The global climate crisis is a topic we are all aware of in today’s world and is one that many of us are now trying to help. Sadly, there are many impacts to our earth caused by global warming, from increased natural disasters like flash flooding and droughts, to the extinction of many animal and plant species as they struggle to keep up with the changing planet.
However, climate change can also have a huge impact on our daily lives and business operations, from disrupted supply chains to rising insurance costs and even labor challenges. In order to help slow down these harmful effects caused by climate change, it’s essential we take action and do something about the situation, no matter how small the effort.
Below, we’ve listed some of the top ways to make your business greener.
Get Rid of the Office Printers
In a day and age where most things are electronic, ask yourself and your employees if there’s really a need to be printing things out so much. One way to prevent your company from using so much paper is to remove all printers from people’s offices. This will prevent unnecessary printing which will not only help to reduce the number of trees needing to be cut down in the world but will also save your business a surprising amount of money.
While we understand there are some activities where printing is essential, such as printing packaging or notes for customer orders, or sending important letters, try to have just one printer in the accounts department to discourage others from printing unnecessarily.
There are also some great services out there where you can order printing if the need is vital. Such essential activities like printing business checks can easily be handled by using an online service and can often be much more cost-effective.
Sign Up to a Service to Offset Your Carbon Footprint
For many small businesses, it can be difficult to know where to start with offsetting your carbon footprint. Especially in the current climate where many employees work from home, it can be difficult to implement schemes in an office that save energy.
However, there are a number of companies that offer services to help business offset their carbon footprint. Sites like Treenation offer a service where you can pay for trees to be planted to offset the amount of carbon your business and your employees are generating.
Not only is this great for the environment but it also portrays your brand in a positive light and proves that your organization cares about its impact on the local community and the planet.
Incentivise Green Travel
Encouraging your employees to find a greener way of commuting is a great step in helping reduce your carbon footprint. Many organizations offer a scheme where employees benefit from carpooling, walking or cycling to work or taking public transport. Such a way of doing this is by offering vouchers, credit, or prizes for employees who opt for a greener way of commuting to and from work.
Provide a Fully Stocked Kitchen
In order to reduce the number of plastic employees is using, try to provide a fully stocked kitchen where employees can bring or make their own lunch from home. There should also be mugs, glasses, bowls, plates, and utensils to avoid the use of plastic ones.
Encourage Remote Working
While remote working doesn’t work for every business, some office-based employees may be able to make a switch to working from home a few days a week. This will reduce the amount of energy being used in the office, which all counts towards protecting our planet.
Overall, the global climate challenge we face is a huge one with detrimental consequences for our planet, our businesses, and our lives. However, by making some simple changes to the way your business operates, you can play a part in helping to reduce the effects of climate change.
