In the past, companies existed only to maximize profitability for shareholders. This concept has changed radically in the 21st century. Consumers have “awakened” and realized that their favorite brands have a responsibility toward society. We call it corporate social responsibility (CSR), and it states that corporations must “give back” to the world. Statistics show that businesses that give to charities have satisfied employees and customers. A customer wants companies to take a stand regarding issues, e.g., environmental damage, preservation, and climate change. CEOs must contribute to the “saving of the planet” by hiring commercial waste management.
Therefore, here are some green ideas for you to implement:
1. Biodegradable cleaners
Companies must begin using non-toxic, eco-friendly biodegradable cleaning products since they’re cost-effective and non-hazardous for your employees. These natural cleaners reduce your exposure to dangerous chemicals. Many supermarkets sell these green products, and you can even purchase a few online. Hence, the next time you have to buy soaps/shampoos for your office, try biodegradable cleaning agents. Since they profoundly diminish the introduction of toxins in your environment.
2. Encourage distance learning
Companies frequently fund continuing education programs for employees to help them enhance their expertise. But distance learning has enabled workers to pursue their courses online. Employers should motivate employees to seek MBA programs no GMAT required to excel in their professions. These programs offer digital materials for students to study in their comfort zone. As there’s no need to attend physical classes, your workers won’t waste their time and energy traveling to campus. Moreover, these degrees can help employees develop more innovative practices to reduce the business’ waste generation and carbon footprint.
3. Start recycling
You can promote sustainability by encouraging employees to recycle objects. It’ll help your workers discard wastage through eco-friendly ways. CEOs can implement a recycling program to motivate employees to learn how to differentiate between various sorts of waste products. It enables companies to reduce their landfill waste by 85%. Responsible waste disposal techniques will make employees more conscious about which objects belong in compost, recycling, or a garbage dumpster.
4. Use green energy
Traditional (non-renewable) energy comes from burning fossil fuels (oil/gas/coal). Alternatively, you can generate cleaner (greener) energy via renewable sources (wind/water/solar). So, switching to renewable energy sources can heavily enhance your positive impact on the world’s climate. And this energy costs less than conventional sources. Hence, it would be best if you consider signing up to purchase this eco-friendly power from your utility provider. Buy this green energy to power the workplace.
5. Get some plants
You can also attempt to place plants all over the office to improve the environment and make your workplace healthier for employees. This technique will also enhance the building’s atmosphere. You can help workers control their stress/anxiety by creating a calm and pleasant ambiance. Moreover, these plants curb indoor pollution. Research shows that plants will decrease 87% of air pollution inside the office in a day. So, purchasing some plants seems like a perfect “green action” your company must take.
6. Go paperless
Eco-minded people want to stop deforestation and save trees from destruction. So, it would be best if you promoted a paperless workplace. Incorporate digital documents in your office and cease relying on printers to access files/folders. CEOs must prepare for a future where paper will become obsolete. The cloud allows companies to communicate effectively and share information in a “green” manner. So, it’s time to invest in desktop applications and automation software to replace paper-based methods.
7. Use CFL/LED lights
Normal bulbs consume power excessively and contribute to higher energy expenditures. So, you can switch to eco-friendly lighting that lasts longer and consumes fewer amounts of energy. Offices are now installing CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) or LED (light-emitting diode) lights. Experts estimate that these bulbs last 3-25 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs and use about 25-80 percent less energy. You can easily calculate how much money your company can save with these bulbs.
8. Consider reusing
Statistics from Canada show that people use 1.6-2.0 billion disposable cups for drinking coffee. It isn’t eco-friendly to throw away a cup after using it once. Instead, companies should promote replacing these disposable cups with reusable mugs. CEOs can offer company-branded merchandise to encourage objects’ reuse. This technique will help you motivate more workers to curb their wasteful expenditures. Furthermore, it’ll help reduce the amount of plastic your office uses every day.
9. Offer remote work
Allow your employees to telecommute and work from home to save the amount of energy spent on transportation. Remote work has been normalized in multiple sectors since it permits employees to reduce their time spent commuting. Decreasing the number of vehicles on the road reduces CO2 emissions. It also helps trim down traffic along with lowering the lighting/heating expenditures of the workplace. Also, statistics show that over 60% of workers already prefer working from home.
10. Use public transport
Even if you disapprove of remote work, encourage employees to use public transport instead of private vehicles to commute. Moreover, you should provide public transit commuter incentives for motivating more workers to prefer such modes of transportation. Your company can collaborate with city transit agencies and offer subsidized vouchers to your employees. These advantages will encourage more people to travel via public transportation (buses/trains) to lessen greenhouse gas emissions.
11. Prefer green websites
How do websites consume energy? A server hosting a website’s information needs massive amounts of energy to operate. Now, we have “green website hosting,” where servers consume clean energy generated by renewable resources. So, eco-conscious companies can collaborate with green website hosting services to save the planet. Even Google has decarbonized its data centers and offers green cloud services. Amazon also promises to produce zero net carbon emissions by the year 2040.
Conclusion
Americans have become environmentally conscious in the 21st century. A survey by Business Wire shows that over two-thirds of consumers will pay more to purchase sustainable products even though most of them can’t identify such items. Moreover, 78% of customers tend to buy products labeled as eco-friendly. Thus, business leaders must invest in green practices not only to please their target audience, but also to protect the planet. These practices will demonstrate your commitment to creating a sustainable future for our younger generation. Businesses must adopt methods that minimize their harmful impact on climate and influence the environment positively. These green ideas also help maintain your brand’s reputation in the long run.
