5 Basic Sustainable Practices for a Business by Louise Baker

I recently received a request for a guest posting by Louise Baker. Louise is a freelance blogger and journalist who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and online degrees. She most recently wrote about where to get the best online psychology degree.

In modern days we recognize the damage that is done to the environment with our everyday routine. Many people are taking the necessary steps to reduce this damage by increasing sustainability in our daily lives. In today's market, many businesses are recognizing the need to also scale back the carbon footprint and bring more sustainability to their practices. Of course there are many things a business can do to make themselves a little more environmentally friendly and many of them are simple and cost near nothing.

1. Reducing Paper Usage.

A very easy sustainable practice for any business is to reduce the amount of paper being used. Paper, as most know, come from trees and uses a lot of energy to both produce and transport the paper to the office. To reduce the amount of paper being used a business should encourage double-sided printing and copying, using paperless methods where possible and using paper with a high recycled content.

2. Recycling

Another very easy sustainable practice for any business is to promote recycling amongst their employees. Many businesses have something they can recycle. Whether it be the paper waste, cardboard, or simply the cans, bottles and plastic containers from employee lunch breaks. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that fills the landfills and will allow valuable resources to be reused, reducing the mark on the planet.

3. Reduce Energy

Reducing energy is the third basic sustainable practice a business can do. Reducing energy can be as simple as insuring that everything that can be turned off is turned off before the last person leaves the building and replacing defective appliances with more energy-efficient options. However, if a business would like to receive maximum energy savings, replacing all appliances and goods which require the least amount of energy to run. Reducing energy consumption is important because most energy runs off of non-renewable sources, often which harm the planet through greenhouse gasses. Not to mention, it saves a bit of money to use less.

4. If possible, use Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is on the rise in today's marketplace. Common sources today are wind and solar. A solar panel on the roof of a business, even if it is only able to power the business' lights, is a sure sustainable practice for a business. Renewable energy, unlike non-renewable energy, does not produce greenhouse gases and occurs naturally in the environment so there is no middle man making renewable energy a perfect practice for any business wanting to leave a smaller mark on the environment

5. Promote Carpooling

A business promoting carpooling with perks such as a parking spot closer to the door will not only save on the greenhouse gases cars produce, but will help employees to overall save money on the gas required to go back and forth to work. While this might not directly affect the company's sustainability, it promotes sustainability among those who work at the company which has a positive effect on the planet.

Comments

[Atcampbell]

Businesses can also collaborate with other businesses in their community for more significant results, through bulk buying of office supplies to reduce transportation and packaging waste and splitting ownership of durable equipments that are seldom used.

The logistics for collaboration between several businesses is not such a barrier right now, with online tools like SplitStuff.

The technology to implement more ambitious green projects exists, but what we need are more business leaders that believe collaboration with other businesses in their community will play a role in helping their own businesses survive, thrive, and reduce its impact on the environment.

[louis vuitton]

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[business furniture]

Good write up. Its about time offices should have ways to practice this saving tips. They will save a lot of money which they can use for other purposes like buying new office furniture and equipment.