Going green may seem like a big job to tackle for a small business, but it’s often much simpler than you’d think. Reducing your carbon footprint is great for your business’ public image and you’re can reduce your carbon footprint and help the earth with only a few minor changes. Going green can even save you money in the long run.
Start by sending more emails. This will cut down on paper waste, which reduces the number of trees cut down and saves you money on supplies. You may still need some paper (it’s difficult for most businesses to go completely paperless) but send emails rather than notes and accept correspondence in email form.
Replacing paper marketing with email marketing is another great way to cut down on paper usage and you could save as many as twelve trees each year. Each American uses an average of seven trees worth of paper and wood products a year, so every little bit helps. Recycle any paper you do use through recycling services.
When you do need to buy new supplies, try to buy organic or recycled products. These products don’t contain harmful chemicals and reduce toxins in the air. This will cut down on waste that otherwise ends up in dumps.
Installing LED lighting can be a great way to cut down on hazardous waste. LED lights are easier to recycle than other lighting solutions and don’t release as many toxic materials into the environment. They also last much longer than traditional lighting, so you’ll reduce your waste and cut down on light bulb spending.
When you replace your light bulbs, you should also consider swapping out other appliances with new, energy-efficient ones. Though this costs you more up front, it will save you energy costs in the long run and reduce the amount of coal that needs to be burned to power your appliances.
One of the best things you can do is start recycling plastic, paper products, and e waste. Consider how much soda your employees consume. Americans through out enough cans and bottles to reach to the moon and back twenty times every year. Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
Talk to your local recycling service to find out what to recycle and how. You may need to drop things off at recycle centers yourself, but there are also recycling services that will pick up recyclables from your business. Going green is great for your business and the environment!