt various alternatives. If you don’t have much to offer, consider the remote format of your business and how productive it would be for your business.
3. Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle
Try to keep things and make use of their properties in different stages of their lives. For example, you can use cardboard boxes or old paper for packaging any parcels. Try to repair appliances instead of replacing them with new ones, and paper, glass, metals, and aluminum can be recycled.
Similarly, do not buy single-use glasses and cutlery; promote the use of reusable bottles and metal cutlery. Educate yourself about the correct recycling of various materials to take correct steps towards a more sustainable activity.
4. Save Energy or Use Green Energy
Electricity has become a rather expensive and demanding component for any type of business. Most activities are based on electricity, which has become a costly burden for companies’ budgets.
To reconcile the needs of nature and the profit of your business, you must use green energy. This type of energy is considered sustainable because it is based on sources such as the sun, water, wind, or the heat of the earth (geothermal energy).
At the moment, the cheapest is the hydroelectric power, so you should consider opting for a energy provider that produces its energy by using the power of water.
5. Request digital invoices
We all know that paper is one of the most recycled and reused materials. Although cheap and convenient, paper is, as you know, produced from wood, bamboo, sugar cane or maize, all limited natural materials and dependent on seasonal weather conditions.
That’s why it’s time to tackle bills and any bureaucratic tasks as digitally as possible! Request invoices electronically, and if you can, sign papers digitally without wasting unnecessary paper.
Conclusion
Every small step towards a more sustainable business is welcomed by both the environment and society as a whole. If you want to change the way you use electricity, we recommend you follow the steps above and commiting to implement positive changes that will benefit your company, you employees and the environment!
*Featured image by Richard Dacker: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-woman-holding-book-near-windmills-636335/
Leave a Reply