As the climate crisis keeps affecting the global community, growing numbers of business owners are looking for true methods of developing corporate social and environmental responsibility. Consumers are becoming very conscious of the morality and environmental footprint of companies and what better occasion is there to show goodwill than during Christmas. The planet will give back to your business and your business will be taking practical steps to lower its carbon footprint.
These are some of the practical sustainability initiatives that a business can engage in during this Christmas.
Rethink Your Waste
The celebratory season tends to result in a lot of wastage. It is time to invest in a strong recycling plan that will divert as many wastes as possible off of landfills. The amount and nature of waste generated by your business, both during the Christmas and January seasons, in particular.
Think about putting in place commercial waste balers to convert large cardboard boxes into small and recyclable ones to save money and space. Have proper recycling containers clearly labelled and avail them and train employees on the disposal of electronics, batteries, furniture or equipment of broken material properly.
Invest in Solar Panels
Commercial solar panels may be installed as a serious commitment towards sustainability. On-site generation of electricity using solar PV systems will enable your business to cut down on grid reliance, which will reduce energy bills.
Through the use of modern solar panels, businesses have the ability to virtually 3DF forward purchase electricity at a low charge, usually in the 5 pence per kWh range that covers maintenance expenses. Look at this against the present grid price of 20-25 pence per kWh and the payback financial advantage is evident. Solar energy also insulates your business against the rising and falling energy costs and carbon emissions are also minimized.
Besides installation, it is worth thinking about energy-saving measures: leave machines off at night, put timers on power supply in boilers, fridges, and heaters, change lighting to the one that consumes less energy. By using good energy and combining it with solar energy, you can have a significantly less impact on the environment.
Consider Your Chemical Use
Companies tend to use chemicals to the detriment to the environment. Luckily, there are quite a number of environmentally-friendly options. Examine cleaning products, the pest management chemicals and any other chemicals used in your operations.
Having the employees get informed on the best way to dispose of chemicals or recruiting the help of certified green-service companies makes sure that your company causes minimal damage to the ecology. Small changes like the use of biodegradable cleaning products can have their share in the change.
Audit Your Supply Chains
Sustainability is not only confined to your short term business. A significant amount of UK businesses utilise supply chains which could incorporate unethical labour or foreign shipping that raises the amount of carbon released.
When it is feasible, replace local suppliers with their local employees in order to cut down on the emission effect of transportation and develop relationships between the supplier and the employer at a direct, transparent level. It is necessary to collaborate exclusively with businesses that will adhere to sustainable practices, and it is imperative to be able to check their statements. Being responsible with your sourcing won’t only help to make this planet a cleaner place, but it will also make the consumer believe that you care about their brand.
Small Changes, Big Impact
You do not have to reform your operations in a night. Incremental measures like the implementation of recycling policies, moving to renewable sources, using greener chemicals or supply chain check-up compounds aggregate over time.
Successful sustainability also means taking small steps that demonstrate to your customers and employees that sustainability is an important principle. Regardless of the size or newness of your business, there are always initiatives you can take in order to lessen the impact on the environment and transition to the green future.
