In study after study, consumers make it clear they want sustainable buying options, but high prices are the most common barrier to actually making those sustainable choices.
That means all over the country there’s an untapped market of potential clients who want to know they’re working with businesses who take environmental responsibility seriously, but who can’t afford a hit to their already sizable cost of living burden.
Making and sharing your commitment to sustainability is a cost-free opportunity to increase revenue, while taking steps to reduce the carbon impact of your business also gets you ahead of upcoming regulations.
Here are some quick and easy ways to start your sustainable business journey:
1. Ditch the single-use
Eliminate single use packaging from your business, and go digital for all your receipts, invoices, and brochures. Do you offer tea and coffee in the waiting room? Buy some mugs at your local charity shop that you wash at the end of each day. What kind of hand soap do you have in the bathroom? You can get refillable cleaning and hygiene supplies at a decent price now, and it’s undoubtedly a worthwhile investment in the long run.
2. Connect with your community
Strong communities are sustainable communities, so try to source your office furnishings and supplies from local shops (even better if it’s second hand). Donate to local causes and charities, and work together with local businesses to start a green initiative which you can share on social media or even make into a week-long local event.
3. Be mindful of energy
It seems obvious, but it’s amazing how often we forget to turn out a light or turn down the thermostat. Can you replace your light bulbs with LEDs that use less energy? Can you bring in an electric space heater instead of turning on the central heating?
4. Check your commute
The key contributor to any worker’s carbon footprint is travel distance and method. How can you encourage the use of public transport, bicycling, or walking? If travelling is a key part of the job, can you set up an electric vehicle incentive? Are there practical alternatives to flying? How much work could actually be done from home?
Becoming a more sustainable business is not just about what you do, but how you act.
By showing your commitment to sustainability as an employer, you encourage sustainable practices across your employee base. And the more employees switch to sustainability, the better it is for the planet. Ask your colleagues what would help them live more sustainably - and help them achieve it. Install bike shelters to encourage cycling to work - or start a bike-buying loan scheme. By bringing colleagues on the sustainability journey with you, we’ll all make more of a difference, faster.
