Going green isn’t just a trend, in addition to being great for the environment it could have many money saving benefits for businesses as well. If you’re looking for some ways to start a green initiative at your company and start changing the way that you do business for the better, here are some things for you to consider.
Encourage Recycling
One of the first things, and simple things you can do when trying to have a greener business is to start recycling. Not only should you make sure that you have plenty of clearly marked recycling bins around your business, but you should also make sure to talk to employees about them, and make sure that everyone knows the value of recycling. Even though it may only seem like one small thing, the reality is that it can have a big impact for the environment.
Use Your Utilities Less
Another way to have a green business is to find ways to rely on your utilities less. Whether you do this by using solar power along with your electricity, or simply by not using, lighting, and heating up rooms that you don’t use very frequently, there can be many ways to start cutting back on the energy that you use. Another way to help with this is to always encourage employees to unplug certain appliances when they aren’t using them, and to shut lights off when they are leaving a room. The less that you can use electricity and energy in general, the more that you can support the environment, and the more money you can save for your company as well.
Talk to Employees About Your Vision
Besides changing some of the ways that things get done around the work place one of the most important things you can do is talk to your employees about your vision, and why it is so important for the company to begin going green. Doing this may seem like a simple thing, but the reality is that you will get much more cooperation and have an easier time transitioning to a green company when your employees know that it is meaningful to the company.
Buy Used When Possible
To save money and protect the environment, buying used when possible can be a great idea. This can be particularly true when it comes to office furniture or other kinds of business equipment that can be very costly when new. The reality is that while there may be some appeal to purchasing things new, used options are often just as good as new ones and cost much less in addition to being a better option for the environment. So, whether you are looking for different furniture for your office, or you have a big piece of equipment you need to buy, there can be many reasons to look at your used options first.
Go Paperless
When going green and saving money, finding ways to go paperless where possible can be helpful. In many offices, large amounts of paper are used for things that could easily be emailed. Not only that, but there are many things that can be done more accurately in a computer program or online, rather than with paper. By doing what you can without paper, you can prevent waste and save yourself money over time as well.
Use Green Packaging
Depending on what or how often your business ships things out, the packaging you use could be making a big difference. While you can’t avoid having to ship things or use packaging, the kind of packaging you use can make a difference. By opting for green packaging or recycled materials whenever you can, you can help save the environment. Additionally, you could even look beyond using green packaging and see if there are alternative ways that you can package your products where you will be using less packaging materials overall.
Have Employees Work From Home
Yet another way to go green is to start having some employees work from home. When employees constantly have to travel back and forth from work, the emissions from their vehicles can put stress on the environment. By allowing employees to work from home sometimes, or all the time in some cases, you can help cut down on this. Also, when you have employees opting to work from home, that means less use of office materials and resources, which can help the environment, but can also save your company money in general, as well.
The Bottom Line
To some, going green may just seem like a trend. However, even if it may be a trend it is also a great way to support the environment, as well as save your business money, too. Also, one great thing about going green is that it is often easier than many think.
