It is clear from recent studies that consumers are increasingly interested in purchasing sustainable products and may even pay more for them. In the February 2023 edition of PWC’s Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey, over 70% of respondents said that they were willing to pay more for sustainably produced goods ‘to some or to a great extent.’ The June 2023 edition of the survey found that 80% of consumers would pay up to 5% more for sustainably produced goods.¹ This could include products made from eco-friendly or biodegradable materials, those manufactured with a lower carbon footprint, as well as local produce, for example, from a farmers’ market.
By illustrating that your business is committed to sustainability, you can:
- Increase revenue
- Appeal to eco-conscious employees – and clients!
- Stand out from the competition
- Attract interest from investors and stakeholders
- Boost your brand reputation
Furthermore, taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint of your business could help you to gain a sustainable advantage and remain one step ahead of the ever-changing regulations. Whilst we recognise that adopting sustainable business practices to reduce your carbon footprint might appear overwhelming, it's important to realise that this transformation doesn't need to occur suddenly. Implementing minor adjustments across various aspects of your business accumulates over time. So, to get you started, here are a few things you may like to consider:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Embracing the three Rs of sustainability is a practical and eco-friendly strategy for any business.
Where possible, avoid using single-use packaging and digitise receipts, invoices and marketing collateral. Try to reduce printing where possible and set printers to double-sided printing as a default.
Instead of plastic cups, encourage employees to bring in water bottles or reusable coffee cups. You could support your local charity shop by buying some mugs that can be washed and reused.
What kind of hand soap do you have in the bathrooms? You can get refillable hygiene and cleaning supplies at an affordable price now, and it can be a worthwhile investment in the long run.
You could source office furnishings and supplies from local shops or charities. Facebook Marketplace and eBay are fantastic for second-hand bargains.
And what kind of recycling facilities do you offer? If you have a coffee machine, can you recycle the pods? Are there clearly-labelled bins for people to use so that waste streams are separated? Could you buy office paper that has a high recycled content?
Support Green Causes
Does your business have a chosen charity that it supports every year? You could have fundraising events, such as bake sales, in support of an environmental charity.
Perhaps you could introduce a few volunteering days per year, whereby employees have paid time off work to offer their help to eco-friendly causes.
What about collaborating with other local businesses to start a green initiative and share your progress on social media?
Be Mindful of Energy Usage or Switch Energy Suppliers
Take a look at utility bills to identify where the business is consuming the most energy and pinpoint areas where you can make quick and easy changes. Can you change to energy-efficient and durable LED lightbulbs? Can you use electric space heaters in certain areas instead of turning on the central heating?
Encourage employees to turn off computers and equipment at the end of the day instead of leaving them on stand-by. Oxford University assessed the environmental impact of its IT equipment and found that per year²:
- Sample PC kept 'active' continuously: emits 73kg CO2e
- With default power-saving features: emits 37kg CO2e (-49%)
- Shut down when not in use: emits 17.6kg CO2e (-76%)
- Unplug from the wall when not in use: emits 14.7kg CO2e (-80%)
Whether you're a small startup or an established corporation, making the switch to a greener energy provider is a simple and budget-friendly step towards a more sustainable and responsible business future.
By choosing an energy supplier that prioritises renewable energy sources like wind, solar or hydropower, you're not only reducing your carbon emissions but also supporting the growth of clean energy infrastructure. This transition is not just about doing what's right for the planet; it can also lead to substantial cost savings over time.
Encourage Eco-Friendly Commuting
Since the Covid pandemic, there has been an increase in working from home or hybrid working, but when it comes to commuting, some modes of transport will significantly increase an employee’s carbon footprint.
How can you encourage the use of car-pooling, public transport, cycling or walking? If travelling is a key part of the job, can you introduce a car-pooling rota or an electric vehicle incentive? If you have a car park, could you provide a couple of EV charging stations? How about a cycle-to-work scheme? You could install bike shelters to encourage cycling to work or perhaps purchase a few second-hand bikes for employees to borrow. For long distance journeys, could employees travel by ferry or train instead of flying?
Also consider team meetings and whether employees actually need to be in the office or could attend via video call.
Offset Carbon via Switch2Zero Subscriptions
Endeavours to reduce carbon emissions will remain ongoing for most businesses, but with a Switch2Zero subscription you can counterbalance your staff's carbon footprint by contributing to verified carbon offset projects and removing plastic from our oceans while tracking the impact that your business makes.
If you aren’t quite ready to take out a subscription but would still like your company to effect some kind of change, you could try Switch2Zero Instant. Affordable and flexible, you are in full control of deciding the impact that you want your business to make – for example, offsetting a large event or conference that will cause a lot of people to travel or to offset the carbon emissions created by manufacturing a product.
With certificates and badges, you can share the progress that your business has made and showcase your commitment to sustainability with your customers.
Building a Green Workforce
Becoming a more sustainable business is not just about what you do, but how you act.
In an IBM Global Consumer Study, 68% of employees said they are more willing to accept jobs from organisations they consider to be environmentally sustainable.³
By showing your commitment to sustainability as an employer, you encourage eco-friendly practices across your workforce. The more employees who are on board with driving sustainability, the better it is for the planet and for your business.
Consider asking your colleagues what would help them to live more sustainably and then work towards implementing changes. By bringing colleagues on the sustainability journey with you, you can combine efforts and make a greater impact together.
Being sustainable doesn’t have to be about making huge, costly changes to how you run your business. It’s about taking steps towards the goal of net zero and being consistent, even if that means just starting off with a few, realistic actions that you and your team are able to stick to.
Keen to create an earth-positive workplace? Take a look at our solutions to help your business achieve net zero and become a force for sustainable change. If you have any queries, please get in touch. We’re all in this together!
There’s more where this came from, for individuals as well as businesses – check out other articles in our Five Top Tips series.
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¹ https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/consumer-markets/consumer-insights-survey.html
² https://www.it.ox.ac.uk/article/environment-and-it
³ https://newsroom.ibm.com/2022-04-13-IBM-Global-Consumer-Study-Sustainability-Actions-Can-Speak - Louder-Than-Intent
