In the brave new world of 2022, we’re all increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability and environmental issues as a way to protect our precious resources.
While going green can help to save our planet, it can also save your business, according to the latest insolvency advice. As the world drives toward the 2030 carbon emission goals, more and more companies are getting onboard with environmental policies.
So, in this article, we’ll explore how going green could save your business money, and potentially bring it from the brink of insolvency.
Why Will Going Green Save Your Business Money?
1. Save Money on Energy
Your first step toward a greener workplace is to take a look at your energy supplier. Many businesses stick with the same energy supplier year after year.However, the one you’re currently using may not be the most eco-conscious option.
Try shopping around to find a green energy supplier which will help you to stamp down on your business’s carbon footprint.
2. Going Paperless
There are some aspects of our workplaces where physical documentation is necessary, such as holding on to legal papers. However, even if you’re not able to go 100% paperless, you can still make a difference by becoming more mindful of paper use and paper waste in the workplace in order to cut this down as much as possible.
The average office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of paper a year, so digitalising documents is a great way of reducing paper usage.
3. Driving Sustainability
If your business uses vehicles, i.e. trucks, lorries or company cars, you can get behind the wheel of sustainability by switching to vehicles which have low or no emissions.
Not only is this good for the planet, but it will also save your business cash as you’ll then qualify for lower rates of road tax. Electric vehicles can also help here, as these cars do not emit pollutants which can damage the Earth’s atmosphere.
4. Recycle Your Tech
Nowadays, our workplaces contain a huge amount of electrical and technical equipment,from computers and printers to kettles and microwaves. Even the best quality equipment doesn’t last forever and,in many cases, these items are headed for the landfill once their life span ends.
Instead, think about sourcing suppliers who will recycle your old equipment when you buy new ones. Plenty of suppliers offer this service, and some will even pay you credit for your old stuff or allow you to trade in, such as Apple.
5. Recycle Office Furniture
You can’t have an office without office furniture and, as most business owners know, this furniture is subject to wear and tear from hard working employees. Presentation is important for an office, particularly one which is visited by clients.
Lots of business owners will regularly throw out old furniture and update with new pieces. Because of this, around 1.2 million desks and 1.8 million office chairs fill up UK landfills every year according to WRAP.
With increased awareness of environmental issues, there’s now very little excuse for this kind of wastefulness. More and more businesses are now choosing to recycle their old office furniture in order to save the company money and help to cut down the waste which goes to landfill each and every year.
6. Eliminate Single Use Plastic
We’re all aware that plastic is a ‘baddie’ when it comes to looking after our planet. One significant way of creating a greener workplace is by going plastic neutral. Some examples of how you can do this include:
- Implement a strict recycling policy in the workplace
- Provide employees with reusable water bottles
- Ban plastic straws and sachets
- Source office essentials responsibly
- Switch to green deliveries
Steps like these are inexpensive but can have a very real and very positive impact on the footprint of your workplace. These can also save your company a sneaky bit of cash, as green deliveries tend to be cheaper.For example, switching to reusable water bottles will remove the need for plastic cups.
7. Work Remotely
Since the beginning of the pandemic, home working has very much become the norm. Even as the world slowly returns to normal, lots of businesses are choosing to continue with remote working, or are endorsing a hybrid model whereby employees spend a couple of days in the office and spend the rest of the week at home.
These work models can have an incredibly positive impact on our carbon footprint, as employees are using their personal vehicles and public transport much less, thus reducing emissions. This also saves businesses money on utilities, resources, and even mortgage or rent payments for their business premises.
Going Green Could Save Your Business from Insolvency
When it comes to going green, a lot of business owners assume that this is an expensive, time consuming, and complicated business. But, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Striving toward a greener workplace is all about taking small but important steps which will help to reduce your company’s carbon footprint and make your workplace more environmentally friendly.
As well as doing your bit for our planet, taking these steps can also save your company cash. Not only that, becoming a greener business may actually net you more customers, as most people actively seekout companies which are committed to environmental issues.
A 2021 Deloitte survey shows that 85% of consumers are now committed to making more sustainable lifestyle choices. This, of course, includes their shopping habits, meaning that making your business more sustainable will, in all likelihood, have you rolling in the green.
Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained businessor financial professional. Be sure to consult a businessor financial professional if you’re seeking advice about boosting your business finances. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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Article Submitted By Community Writer