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Improving your eco credentials as a business is a decisive step that can significantly impact your brand’s reputation. With more than three-quarters of Brits showing a preference for environmentally responsible brands (source: Kantar) and over 80% believing that brands have a responsibility to protect the environment, as a business owner, you have the power to make a difference. These statistics should inspire you to adopt more eco-friendly initiatives and reduce or eliminate any negative impacts your business may have on the world.
Want to explore this more? This post is going to take a look at a few ways you can become more sustainable as a business and reduce your environmental impact and areas you need to look at to increase your impact.
Swap to Eco Cleaning Products
These days, there is a wide range of cleaning apparatus and products designed to have minimal environmental impact. Even if you can’t make complete swaps, you can choose to purchase in concentrated forms, which allows you to use less and purchase less, resulting in less packaging and waste. Alternatively, you can use multipurpose cleaners, which reduce the number of chemicals you use around the business. However, choosing cleaning products created with ingredients such as baking soda and vinegar can be an option. Alternatively, opting for steam cleaning over chemicals or using tools and equipment designed to be both effective and eco-friendly can also be considered. For example, this gum removal machine is eco-friendly.
Reusable Products
Switching from single-use products to reusable ones can save a significant amount of waste and prevent unnecessary drain on your resources. There are multiple areas of your business where you can invest in reusable products, and the requirements will vary depending on your specific activities. From reusable wipes to cups, dinnerware, reusable bags, containers, kitchen utensils, and more. The more items you purchase that can be used multiple times, the better.
Cut Waste
Conduct an audit of all the waste produced within your operations and identify ways to reduce it. It might be that you need to address operational policies or processes to streamline what you do and eliminate waste. You might need to swap your menu to reduce food waste, avoid plastic packaging, or buy in bulk to eliminate excessive containers or wrapping on items you sell for your business. Take a step back, perform an audit, and then look at how you can eliminate it.
Talk to Suppliers
It’s not just about your individual efforts. It’s essential that your partners share your commitment to sustainability. Talk to your suppliers and find out what their eco-initiatives are and whether they’re actually engaging in them, not just claiming to be. Discuss your vision and your viewpoints and see if they align. And if they don’t, start negotiations with other vendors who can deliver what you need. This collaborative approach can reinforce your efforts and reduce the waste or resources you consume, helping you move further towards your eco goals.