June 9th, 2021 | Updated on June 28th, 2022
‘Sustainability’ is not just a buzzword – it is a necessary aspect that all responsible business practice. Our planet is warming, and the resources we rely upon are dwindling.
Pair this with a ballooning global population and a volatile economic equilibrium and you have the perfect recipe for the extinction of life on earth.
Business owners need to do their bit to slow down environmental catastrophe and preserve natural resources.
Thankfully, more and more companies are making great progress towards becoming more sustainable. Here are five steps that can help your business become more sustainable.
Generate Power
Much of our energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels. These are finite resources and release carbon into the air when they are burned. Renewable energy has no such pitfalls.
While many countries are trying to switch to renewable energy, this will take a great deal of time.
In the meantime, business owners can take power into their own hands by installing solar cells, wind turbines, and (where appropriate) water turbines. These can allow a business to become a self-sustaining power generator.
Audit Your Water Usage
Water wastage is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world’s human population. Drinkable water is a finite resource, and as the population grows, many people will be forced to go thirsty or consume the stuff of life from unsafe sources.
Conducting a water audit at your business will allow you to identify where water wastage is occurring.
Many companies are able to cut down on water wastage significantly after an audit and often save money in the process. Click here to see how Utility Bidder can help you with a water audit at your business’s premises.
Recycle And Reuse
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective when it comes to making a business more sustainable. Cut down on your business’s waste output by recycling as much as possible.
Encourage employees to use refillable glass bottles instead of plastic single-use bottles of water. Recycle your waste paper and cardboard. Reuse as much as possible.
Invest In Sustainable Design
The design of your business’s office, factory, or workspace is crucial to any reduction in emissions.
Insulation and double glazing can seriously reduce the need for excessive heating, which is a major cause of fossil fuel use in commercial buildings.
New buildings are often designed with innovative energy-saving features such as cavity insulation or integrated solar cells. Slightly less effective measures can be retroactively fitted onto older buildings.
Plan For The Long Term
As a business owner, you’ll be used to thinking ahead and considering the long-term implications of your strategic planning. Incorporating sustainable values and aims into your business strategy is key to making real change.
As well as being morally right, having long-term sustainability goals will be financially beneficial to your company.
Whatever industry you are in, having a provable sustainable approach to growth will improve your brand reputation and allow you to tap into an increasingly environmentally conscientious market.
