Did you know that deciding to go green is as good for your business as it is for the planet? If you’re interested in gaining an advantage over your competitors and improving your business’ bottom line, think green. Focusing on sustainability may require you to take out fast business loans.
You may need to fund new product lines, re-branding efforts or additional locations. Keep in mind that the larger your green initiative is, the bigger the impact it makes on your revenues and the environment. Since fast business loans can be readily available nowadays, your business can move forward with its green upgrades.
Meanwhile, check out the following tips that can establish your company as a business that cares about our home planet.
1. Provide Clean Drinking Water
Did you know that water is the beverage of choice for most of today’s workers? When you take a look around your workplace, you might a plastic water bottle on each desk. If these plastic water bottles make their way to landfills, they’ll take hundreds of years to decompose. Instead of offering recycling bins, think about issuing a reusable cup to each employee. Next, you can choose to add filtration to your water system or invest in a water cooler service.
2. Switch to Sustainable Packaging
Using recyclable materials is great – but switching to green packaging is even better. When you minimize the amount of packaging that’s used for each product, you reduce the required energy for its production and transportation. This eco-friendly method will cause your company’s overhead to substantially decrease.
3. Evaluate Your Vendors’ Social and Environmental Impact
You can take your business to the next level if you hold your suppliers to a higher standard. Consider evaluating their business practices to determine if they’re in line with your company’s sustainability goals. You wouldn’t want to purchase from a supplier who has a history of unfair labor practices or a poor environmental track record. Doing so will negatively impact your company. If you want to determine if their products are sourced responsibly, use supplier scorecards to keep their social and environmental impact in check. Be upfront with vendors who need to improve their practices.
4. Cut Down on Your Energy Bill
Are you using incandescent light bulbs? You can save 70% to 90% if you switch to compact fluorescents. You can also set your employees’ workstations near windows to make use of natural light. Taking simple measures such as turning electronic devices off when no one’s using them can help cut your utility bills.
5. Use Indoor Plants to Improve Air Quality
Filling your office spaces with indoor plants will not just improve the aesthetics, but it will also improve the quality of air. While you’re at it, consider using plants that can also remove contaminants. These plants include rubber plants, peace lilies, and snake plants.
6. Allow Telecommuting
When you allow your employees to work from home at least part of the time, you’ll reduce the energy that’s being used in the office. Aside from this, you’ll also reduce commuter traffic and your company’s carbon footprint. You can also choose to complement telecommuting with a carpool system.
7. Convert Obsolete Electronics to Cash
In case you’re not aware, old cell phones and computers can be worth something even when they become obsolete. Instead of throwing your company’s dated electronics, consider earning extra revenue by contracting to recycle and reuse companies that purchase these.
8. Reduce Travel
Although travel is also important when doing business, you can reduce its environmental impact by switching to tech tools. For instance, instead of hopping on a plane to meet potential clients, try video conferencing. You can also schedule webinars instead of attending conferences to reduce your carbon emissions. Remember that travel can negatively impact the environment and it also cuts into your business’ bottom line.
9. Renegotiate Your Lease Agreements
Is your business renting space? Consider talking to the facilities manager or the property owner about reducing your workspace’s environmental impact. One way to do this is to install an efficient heating and air-conditioning system. The property owners will benefit from these changes because they yield long-term cost savings. You may be able to secure a rent discount if you include your eco-friendly initiatives in any new lease agreements.
Do You Need to Know More About Fast Business Loans?
Regardless of how big or small your business may be, you can always find ways to scale your sustainability initiatives.