More than likely you recognize that it’s important for everyone to be more eco-friendly and help to preserve the environment. But you may not have adopted green measures into your business. Most business owners have enough on their to-do list without leading environmental initiatives or spending profits on solar panels. However, companies that go green have some advantages in public relations, tax credits, and sustainability. Here are four simple changes you can make to your business to become more environmentally-friendly.
Upgrade Your lighting
Look into ditching the traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs and using LED lights. They’re slightly more expensive upfront, but they last far longer and use much less electricity than conventional lighting. Over time, you’ll actually save money, and keep those old bulbs out of the landfill. You might even look into upgrading to a smart lighting system that uses motion sensors and timers to automatically turn off lights when they aren’t needed.
Recycle Everything
Recycle as much as possible. If you don’t have one already, consider starting a company program for separating recyclables from trash. There are also any number of products made from recycled materials that you could be using every day, such as boxes, packing materials, toner cartridges, paper, electronics, and even furniture. Reusing and buying recycled goods puts less demand on the environment and generally saves you money.
Green Cleaning Products
Maintaining a clean office is important not just to impress visitors, but to kill germs and stop the spread of illness that could cripple productivity. Unfortunately, many of those commercial products use harsh chemicals that could be just as harmful, especially if they build up on work surfaces or permeate the air you breathe. Cleaning with products that have lower levels of chemicals and more ingredients that naturally occur in the world can be a huge step in reducing your impact on the environment. Green cleaning products like these are healthier and sometimes entirely biodegradable, so you can be assured of a workspace that’s safe as well as clean.
Learn the Regulations
Green policies are not only the right thing to do, they are becoming a matter of legal obligation. Companies that improperly dispose of hazardous materials, risk worker health, or have polluting emissions may be subject to fines or even criminal charges. While every company is different, it’s essential to be familiar with and follow all environmental regulations for your industry to make sure your company is headed in the right direction.
It’s true that a single company won’t be able to change the world alone, but millions of people working together will become a movement driving change. The only way for that to happen is for you to set an example for both your customers and employees.
Guest blog contributed by Kara Masterson, a freelance writer at AssignYourWriters from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max. Kara works with environment-conscious education programs like the Vermont Law School to help promote green business practices.