As a business owner, there are various steps you can take to future-proof your business. For example, working to improve operational efficiency will enable you to make big improvements to your small business. However, recent studies have shown that one of the biggest steps brands can take when providing themselves with longevity is making a commitment to sustainability.
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Not only are consumers more likely to support sustainable brands, but they are actively turning away from those whose practices are deemed harmful. To put it simply: sustainability sells.
With that in mind, here are some simple steps you can use to make your business greener, whether you work in construction or fashion.
Improve your waste disposal
No matter which industry you operate within, you’re bound to produce some kind of waste during your daily operations – and while working on efficiency can reduce this, it’s impossible to reduce it entirely. However, you should make sure that it is stored safely on site, before being taken to the relevant disposal facility (such as a recycling plant). To achieve this goal, you should first look into bin truck hire in your local area. This is because there are a variety of different bins and skips to choose from, depending on which waste you are producing (recycling, builders, construction etc).
Go paperless
Going paperless is another effective method which makes your business more sustainable, due to the fact that it reduces the amount of waste your produce on site. Furthemore, it can also make your day to day life easier, as searching for documents that are stored digitally is much easier than looking through piles of paper. As such, digitising your documents can also help you improve staff satisfaction and retention rates.
Be transparent, don’t greenwash
Consumers want to pledge their support to brands they can trust, not brands that are disingenuous. As a result, while it’s good to discuss the steps you are taking to become more sustainable, you must be fully transparent and honest. Failure to do so could result in ‘greenwashing’ (companies pretending to be more sustainable than they are), which will turn many consumers away. If a complaint comes up about a mistake you are making, hold yourself accountable and put plans in place to make changes.
Rethink your packaging
Packaging plays a vital role in the customer experience, especially when it features your unique business branding, however, many customers would actually prefer packaging that is sustainable and recyclable instead of a single-use product. This could mean that it’s time to rethink the packaging materials you use. For example, corrugated cardboard is the ‘greenest’ form of packaging, as this is one of the easiest materials to recycle. Alternatively, you may want to look into packaging options that are biodegradable.
Switch to renewable energy
Switching to renewable energy is another great way to ensure your practices are as eco-friendly as possible, since it reduces the amount of energy you need and your carbon emissions. Whatsmore, this is also a great way to cut down on business costs, as renewable energy is much more efficient (and therefore cheaper).