Anna Maria RichardsThere are countless reasons why organisations around the world are working hard to reduce their environmental impact and improve sustainability. These reasons include, but are not limited to, increasing operational efficiency, meeting regulatory requirements, responding to customer demands, adding brand value, and creating new opportunities for growth.
As a result, these motives point to the fact that practising sustainability is a top priority for corporations and not a short-term fad. It is likely that your company has made commitments to environmental sustainability and set sustainability goals. However, you might not truly understand them or know how to best address them. Today we will share seven key ways business leaders might achieve their business sustainability goals.
1. Make Sustainability A Core Principle
It is important to focus on reshaping policies, processes, and attitudes towards sustainability principles. You may want to look at ways to incorporate sustainability into your everyday operations. Take the time to identify unsustainable business practices and look for environmentally-friendly alternatives. To ensure mainstream adoption, you should emphasise the importance of sustainability in training, recruitment, and communication across the organisation. While making responsible choices may start at work, it doesn’t need to end there. Incentivising sustainable lifestyles outside of the office can be another great strategy to make sustainability a core principle.
2. Conduct Research
Instead of only following eco-friendly strategies that are trending right now, you should focus on gaining an in-depth understanding of sustainability. For example, you can address specific sustainability issues, such as climate change, by taking an online short course from The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. You can find out more about the risks and strategic opportunities presented by climate change. Thanks to this online course, you can get practical insights and knowledge from successful low carbon initiatives. As a result, you will enhance the resilience of your organisation, which will help you develop your path to achieving your sustainability goals.
3. Use Sustainable Products
Think about the products that your company purchases to ensure that the workplace functions well, such as cleaning products, printer paper, or containers. These can all be harmful to the environment due to the processes that are needed to make them. You may want to look for recycled products instead as they can help you reduce overall waste. When it comes to cleaning products, there are many green cleaners that don’t include toxic chemicals. Instead, they opt for natural ingredients that can work just as well.
4. Choose Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Becoming energy-efficient doesn’t only mean that you can reduce your carbon footprint, but you can also lower your company’s energy bill at the same time. There are many simple changes that can be made, such as using energy-efficient appliances, switching to LED lights, or automating lights with sensors. You can also use smart thermostats and take advantage of natural light in your office. Ensure that staff are aware of their responsibility to turn off lights when they are not needed in certain spaces. Consider supplying your staff with laptops as opposed to desktop computers.
5. Opt For Sustainable Packaging
Packaging is a major part of many businesses, especially those who sell and ship products on a regular basis. However, there are many alternative options for businesses who are looking to improve their packaging methods, such as recycled paper and cardboard, or organic fabrics. The most important thing to remember is to focus on using the smallest amount of packaging possible. In fact, an increasing number of customers are making a conscious effort to buy fewer products with excessive packaging. Always consider the product you are packing up and whether or not it needs a lot of packaging.
6. Reduce Paper Usage
Another important step is to reduce paper usage in the workplace. For example, you can make this possible by better integrating your print and scan solutions. Ensure that documents can always be shared, edited, and viewed electronically. If you are looking to monitor usage and increase efficiency, you should implement technology that can help you go paperless. To reduce your waste even further, you can purchase recycled paper as this is one of the greenest options for businesses today. This is because recycled paper uses less water and energy and its manufacturing process produces less carbon.
7. Collaborate With Local Partners
Sourcing local goods offers plenty of benefits, such as improving your business’s environmental impact, since couriers won’t have to travel very far. This is also a great opportunity to make the most of everything that is available in your local area that you might not have known about. For example, it is possible that a local business or supplier has recently developed the product or solution that your company needs. In addition, collaborating with local and sustainable suppliers and partners is a great way to boost your brand and support your local community.
