Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In 2019, customers are not just concerned about finding the products and services they want, but also that the businesses they’re patronizing are environmentally conscious. Being EcoAware can have several advantages for business owners. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Every Business Should Be EcoAware.
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The value which should be the watchword of all small business? Efficiency. By their very nature, start-ups are lean and therefore a lot more creative. Without huge amounts of capital, small businesses have no choice but to be innovative about ways of getting things done. Along with financial decisions and business processes, being environmentally aware goes hand in hand with this approach. It’s hard to ignore the many positive benefits of starting up your business with the planet in mind – from an enhanced reputation with clients and customers who actively seek out greener companies to do business with, to the economic benefits of being kinder to the planet, and having a positive impact on the community. Sustainability initiatives should be a major part of any new business plan.
Winning More Business
Consumers are more aware than ever of environmental and social responsibility in the businesses they choose to deal with. People now choose to vote with their wallets in a globally competitive marketplace and seek out goods and services which align with the values they have. Studies show that nearly half of consumers now make purchasing decisions at least partly based on green factors, and the majority are also willing to pay slightly more to for goods and services which they see as environmentally conscious. Going green can also help you attract and retain talent. From aligning with specific causes that resonate with what you to promoting practical greener measures like adding bus shelters or facilities for cyclists to encourage greener transport, quality candidates want to know that you are embracing sustainability. These days you simply cannot be a thought leader in any industry without having an environmental stance.
Making Cost Savings
Taking your business greener doesn’t just have intangible long-term benefits – it also offers immediate savings, reduced waste and much better efficiency. There is so much you can go, from cutting down paper and plastics waste to reducing energy usage, and these will all put back into your budget as well as helping to safeguard the environment. Most countries also have some forms of government incentive aimed at making business greener, so you may also be able to benefit from tax breaks or financial grants to help with the purchase of equipment
An Easy Move To Make
Taking your business greener doesn’t have to be a huge, daunting undertaking. You can take a few small steps which will quickly add up. Simple things like replacing all your lighting with low energy LED bulbs isn’t hard and can have an impact on the energy you use. Try to keep all heating and cooling equipment serviced regularly and running efficiently – or try just opening a window rather than relying too much on air conditioning units can also work. Adding occupancy sensors and programmable thermostats is another really positive step. Make evaluating energy use a regular part of your business practise, to identify further opportunities to reduce and save. You could also look at switching all the paper used in your office to reams which come from sustainable and recycled sources, and taking on the software to run a paperless office with software in the cloud is also incredibly efficient.
