How Small Businesses Can Make a Difference to the Environment

Your small business can make a difference when it comes to helping our planet. Even if you’re a one-man band, there are still changes that you can make to the way you work that will result in a better world for you, your customers and future generations.

You don’t need a corporate office or a fleet of electric cars to do your bit. All you need is the desire to make a difference and a few small changes to impress your customers and get a step closer to that carbon-neutral status.

Why Should Small Businesses Care About the Environment?

Let’s face it, as much as talk about helping the planet is great, you’re running a business. You need to make money to live, and you need to make a healthy profit to thrive. Making a change to improve your green status might not feel financially viable, or it might feel like it will take up a lot of your time (which most business owners are short on). 

So, what are the “business benefits”?

Firstly, as the world becomes eco-conscious, so do your customers. A recent study undertaken by SmartEnergy showed that more than 80% of people describe themselves as likely to buy from a business that takes environmental sustainability into account. That’s a lot of customers you can attract to your door! 

Secondly, being carbon-neutral is a great marketing tool. It’s like an instant unique selling point. Let’s say you’re in a competitive industry. Just being the one business in your field that can promote the steps they’re taking to help the planet is a big brag that puts you ahead of your competition. You can paste it on your socials, on your websites and even on packaging for any physical products that you sell.

What Steps Can Small Businesses Take to Change the World?

Start small. Write down a list of your processes and look at what you can do to make them more eco-friendly. For example, do you start your day by writing a to-do list on a notepad? If you do, then use a digital method instead, such as taking notes on your phone. Do you print documents for your clients or partners to sign? If so, consider using online software so you can sign and share documents online.

Is it necessary for you to use an office, or could you work from home? Remote working doesn’t just save you money on rent, it also means you don’t need to commute to the office every day, which saves on carbon emissions. 

Working on a laptop is more energy efficient than working on a desktop computer, as laptops are optimized to use less energy.

Do you have a lot of video conference calls? Try calling without video whenever possible, this saves data and, therefore energy.

If you do need to use an office, what can you do to make it more sustainable? Can you swap the lights with energy-saving light bulbs? Can you ensure that all electronic equipment is fully switched off (rather than left on standby) when it’s not being used? If you need to decorate your office, look at low-carbon products. You can buy carbon-capture paints which reduce how much carbon is in the air. You can also look at replacing furnishings with eco-friendly alternatives, such as installing bamboo flooring over hardwood. 

An Energy-Saving Hack That Most Businesses Miss

If you want a quick, cost-effective way of reducing your carbon footprint, we have a great solution for you. Many businesses don’t realise that even their website contributes to carbon emissions. Just having an online presence is harming the environment!

Our tool allows you to track your website’s carbon emissions and offset them. It shows you how to work towards that carbon-neutral status, and it takes you a step towards it. How many other businesses can say that their website is eco-friendly?

Take environmental sustainability to the next level with us. Start your FREE 14-day trial today and discover how you can change the world by changing your website.