An eco-friendly business cares about not only the bottom line, but also on the business’s impact on the environment. Small businesses can impress consumers and clients with “green” practices, but what steps can a company take to begin the process of turning green? The social benefits of moving your company toward eco-friendly practices are far-reaching. From a decrease in fossil fuels to creating a worker-friendly office environment, using sustainable and recycled resources lessens the impact on the environment. Well, start today with these tips and become an eco-friendly business that consumers want to patronize.
Make it a company-wide goal to decrease impact on the environment. Encouraging everyone to present ideas makes everyone accountable and interested in the office going green.
Poll your associates about where to take on eco-friendly business practices by sending out a questionnaire or e-mail and ask for ideas for going green. In the e-mail, give a date for a meeting of the minds so everyone can present ideas. Form a committee at the meeting to choose the best practices that fit your business.
Gain momentum by holding a contest for the top 10 ways to go green. The 10 ideas will not only have the most environmental impact, but they will also be the least expensive for the office. The people who came up with the ideas win a gift card or a special prize.
Start with small changes and build up to making the entire building eco-friendly. The greening of the company may take place in stages with a plan of action put into place.
Use eco-friendly business cards. Buzz words for green business cards include the following: recycled, 100% post-consumer waste (PCW), tree-free paper, chlorine-free paper, vegetable-based ink, soy ink and 100% non-toxic toner. The best scenario is to find someone locally to print the cards.
While it may seem like a waste of money, planting trees outside the office and situating a garden or park near your building can make an environmental difference. Look for companies or organizations willing to do the work and maintenance if you fund the project.
Lighting inside the building can make a difference in your electric bill each month. Change incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient lighting.
Start small by cleaning the air with plants. Use large plants in lobbies to create a healthier indoor environment, but then spread that out to employees. The effect of plants on increased productivity is being studied. A 1500-square-foot office area needs 15 to 20 plants to get the full air-cleaning effect. Plant suggestions for the office include: Dracaena, Ficus, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum and Diffenbachia. These plants remove toxins from the air and offer a green relief from a sterile office.
Cleaning supplies are a necessity for every building, but choose green products for the janitorial duties rather than toxic cleaners.
Create a recycling area in each break room or kitchen. Save paper, by using both sides and have a recycling bin to hold paper at every desk beside the waste basket.
Encourage carpooling and using public transportation. Reserve an area on a corkboard in the kitchen or breakroom for people wanting to carpool. Consider telecommuting for employees who can do their work at home just as easily as being in the office every day.
Cut down on paper consumption by refraining from unnecessary copying. Organize folders in a logical manner and store e-mails on the computer. Backing up important documents and e-mails on a CD assures you that even if a computer glitch occurs, nothing is lost.
Buy wood products from manufacturers who partner with companies that replant forests. Sustainable resources come directly from your region or area of the world. Little fuel is used for transporting products.
Employees should get into the habit of turning off computers or power strips each day.
Use coffee mugs instead of styrofoam cups.
It may seem necessary to travel for a conference or meeting with a client, but searching for alternative ways to achieve the same goal can save money. Web or video conferencing is becoming more reliable. Get your message across without ever leaving your chair. If a group is headed for the same place, carpooling to the airport and renting one car at the destination saves money and auto emissions.
Consider using digital print on demand (POD) to keep much-needed documents on hand for printing only when the need arises. This green move saves a company money in document storage and warehouse costs.
Use old paper as scratch paper at your desk.
Get together and formulate a plan to lessen the company’s carbon footprint. Gather statistics along with how the company benefits from minor changes. If decision makers can see the gains, socially and monetarily, they are more apt to research and implement a plan.
Use these tips to begin small and work your way up until the company establishes itself as an eco-friendly business.