Starting a business is challenging to say the least. Maintaining or sustaining a business? Even more so. This is why it pays to do things right from the get-go. Once you have successfully and efficiently accomplished the ground works for your entrepreneurial venture, there is a greater chance for things to go smoothly onward.
One way to have a good initiation to the competitive world of business is to Go Green. There are many advantages to this option and the most enticing of these is the possibility of cutting down on operational cost.
Let us delve further into this possibility by enumerating 7 ways in which you can take the green route to success.
1. Cut-down on printing paper.
Paper products make up at least 35% of the total waste from business enterprises. This can be considerably reduced by committing to certain simple practices. Emails for instance can easily be organized online through proper usage of certain template tools from email providers. There is no need to print every email for the sake of filing. This also goes with other office documents that can be stored and retrieved as digital files instead of printouts. Another way to decrease paper consumption is by printing on both sides of a paper for less formal documents. Usage of sustainable paper materials is also highly recommended.
2. Unsubscribe from junk-mail senders.
By receiving a horde of junk emails, you are unwittingly contributing to the world’s paper wastage. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, you can reduce unnecessary subscriptions or opt out existing ones by using online sites like Green Dimes which offer free services such as removal from mailing lists.
3. Unplug.
The basic principle is unplugging electrical equipment when not being used. If you wish to take this Green practice a notch higher, you can include an Earth-hour like practice in your company’s black book. It can be a monthly, weekly, or even daily affair. The most important thing is you and your stuff commit to it with diligence.
4. Use recyclable-waste bins.
A generic waste bin should always go hand in hand with a recyclable-waste bin. This couple is like the Batman and Robin of the Green district. The presence of recyclable-waste bins in specific office areas like the pantry or beside printers and copiers, prompts employees to consciously segregate waste and see possibilities in what seem like junk. Electronic equipment should also be a priority when it comes to recycling practices. Stuff like old printers, phones, and computers should be properly dealt with so that they don’t just go to the wasteland without their possible usage having been maximized.
5. Shop from green establishments.
Designing your office should be fun. Hunting for office supplies and equipment can be just as thrilling especially if you venture out to lesser-known thrift shops, flea markets, and even garage sales. As they say some person’s trash can be another person’s treasure. Who knows when you are in for slightly used but nifty designer office chairs or previously loved office carpets? Owning these second-hand items makes you a contributor to waste-reduction.
7. Design a Green office.
Choosing a Green office is perhaps one of the smartest decisions a startup business person can make. There are many ways to go about this project. One is to patronize wood products as opposed to plastic or glass when buying office furniture such as chairs, tables, and dividers. Purchasing energy-saving equipment such as eco-friendly lighting fixtures is also recommended. Other must-consider choices include eco-friendly paints, recycled wallpapers, auto-temperature-tuning-and-sensor-equipped ACs, and the likes.
Please share your thoughts on the comment section below.
laurabrentley
Latest posts by laurabrentley (see all)
- 7 Green Practices for Startup Businesses - 08/29/2012
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