Monday 12th of August 2019
The world has woken up from its slumber, which caused apathy towards our natural habitat. The cru
...sade against climate change has been reignited aft...
The world has woken up from its slumber, which caused apathy towards our natural habitat. The crusade against climate change has been reignited after the COVID-19 pandemic, making people conscious of their environmental impact. Pollution in all its forms has become all-consuming with its influence on water, land, air and the entire ecosystem.
Businesses have played a significant role in adding to the damage through the emission of greenhouse gases, use of plastic, mismanagement of industrial waste, using non-renewable sources of energy and other wasteful activities. Many small entities understand this negative bearing of their actions and have mended their ways.
The recent floods in Brisbane that caused severe damage and distress have further driven home the point of becoming eco-friendly. The evident effect of global warming is making them adopt corrective measures for reducing their carbon footprint. Thus, here are ten ways small businesses can become more sustainable.
If you are starting up or buying a business for sale Brisbane, you must pay attention to its sourcing. Businesses procure raw materials from their suppliers, a part of the supply chain process. They can ensure that this part of sourcing stock becomes sustainable and ethical. It should be sourced locally to avoid transportation from distant areas that add to fuel wastage and air pollution.
The packaging of the stock must be environmentally-friendly and recyclable. Also, the products must be non-toxic and chemical-free to reduce land and water pollution. In addition, you must find a supplier that maintains ethical manufacturing standards and pays the employees fair wages.
When buying or leasing commercial space, you must know about climate-resilient buildings. These structures are erected efficiently using low-carbon materials, including green concrete and renewable energy sources.
These offices follow the guidelines of the Queensland government to reduce emissions from commercial buildings. Besides the construction, the office can be made greener by adding indoor plants or creating a rooftop garden.
Electricity consumption is extremely high in workplaces. Thus, business owners must replace old bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs. The heating and cooling system should be repaired and serviced regularly, and the temperature should be fixed as per the weather outside.
Installing solar panels is the best way to use a renewable source of energy that cuts down bills. The long-lasting energy supply is low-maintenance and ensures zero downtime due to disruptions. Also, motion sensor lights are an added advantage in parking and bathrooms.
If you have to use plastic for packing, make sure it is made from only one type of polymer. It makes it easy to get recycled. Switch to biodegradable packagings, such as packing paper, compostable bags, and cardboard boxes.
Another innovative method of avoiding it from ending in a landfill is to make it suitable for storage. Customers can keep it instead of throwing it away in that case. Also, when you use eco-friendly packing and shipping services, it helps to attract eco-conscious buyers.
Get cloud-based accounting software to automate processes and introduce e-invoicing in the business. It helps to reduce the wastage of paper. All communication should happen over emails and Skype to get rid of the paper trail.
Going paperless helps save trees and reduces your dependency on paper bills and files that are challenging to manage and store. The organisation will become more professional and productive with digitalisation and the usage of online tools.
Remote working has become a common phenomenon after the pandemic. Businesses are now making flexible work arrangements for employees. They have been able to save a lot of money with the workforce managing work from their homes.
Many of them downsized to move into smaller offices to reduce their rent. They were able to bring down their electricity and water bills, coffee consumption, and expenditure on buying computer systems and peripherals. Offering work from home also aided in improving efficiency because of the ideal work-life balance extended to workers. Happy and satisfied employees offer a better output and stay longer with the business.
Reducing waste is a significant step towards saving the environment. Entrepreneurs who purchase a business for sale in Brisbane must check the waste disposal methods to maintain green operations. Start compositing the organic waste and send the recyclable waste to the recycling collection contractors. Reuse sturdy items that can be utilised by the business, such as containers, boxes, etc.
Refrain from overstocking perishable items and avoid using plastic bottles for water consumption. A simple example of waste management is replacing paper cups with ceramic cups to reduce waste. Ask your employees to use steel bottles and lunchboxes instead of disposables.
The workforce must be trained to work and behave in an eco-conscious manner. They must make changes in their attitude and habits and follow sustainable practices, such as switching off appliances and lights after work. Encourage them to carpool or use public transport when travelling to the office.
Reduce business-related commutes by covering all the meetings online instead of tours and visits. Make them understand the principles of recycling, reusing and reducing. Use natural lighting during the daytime and adapt workwear according to the outside temperature to reduce the use of HVAC systems.
Saving water is the most critical thing to do with rainfall becoming unreliable owing to climate change. Also, the population is rising in the cities and suburbs, which is further burdening the freshwater supply. Thus, businesses should install push taps in the bathrooms with flow restrictor that reduces wastage.
They must promote regular maintenance to check leaking pipes or damaged faucets that need to be repaired. They should buy water-efficient dishwashers for the pantry and use them after they are fully loaded. Also, the toilets must have a double-flush system and the office should have a rainwater harvesting system in place.
Identify the not-for-profits and charities working for the environment and make contributions to them regularly. The business owner can also embark on a plantation drive in the local community with the help of loyal customers and employees.
The collective effort will help in team building and sensitising the workforce towards their responsibility to work for the betterment of the environment. The business should also inspire employees to donate old items to charities instead of sending them to landfills.
Conclusion
Choosing sustainable practices is essential for businesses to reduce their impact on the surroundings. It contributes to creating the image of an eco-conscious brand that supports biodiversity and the protection of the natural ecosystems. Also, following these practices helps reduce costs and boost productivity.
The picturesque views of the port city of Geelong are a major drawcard for travel enthusiasts. The beautiful city is surrounded by Corio Bay and Barwon...
Business ideas that are truly original and astounding are hard to find. Aspiring entrepreneurs spend years looking for that one proposal that can revolutionise...
Business2Sell is one of the biggest and trusted marketplaces for buying and selling businesses in Australia. With thousands of buyers and sellers visiting the site every day, it offers wider reach and extensive opportunities. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, investor, or seller, you will find what you are looking for right here.
