How can businesses be more sustainable?

In the modern working world, sustainability is an area which has taken centre stage as a way for businesses to lower their impact on the environment. As the environmental footprint of a business can be quite large, here are some steps that your business can take to help reduce its footprint.

Use eco-friendly products around the office

Simple switches from standard items around the office to eco-friendly versions can help to minimise the amount of plastics and non-recyclable waste your business generates.

Refill packs for coffee and hand soaps are other great ways to reduce the overall waste produced by your office. You can typically buy one big refill container which can replace buying lots of smaller single-use plastic bottles and glass jars.

If your office has a dishwasher, you can also find dishwasher tablets from eco-friendly brands which use biodegradable, plant-based wrapping and work well on the eco dishwashing setting.

Smart recycling

Knowing what items can and cannot be recycled can sometimes be a bit tricky. Most people are aware that cardboard can be recycled, but soiled cardboard such as takeaway boxes with grease patches cannot go into the recycling bin.

There are also many types of plastic which some local councils don’t have the facilities to sort. Putting up a comprehensive recycling guide next to the bins that explains what plastics can and cannot be recycled ensures employees can sort their plastics out correctly.

Have a corporate garden

A slightly more novel idea to help boost environmental awareness in your office can be to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs which employees can take home to use, rather than going out and buying ones which have travelled from all over the world.

If your office has the available outdoor space where you can set up a vegetable patch, or somewhere you can put an indoor garden, then this can be a great way for your employees to engage with an eco-friendly initiative which gives back something practical and tasty.

Working from home

One of the bigger eco-wins businesses can get is through allowing employees to work from where possible. Although this isn’t always an option, remote working can cut out the emissions linked to commuting to and from the workplace. Where employees cannot remote work, incentivising car shares can also be a way to remove the number of cars on the road.

Finding the right sustainable solutions for your business is crucial, as they will need to be achievable in the long-term rather than just a month-long activity. Identify any suitable sustainable initiatives, inform your employees of how they can do their part, and go forward feeling proud to be a more sustainable business.