5 Ways Businesses Help the Environment with Green Strategy
By Rachel Libby
Talk of the status of the environment has been at the forefront of many discussions over the past several decades, and taking the steps to help create a more green workplace has never been easier.
Doing your part to improve your business’ green initiative is not only beneficial for the environment, but also for your bottom line. Here are 5 ways your business can help the environment with green strategy.
1. Encourage the Use of Public Transportation
While the use of a bike or just walking to work is an ideal solution for the environment, it’s not always feasible for everyone in your office, which is why encouraging the use of public transportation is so important. Consider offering to cover the cost of a monthly pass for the bus or train to motivate employees to use alternative modes of transportation. Turning walking or biking to work into a competition is also an option—see who can do it the longest, or who can log the most miles. Encouraging these alternatives not only saves money but reduces carbon emissions.
2. Get Rid of Paper
Paper cups, paper products, copy paper—all of them have a cost, to the environment and to the company. Try to eliminate as many forms of paper in your office as possible. Eliminate the need for cups by encouraging employees to bring their own refillable containers for the water cooler, or perhaps consider providing them with a water bottle sporting the company logo. And with technological advancements made in recent years, the need for hard copies can be reduced or eliminated by doing work via a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Utilizing these resources will help you cut down on unnecessary paper waste in your office.
3. Change Your Lightbulbs
Choosing to swap out standard light bulbs for LED or CFL lights allows you to not only use less energy to light your office, but it can save you money on energy bills and the cost of replacing these lights since CFLs and LEDs last much longer. Not to mention, these lights typically cast a brighter glow.
4. Recycle and Reuse
Rather than just throwing out unwanted or unused items in your office, consider recycling or repurposing them. When you replace the fax machine, for example, instead of throwing it out, consider using it at another location in your office or recycling it at an electronics recycling center. Set up bins throughout your office to encourage employees to recycle, and consider using gamification to turn this new initiative into a competition among departments to see who can gather the most recycling. Or set a goal and see if everyone within your business can reach it working together within a set amount of time.
5. Make Sure You’re in Compliance
One of the most important steps you can take in your green initiative is to ensure you’re in compliance with every government regulation regarding the environment. With the help of an internal audit and the use of EHS management software, you can rest assured that you’re not overlooking anything that could lead to fines from the government, or jeopardize your company in any way.
Take Steps to Save the Environment
It takes everyone working together to protect the environment for future generations, and with these 5 simple changes in your business, you can be a part of the solution.
