When you are trying to run your business in the most eco-friendly manner possible, the question of waste is always going to be a pertinent one. The simple running of a business has the propensity to generate a huge amount of waste, contributing to your carbon footprint, and meaning that your business has a negative impact on the environment. If you pride yourself on running a green business, then answering the waste question is vital.
However, it’s also not simple. Waste is a fact of business; it’s not like there’s a switch you can flip that means your business won’t produce waste. Thankfully, with a little work and changes of behavior, you can ensure that your business is as waste-positive as possible. Here are a few tips to help you achieve this aim.
#1 – Examine The Entire Process Of Your Business
What do you think of when you hear the term “business waste”? For most people, the waste they imagine is paper waste; all businesses generate large amounts of paper waste, so it’s natural to conclude this is the area you need to investigate. Which it is– but there are other, more pernicious, forms of waste that you need to tackle as well.
- If you produce your own products or are engaged in manufacturing, then waste water could be a huge issue for you. Without proper treatment, water can be a pollutant in and of itself. It’s vital you install a high-tech wastewater treatment plant if your business produces a high amount of water waste; these efficient systems can make a huge impact on your green business credentials.
- Electrical waste is an issue for businesses in every sphere. Do you turn off lights, gadgets, and appliances after use– or do they sit on stand-by? If the latter is the case, then implement a practice of always turning electricals off if they have not been used for half an hour.
- If your business is involved in the food industry, then food waste will be a concern to you. Introduce a composting system to help counteract this; you can even sell compost to local gardeners for a profit, meaning you can profit from your trash!
#2 – Reduce Paper Usage
The reality of the modern business world is that paper is no longer necessary. Invest in devices, such as tablets, that allow you to all-but remove paper from your office.
If you do have to use paper, then recycle it rather than throwing it away. This is just a small extra step when disposing of an item, but one that makes a huge difference to the environment.
#3 – Only Order What You Need
When you buy supplies for your business, you will be encouraged — by way of discounts — to buy large numbers. This can help reduce the overall price and thus seems like a good idea, but be cautious when placing bulk orders.
Only ever buy supplies that you know you are going to use in six months. Don’t buy supplies speculatively (for example: “if that customer places a big order, we’re going to need…”). If you only order for the work you know you have to complete, then you reduce the risk of overstocking, which in itself inevitably becomes higher levels of waste.
Take care of the above and you can ensure that your business is as waste-efficient as it can possibly be.
