When most people think of “going green,” they think of it applying to the personal preferences of individuals who are environmentally conscious. But little do lots of people know that it’s not just eco-friendly individuals who care about the environment… businesses do too, as strange as that may sound.
It’s actually not so uncommon that businesses have adopted green practices. More and more people are becoming aware of their digital footprints and are consciously making efforts to do their parts in reducing their harmful impact.
In that same token, businesses are becoming more aware of this and it’s proven to be very beneficial to them in many ways. For example, businesses that implement green practices expose themselves to a market of eco-friendly customers. In addition to that, by implementing green practices, it typically rubs off on employees outside of work to begin their own journey to living greener.
True enough, reducing carbon footprints may not be at the top of the priorities list for lots of businesses are quickly finding out how going green will not only save them money but also make them money. A study conducted by UCLA found that employees who worked for eco-friendly companies were more productive, which then translates into making the company more money!
Those reasons alone are why many businesses are adopting greener practices but those aren’t the only ways businesses can go green. Making the transition can range from small changes to major shifts. Take a look at how businesses are making major changes to their practice to be more green.
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Ways Businesses are Going Green to Better the Environment
Hiring a Remote Workforce
As if commuting wasn’t bad enough, traveling to and from an office building is a major contributor to carbon emissions, plus, the money spent in electricity and AC for an office building also adds up.
By allowing your team to work from the comfort of their homes, you’re lessening your office electric bill and reducing waste output, not to mention, your team will absolutely love the commute from their bedroom to their computer.
But, in building a remote team, you have to make sure they’re going to be productive and have the drive to work efficiently despite potential distractions. You can determine this during the interview process but you have to know what to look for when hiring remote employees.
Switching to Green Electricity
If a remote workforce isn’t an option for a business, they can still do their part in reducing energy consumption by way of ditching traditional electricity that uses fossil fuels and instead select electricity generated from renewable energy.
Everything from lighting and AC to phones and computers, businesses use lots of electricity every day but it doesn’t have to put the business out of business, nor should it have to harm the environment, either. Switching to electricity that uses renewable energy gives businesses the same amount and quality level of electricity, it just comes from an environmentally friendly source.
Implementing Energy-Efficient Policies
Implementing energy-efficient policies one of the best ways to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to company values. Upper management has the power to put policies in place to lessen the company’s carbon footprint but it’s going to require effort from all staff.
Everything from having bike racks installed on the property to encouraging reusable water bottles, by making energy-efficiency as part of the company practices, it sets the tone for employees to incorporate those green practices into their daily interactions and work ethic.
Using Eco-Friendly Paper Products
Lots of businesses have stepped away from using so much paper in efforts to help the environment but for those who have to use paper, they at least do their part by using recycled paper. It’s not so easy to completely avoid using paper simply because of needing records, reports, and marketing materials printed but lots of businesses are at least printing double-sided and making use of excess or scrap paper to prevent wasting it.
