When a business goes green, it not only shows that it follows the trends but also characterizes itself as a responsible company that is deeply interested in preserving the environment and does everything possible and impossible to reduce its carbon footprint.
Below are the seven of the best ways to help your business become greener. Let’s get started.
1. Add a considerable printing disclaimer in email signatures
You can use professional email signatures across the company to share all the important information in emails and promote sustainability.
So-called green email signatures (added at the end of your email) are usually some contact details and a few short lines of green color text that ask the reader to conserve paper and avoid printing out the email or documents altogether.
For example, “Please consider the environment before printing this email.”
Read more about the email signatures and see email signature examples to get inspired.
You can create any signature with the help of an email signature generator. It will allow you to add clickable links, calls-to-action, and banners.
2. Reduce the use of printed documents
Not all clients prefer a paperless office, but providing them with a greener option can make a huge difference. Customers who love the idea of reducing waste paper will be happy to embrace this trend.
Your business should provide the option to choose between an electronic receipt and a paper receipt.
Provide customers with the ability to receive all other digital documents (such as contracts and privacy information). Less frequent shipping will reduce your postage and carbon footprint too.
Don’t stop in the pursuit of cutting customer documents; cut back in the office. Submit meeting documents electronically for staff review. This version of documents will save on printing documents because they can be demonstrated using a projector.
3. Organize environmental care activities in your local area
Organize environmental campaigns. Inform employees in advance (for example, about the upcoming collection of waste paper) and hand over recyclable materials during such events.
Introduce separate waste collection on an ongoing basis in your office. Decide what types of waste you want to take for recycling. If you see that a large amount of paper accumulates in your office, install a dedicated paper container for it.
It can be a box with an information sticker or a special modern container. Finally, the collected waste must be sent for recycling.
Place information posters near the meeting point, add notes on this topic in the internal email newsletter.
4. Start making printed and souvenir production made with ecological materials
Try to use recycled materials whenever possible. This is especially true for paper; each ton of recycled paper saves 7,000 liters of water and 3 cubic meters in a landfill.
Choose recycled paper, cardboard pens, and other eco-materials made from renewable natural resources.
Choose Total Chlorine Free and recycled paper. Also, look out for FSC certified paper. The FSC icon with a tree indicates that the raw materials for the paper are sourced from environmentally and socially responsible forest management.
Don’t use plastic souvenirs or at least order them from local manufacturers or from those whose production is geographically located closer to you.
5. Highlight a green strategy as a lifestyle of your employees
Every day, thousands of people ride bicycles or public transport to get to work. A business can create conditions for employees to use bicycles or at least share transport such as taxis or private cars (carpooling). Another good option is to let employees work from home several times a month.
This way, the emission of harmful gases or chemicals into the atmosphere can be reduced.
Also, provide water and coffee for your employees so they can refill their reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, reducing the number of plastic coffee cups and disposable bottles that end up in a landfill.
Order food to the office in eco-friendly packaging. Some establishments have already adopted the concept of organic food packaging. Pay attention to this when ordering food.
6. Use alternative energy sources
Contact your utility to find out if you can use alternative energy (such as solar, wind, or geothermal).
Consider rooftop solar panels or power from a nearby wind turbine, if possible. This will not only help the environment, but it will also save you some money as energy costs will be reduced.
7. Choose green technology
You might not even realize that you are doing a lot of damage to the planet by throwing away used and obsolete electronics such as computers, phones, TVs, and faxes.
A lot of these devices contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead and are damaging to both ground and water.
Hand over the used equipment for safe disposal. Sign a contract with a reliable company.
If you have planned to upgrade your office equipment to a more modern, powerful, and energy-efficient one, but your old computers are still in working order, consider donating them.
Choose so-called green equipment. Some manufacturers produce such devices that offer high quality and productivity while ensuring a minimal negative impact on the environment both during the production of the device and during its operation.
To sum it up
Be sure to incorporate the carbon footprint reduction strategies you use in your business information and company website, so customers know what you are doing.
But remember, sustainability is more than a marketing gimmick and involves a lot more than just green or wood pictures on your product. Customers will find out that you are cheating or pretending, so take genuine action to help the environment make it a better place to live for you and your customers.
They will appreciate your efforts and remember you the next time they or their friend will need the products or services you provide.
Let’s go green!
Media Contact
Newoldstamp
info@newoldstamp.com
San Francisco, California