In the modern age, environmental sustainability has increasingly become a priority of business owners who feel responsible for protecting the environment. For those business owners, here are five ways that your business can commit to supporting environmental sustainability.
1. Using Paper
It may seem simple, perhaps even retro, but using paper bags over plastic can do a world of good in limiting the amount of waste that goes into landfills. Paper can be recycled, whereas plastic bags are forced to sit in landfills indefinitely. It may seem a little old-fashioned, but there is something to be said for simple solutions.
2. Keeping Current
As new technology develops, that technology is often centered around bettering the environment. A great example is Energy Star-certified products, which are guaranteed to meet EPA standards and help reduce a business’s impact on the environment. These products are typically low-energy, which means they not only help conserve resources but save your business money in the monthly bills!
3. Build Smart
The newest construction trend is “green design” which allows for buildings to be planned and developed in such a way that limits the strain they have on the environment. You’ll find that anyone who has attended a civil engineering master’s program will be familiar with this practice, as it is becoming ever more popular as a smart and efficient way to help protect the environment.
4. Waste Management
No matter how many environmentally safe practices you do, your business will always produce some waste. The best thing to do is to be prepared for what you’ll be putting out, and have a place for it to go. Recycle what you can, and whenever possible, give away what you can’t. Donating old supplies is a popular option that not only helps out someone else but also saves resources and space in landfills.
5. Renewable Energy
This is the most well-known topic but is also one of the most important. Consider powering your business, fully or partially, with renewable power sources like solar or wind energy. They will rapidly shrink your carbon footprint and save your business a lot of money by purchasing non-renewable energy!
There are millions of business owners in the world, and their impact simply cannot be ignored. When all of these people, including you, come together to take environmental action, amazing things can happen. Do not underestimate the large change that can be made with small steps. The road to environmental sustainability is one that must be taken one step at a time.
