As a business, there are responsibilities that organizations have that often place them above the general public. Eco-productivity is something that comes part and parcel with owning a business nowadays. If you’re not joining the eco-movement, then there’s a risk that you could fall behind with the rest of the waste generators.

The general public nowadays, across the globe, has become increasingly concerned with the impact that’s being made on the planet. Without action fast, it’s likely to result in devastation for future generations.

With a need for change, businesses can become leaders in creating a more eco-productive organization. Here are some of the ways that a business can become more efficient when it comes to the environment and its own personal impact on it.

Be Wary of What’s Going Down the Drain

It’s an odd one to mention but in fact, it has more of a disastrous effect than many might initially think. The only thing that should be going down the toilet is toilet paper and ‘the relevant business’. For kitchens and other areas, a few stray food bits are likely to fall down the drain but for the most part, these should be avoided by covering the drains with a mesh.

Being wary of what’s going down the drains is a great way of helping the sewage system below the business. It’s not just a conscious effort that needs to be made but many businesses are responsible for keeping their own sewer pipes working effectively.

That’s why it’s good to try and avoid anything going down the drain. Thankfully, there are efforts being made to help ensure these sewer pipes are being fixed and prevented from damage. Just click here for more information on what is being achieved today to make these networks more eco-efficient. 

Teach Employees to Be Eco-Efficient at Work and at Home

Employees within the workplace should be conscious of what they’re wasting and also what they’re doing at home to avoid waste. As a business, it’s a good place of leadership to encourage employees to make an effort in reducing waste, recycle where possible, and do things that can help with being more eco-friendly to the environment.

What about a cycle-to-work scheme for example? Perhaps there can be labeled bins to help sort general waste into recycled waste. That way, when bin collections are made, more packaging is being recycled properly instead of being disposed of at landfills.

Teaching employees starts within the workplace and can be expanded to their own homes. When they start being more eco-efficient in their own homes, it starts to have a greater impact on those around them – all from the guidance and help that the business provided.

Go Paperless

Going paperless is a great way to help save on the amount of waste that can accumulate in the form of paper documents. 

Being a paper-centric business isn’t something that many companies need anymore. In fact, digital transformation has been happening more often than not over the last few years, making paper irrelevant.

If it’s possible, going paperless can be a great benefit for those who are looking to reduce the amount of paper usage in the business. Of course, there will be some businesses that need paper documents instead of digital ones. However, it’s few and far between nowadays.

Offer Flexible/Remote Working

Since the pandemic, many businesses have found the benefit that comes from flexible/remote working for their employees.

Not only is it mentally beneficial for employees who need that flexibility, but it’s also great for the environment. Think about how remote working can lower the utility and running costs of the office building. Is an office building needed anymore? We’re seeing a growing number of business startups that are completely remote in their operation.

Offering flexible and remote working is great for the environment and has endless benefits that are great for the mental well-being of staff. It’s something worth considering if the business is still sitting on the fence about it.

Get Involved With Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Initiatives

As a business, everything you do on the outside is just as important as what you do internally. There are lots of communities and initiatives that need the support of small and big businesses alike.

Funding can be difficult for these charities and organizations, so having businesses backing them can be beneficial. For business purposes that help to reduce carbon footprints but also give a positive boost to reputation, get involved with sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives. 

Find those organizations and societies that need the support of businesses to help fund projects that are going to help make the local environment a healthier place. Again, it’s all about being a leader of the industry and when you start helping out these organizations, other businesses are likely to follow too.

Work With Eco-Productive Suppliers

The supply chain is one that can be highly influential to the organization. However, just like many other businesses, there are often suppliers who have a wasteful attitude and those that are driven by making their organization more eco-efficient.

As a business, it’s important to work with the right suppliers and those suppliers should be greener. Take a look at the current supply chain and see where changes can be made. Are some of those suppliers willing to be greener in their production or would they rather not change?

It’s good to look at other options out there and to support the small businesses that are driven by making the world a cleaner and healthier place to live in. Invest your money into these suppliers, rather than those who don’t want to make a change.

Make Use of Energy-Saving Appliances

For the company building, everything in it is likely contributing to the company’s carbon footprint. There are lots of appliances running in the background and some of these could like be taking up a lot more energy than others due to their age.

When appliances get old, they start running slower but despite running slow, they often end up taking up more energy as a result. That’s why it’s important to focus on replacing any appliances that might be useful in upgrading. There will certainly be one or two appliances that have seen better days.

Technology and engineering have also changed dramatically in the last several years, so performance and efficiency are likely to be a lot better too. Save your employees the headache of having to deal with slow desktops or equipment and get it replaced.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

One of the biggest contributions to the environment that a business can make is to recycle anything and everything that is gotten rid of. There are often daily or weekly trash bags of waste that go out and not enough is being put into the recycling waste bins.

With that in mind, consider labeling these bins and educating employees to place more of the packaging that can be recycled, into the right bins.

There are also certain appliances that need to be recycled in a proper manner, especially electrical appliances. Make sure to recycle these correctly, rather than just throwing them in the trash and ending up in a landfill that takes decades to break down. Not only that but it’s going to cause more harm to the environment than good.

Reduce Usage of Utilities

When it comes to utilities that are certainly reductions that can be made. Encouraging staff members to turn off lights in the meeting rooms when they’re finished in there. There are also plenty of cases where there can be more usage of natural light to help light up the office, rather than needing to power up the generator for electricity.

Try to find ways to help reduce the usage of utilities in the building. Proactive efforts such as offering remote working and turning appliances off at the end of the day, can all help to ensure less energy is being used in the business on a daily or weekly basis. 

Getting a smart meter can also be useful, as well as a smart thermostat. Both can be great in helping to reduce energy usage and identify room for improvement when it comes to energy consumption.

Set Monthly Green Challenges

Finally, but certainly not least, set monthly green challenges. Monthly green challenges are a great way to encourage staff members to take on eco-friendly challenges. For example, there could be a green employee of the month who is rewarded for their recycling efforts.

There are plenty of activities and challenges that can be created to help with being more eco-friendly within the workplace and of course, outside of it too. Think about introducing a platform where all of these green challenges can be set up, managed, and allocate winners. Make sure those rewards are worth the effort!

Being more eco-productive as a business has its advantages that not only benefit the surrounding environment but the company too. Use these tips to be more eco-productive as a business.