Top tips on how to reduce your business's impact on the environment
Taking care of the environment is a good initiative for any business and it is up to everyone to work together and make a change. Businesses in South Africa and around the world use a large number of resources from the environment.
However, often times there are spillovers or pollution from your business which go back into the environment. Spillovers and pollution are harmful not only to the environment and the people, but also to animals and habitats near your work premises.
The first step in making an impactful difference is acknowledging the part your business plays and making a conscious decision to change. Below are effective tips on how your business can make a change and reduce the impact your business has on the environment.
See Where The Problem Lies
The first thing you need to do when implementing an eco-friendly approach for your business is to consider the ways in which your business is affecting the environment. It could be a number of things like your energy consumption, water wastage, or spillovers which you need to identify.
Once you have identified the issues it is easier because now you have an idea of what you need to work on. You can conduct audits which will show you exactly what improvements you should do within your business.
Decrease Water Wastage
Water is one of the most precious natural resources in the environment. Although most of our planet is covered in water, a large quantity of that water is seawater, therefore, we aren’t able to use it.
We only have a limited amount of water we can use, and it is quite a small amount which needs to be used by households, wildlife, and business which can cause strain on the eco-system, especially when these resources are being misused.
However, there are many ways in which your business can reduce the amount of water used on a daily basis. There is numerous water treatment process available which allows you to reuse water and save. You can find a water treatment company in South Africa which can assist your business in finding a treatment plant which your business could utilise.
If you feel like rectifying your water wastage might be too time-consuming for you, don't worry as that's why there are water purification companies who have water treatment specialists that can do the work for you while you focus on your core business functions.
Create A Digital Workspace
Everything is slowly becoming more digital and it’s a great step for the environment. There are many ways in which your business can go paperless and you should encourage your employees to do the same. Show your employees different interesting ways to go digital and how fast it is.
Avoid printing out numerous quantities of paper and rather send documents electronically e.g. through faxing, scanning, and emails. Only print out documents when necessary, however, before printing a document out always ask yourself if there is an environmentally-friendly way of doing this. When you start being self-conscious about your impact on the environment it does become easier.
Watch Your Energy Consumption
Saving energy is extremely important but before you do you need to take note of your consumption on a daily basis. Once you have all your notes you can see where you can fix things. You can become more conscious of saving energy by doing things like switching off lights and equipment when not in use.
You can put someone in charge who will make sure lights and equipment are off every night. Another great way would be to use natural light – during the day make sure you open the blinds and let the natural light in. There are a few great health benefits that come with natural lighting which will also be great for yourself and your employees.
Recycle More
Recycling is quite easy and can be done on a regular basis. As mentioned previously, cut down on the amount of paper your business is using and find other ways your business can recycle. Have recycling stations for items which can be recycled and for non-recyclable items in your office and on its premises.
Reuse cardboard boxes and packaging and more importantly have coffee mugs and teacups instead of paper cups for your warm beverage lovers. The small things you do on a regular basis will make a big difference in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Small changes which you do on a daily basis can have a huge impact on the environment and your workspace. Being mindful about your surroundings and the environment is very important and should be a constant effort. Encourage your employees to be more active in reducing the impact your business has on the environment. If we take care of our environment then it will take care of us. The resources being used are important, not only for your business but for the communities around you.
The content in this article was provided by Rogerwilco – a South African marketing agency based in Cape Town.