Most people are conscious about their environmental footprint, but you can leave an environmental footprint with your business as well. How can your business make a positive impact on the environment? Here are three ways you can reduce your business’s environmental footprint.
Use Sustainable Materials
Sustainable materials are materials that are replenished at the same rate that they’re being used. For example, according to Vetta, some fabrics are much more sustainable than others. If your business uses fabrics to produce an item that you sell, instead of making clothing out of traditional fabrics like polyester or nylon, try bamboo or hemp as those are sustainable materials that will not have a negative impact on the environment. Paper, cork, wood and aluminum are examples of sustainable materials as they can either be recycled or are grown back at very quick rates. In order to make a positive impact on the environment, make sure that what you use for your business doesn’t hurt the environment.
Reduce Energy Use
Another thing you can do to help your small business make a positive impact on the environment is reduce your energy use. Make sure that all lights are turned off before people leave for the day and that fans and other electronics are turned off when not in use. According to Ideal Windows, you can save on energy simply by improving glass performance. You might have to replace your windows, but it can be energy reducing and cost effective to replace your windows rather than having to constantly increase your HVAC use. Another thing you can do to reduce energy use is use renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. Reducing your energy use can help mitigate your negative impact on the environment.
Recycle
Yet another thing you can do is recycle. Often, things get thrown away after they’ve served their purpose. Glass, aluminum and paper are all recyclable and all it takes is to have a recycle bin available and encourage employees to recycle rather than throw items away. Plastic bags are the number one cause of litter in cities and in the oceans, so your business should do its best to avoid using plastic bags and recycle them if you do use them.
Your small business can have a large impact on the environment, but it’s up to you as to what kind of impact that will be. Your influence can affect the environment for generations.
If you own a small business, we have lots of great insurance offerings that you can benefit from. Check them out here!