Now more than ever, we are aware of the impact that we as a people are having on the environment. It’s important that we change our habits at home but also make big changes at work too.
In this article, we run you through some tips to help your business become a lot more eco friendly and look at how new technologies can help your company go green.
Cloud Computing
The global use of paper has had a huge impact on our environment since modern technology, such as the printing press, has lead to huge levels of demand and consumption. Paper starts and ends its life destructively. It starts its journey by being cut down causing deforestation by emitting gases when turned into paper.
When we’re finished with paper were encouraged to recycle but a lot still ends up in a landfill where it either rots (emitting methane) or it’s burnt which causes carbon dioxide emissions.
Does your business still waste a lot of paper? Start to eliminate your paper trail by moving to online software such as Sage 200 Software for accounting, online banking and statements via email. Moving these processes to the cloud will not only massively reduce your impact on the environment and reduce the amount of waste caused, but also save your business money and time.
LED and CFL Lighting
Incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs were commonplace a decade ago and are still found in a number of businesses premises. Unfortunately, they use up a lot of energy and cause a lot of waste too. For example, if you used 20 regular light bulbs in your home you would throw out an average of 5x the amount of bulbs within a lifespan of an eco-friendly bulb.
This inevitably caused more landfill wastage as well as a high amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the chemicals inside the bulb.
Change your light bulbs to energy-saving light bulbs, this will change reduce the amount of waste caused, pollution from manufacturing, transportation and energy production. This is a small change which goes along way towards making your company green.
Remote Working
Unfortunately, not all of your staff members live close to your office or premises and can simply jump on a bike to work. The fact is, many of your employees will be driving to work each day, along with the rest of the country, causing traffic jams and plenty of harmful fumes.
Why not allow your employees the option to work from home? Not only can this lead to increased productivity due to less time spent commuting and less office distractions, it will also reduce the number of cars on the road, therefore reducing the amount of CO2 emissions.
With services such a Google Hangouts, Skype and FaceTime working remotely has never been easier. You can also encourage clients and partners to remote meet via these channels. They may appreciate not having to travel, you’ll be helping the environment, plus you’ll increase productivity for both of you by reducing time spent on the road.
Buy Energy from a Renewable Source
No company can function without power and a lot of power sources still come from fossil fuels despite the damage they cause and how limited they are. Getting fossil fuels out of the ground and converting them into energy leads requires processes that contribute to pollution and damage to the environment.
Instead, switch to a provider of renewable energy as this has little impact on the environment and it is unlikely to run out. There are now many different types of renewable energy which are helping businesses of all sizes to reduce their carbon emissions. These include:
- Solar Energy
- Wind Energy
- Geothermal Energy
- Hydrogen Energy
- Tidal Energy
- Wave Energy
- Hydroelectric Energy
- Biomass Energy
Water Dispensers & Reusable Cups
Having a water dispenser in your office encourages your employees to drink more water and take time out of there day to do so which can increase productivity. However, this has an impact on the environment without you even realising it. Using a plastic bottle water dispenser is creating unnecessary plastic.
Another way you are impacting the environment is the trucks that will be used to transport the water bottles will be adding to the greenhouse gas emissions by transporting and distributing your water bottles.
It’s simple, change to bottleless water cooler. They work by connecting to your plumbing and have a filter allowing you clean and freshwater one demand. By not having to order another bottle for your water cooler, you’re reducing your companies impact on the environment and will save the time you would waste in ordering a bottle.
Also, consider stocking reusable cups. How many times have you or your employees bought coffee from an outside source such as a coffee shop? Most coffee cups are made from polyethene which helps your coffee keep warm but is a non-recyclable material making them a single-use plastic.
Some companies have encouraged staff by providing them with branded coffee cups which not only go some way to helping the environment, they also market your brand when you go on those out of office meetings!
So there you have it, 6 simple ways a small business can become more eco-friendly, helping the planet and saving time and money in the process. This article was written by Kelly Thomas, Marketing Manager at Smith Cooper System Partners
