With New Year’s right around the corner, plenty of people are starting to think about their New Year’s Resolutions. You may already have one in mind for 2024 – reading more books, maybe, or finally running that marathon. But what about your business?
In this upcoming year, there are more reasons than ever to work on making your company as environmentally conscious as possible. Not only is it great for our planet, but more and more consumers are invested in the ethics of the companies they put their money into. It’s not enough to be good–they want the businesses they invest in to do good.
So, for 2024, commit to making a company that’s as planet-friendly as it is consumer-friendly. Not sure where to start? Here are five tips to help you get started on a more eco-conscious new year:
- Find Out Your Footprint With Ecological Consulting
Did you know that there are companies dedicated to helping companies like yours become more ecologically conscious? If you truly are at a loss for where to begin with making your company more environmentally friendly, they can help.
Book a consulting service and talk with professionals with an ecology and conservation background to see what your business is doing right in terms of being green, and what you can do to be even more friendly to the planet. Starting your greener year off with a consultation is a great way to get off on the right foot and make a game plan for the rest of 2024.
- Learn More About Water Conservation
Commercial buildings use a massive amount of water, with the two biggest areas of water usage being landscaping and restrooms. Obviously you don’t have to sacrifice your bathroom breaks or even your greenery out front, but chances are that your building could be more efficient in how it’s used.
If you own your building, now is a great time to look into alternative water-wise options, like drip irrigation for landscaping or low-flow toilets for bathrooms. If you don’t own your building, try to get the conversation started among other tenants. Together, you can talk to your landlord to improve the water conservation on the property.
- Reduce Car Emissions with Remote Work
The morning commute isn’t just a pain for drivers – it actively hurts the environment with harmful emissions from cars. In 2020, levels of nitrogen dioxide, a major factor of air pollution, dropped as much as 70% in some areas. Unfortunately, the calls for people to return to the office also marked a return to air pollution.
That’s why it can be beneficial for companies to embrace a remote work environment. Even introducing a hybrid schedule can reduce emissions significantly, especially on days projected to have bad air quality.
And now, you don’t even have to worry about people falling behind on work. With the boom in cloud-based, multi-channel communication platforms, employees can easily collaborate and share their work wherever they are – it’s like they never left the office.
- Supply Locally When Possible
If your business needs supplies for production – or even if you just need snacks and coffee for the break room – try your best to source from local, sustainable markets. While shipping in from overseas can seem cheaper based on dollar amounts, the toll of long distance travel comes in the form of energy consumption and harmful emissions.
By keeping your supply local, you can reduce emissions while bolstering up your own community. It’s a win-win!
- Get The Whole Team Involved
A great way to move your company to greener pastures is to get everyone onboard with the changes you’re making. This can be as simple as sending out an email explaining the why behind the changes you’re making, but it could even go so far as to have a company-wide day of volunteering to clean up a park or beach.
Encouraging volunteering is proven to have a positive impact on the workplace by both shaking up your employees’ routines and getting them involved in something that truly matters. Not only will this help the environment, it’ll boost morale among your team and promote a greener lifestyle for everyone (while getting to feel like taking the grown-up version of a field trip).
Even implementing one of these suggestions is a great way to start making an ecological difference with your company. This upcoming year, make your business’s New Year’s Resolution to help make a greener future possible.
We only get one planet – and you can run your business in a way that makes sure it continues to thrive!
