Sustainability For SBOs

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to save money and reduce your business’s negative impact on the environment, congratulations. You are part of a movement of leaders who want to make the world a better place. Today on The Mindful Collective, we share a few quick tips on ways that you can start up or restructure your business with sustainability in mind.

The Prep Work

Before you begin any new endeavor, you have to begin with research. When it comes to sustainability, you’ll want to learn what, exactly, that means and how you can build sustainable practices into your business without jeopardizing your bottom line. Keep in mind that you may spend more in the beginning to create a structure that does just as much good as it drives profits. Either way, don’t be shy about jumping in and getting started because the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Something else to consider in the early days of your business is that you want to include your green initiatives in your marketing plan. Whether you are posting on your social media accounts yourself or you’ve hired an agency, make sure to get the word out that your business has the world’s best interest in mind.

Sustainable Business Practices

Whether you see it yet or not, your small business can have a positive impact, and it all begins with a few simple strategies. A short list to get you started are:

  • Reduce paper waste. Digitizing your files into PDF documents means that you can recycle the paper currently in your business and reduce the amount of paper you use in the future. Another perk of PDFs is that they’re easy to share. This tool may help you for looking for a compression tool that reduces file size without negatively affecting image quality or other file content.
  • Use energy-efficient lighting. An energy-efficient lighting system is an upfront investment that can seem daunting at first. However, when you consider that the technology involved is more sustainable and will last for many years to come, you can calculate savings in terms of years versus an immediate lower cost.
  • Use less water. While the world is made up of water, clean, potable water is a finite resource. Golden Arrow recommends using low-flow toilets, fixing leaks, and developing a water conservation plan to reduce water usage in your business.
  • Evaluate your suppliers. If you have not done so yet, spend some time evaluating your suppliers to see if they are likewise concerned about their environmental impact. While you must look at competency, capacity, commitment, and more to ensure they can meet your business’s demands, ask about what they do to recycle and reduce waste.
  • Protect the wildlife on your land. Even if you only have a small lot, you can do much to protect the diversity of your local wildlife. This is important because, on a large scale, reintroducing or protecting wildlife species plays an important role in combating the negative effects of climate change.
  • Switch to sustainable packaging. Sustainable packaging simply means that you use materials that minimize the environmental impact of your business. The Green Business Bureau explains that biodegradable packing peanuts, air pillows made from recycled plastic, and packaging made from seaweed, mushrooms, cornstarch, or other organic matter are great choices.

While this is not a comprehensive list of ways that you can establish a green business from the beginning, it’s a great start. From reducing your paper waste to protecting the biodiversity of your property, everything you do within your business can have a positive effect on Mother Nature. But remember, you may have to spend more in the beginning to establish these practices, but they will pay for themselves in the long run.

Visit The Mindful Collective often for more tips and tricks on how you can become a more purpose-driven entrepreneur and create a sustainable business with practices that will do good, today and tomorrow.

Article by Joyce Wilson

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