Tag: Sustainable

7 Tips To Help You Become More Sustainable

Three focuses of my blog are Business/Entrepreneurship, Organizational and Management Discussions, and STEM. An important considerations for many individuals and business is sustainability. Our lives and activities can be done, while still maintaining the environment. The following contributed post is entitled, 7 Tips To Help You Become More Sustainable.

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Photo by Akil Mazumder from Pexels

Throughout the years there have been numerous reports stating how humans are damaging the environment. This has led to people wanting to discover the ways in which they can do their bit for the environment. However, despite many businesses starting to implement sustainable practices, many people still aren’t doing this at home.

A key way of improving poor air quality and pollution, as well as ensuring clean water is accessible to communities, it’s important to realize that sustainability really does start at home.

If you’re wanting to boost your sustainability, here are 7 simple tips that you could use:

1) Upgrade to Solar Energy

Although many newer properties might have solar panels already installed, older houses might still require regular electricity. However, there are so many benefits that come with upgrading to solar panels.

Not only will you see a reduction in your monthly energy bills, but solar panels require little maintenance. Not to mention the biggest pro of all – that it’s a renewable energy source and it’s a big step towards making your home more sustainable.

Although many people worry that solar panels are expensive, as there are now so many providers supplying them and they have been around for several years, the cost is probably lower than you think.

2) Ditch The Plastics

There are so many reasons why you should ditch plastic within your home. Not only is it really harmful to wildlife (the majority ends up in the ocean), but it’s bad for humans and is typically only single-use – meaning that it will end up in landfill after you throw it away.

To become more environmentally-friendly, sustainable flexible packaging is a great choice. With an aim to reduce waste, lower transportation costs (the smaller the truck/the fewer trucks, the less pollution that’s created) and align with sustainability practices, it’s easy to switch to.

3) Buy Locally

Although it might be tempting to always shop in a chain grocery store, it’s far more sustainable to switch to smaller, local stores. By doing this, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint as you won’t be contributing to congestion and pollution.

Also, many local products tend to be organic and pesticide-free, an extra bonus that leads the way to a more sustainable planet.

4) Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

One of the easiest ways to become more sustainable within your home is to recycle. However, you need to do it properly in order for it to be effective.

When done correctly (i.e. you put the plastics and other materials in the right boxes), then you’re helping to reduce the amount of landfill, reduce financial expenditure (products can be created out of recycled products instead of raw materials) and help to reduce the pollution that’s caused by waste.

5) Consider Different Ways to Travel

Although in the short term you could make travel alternatives such as ditching your car and opting for your bike, in the future, it might be time to consider cutting down on the number of flights you take.

Flying as a whole is a very carbon-intensive form of transport and causes incredible amounts of pollution. However, shorter flights tend to take the cake, emitting more carbon emissions than longer flights,

So instead of flying, why not opt for a more eco-friendly mode of transport such as a train. There are so many trains available that can take you far distances, without you having to step foot on a plane.

6) Try Not To Buy More Than You Need

This is an issue that if fixed, could help to reduce waste significantly. Many people buy way more than they need – whether this is grocery shopping or other items. But by buying more, it’s only causing damage to the planet. Therefore, try and only purchase the essentials.

7) Unplug The Electronics

Even when you’re not using every electronic device, those that are still plugged in will consume energy. And because of this not only is it costing you hundreds of dollars every year, but it’s not beneficial for the environment. Therefore, it’s a good idea to unplug them or turn off the switch on the wall when you stop using them.

Final Thoughts

So, there you go! Those are 7 simple tips that you can use to make your home more sustainable. No matter which changes out of the above you make, you’re one step closer to creating a sustainable environment, lowering your carbon footprint and helping the world to become healthier and a better place to live.

3 Ways to Make Your Business Greener and More Sustainable

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. You can generate more profits from your business not just from sales of your products and services, but also from making your operations greener and more sustainable. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Ways to Make Your Business Greener and More Sustainable.

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We’ve talked before about the importance of “going green” within your business. With endless talks of climate change and other negative environmental issues that face the planet, sustainability is on the tip of everyone’s tongue, especially in the business world.

While you may understand the importance of being a more sustainable company, you might not know exactly how to accomplish that. Thankfully, you don’t need to be “sustainability-savvy” to make a difference in your line of work. In fact, simply implementing a recycling program within your business is a great place to start. Just one ton of recycled plastic can save over 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

If you’re interested in even more impactful and long-term solutions to make your business greener, you don’t have to look far. There are simple and effective practices you can put into place right away to make your business a greener operation for the future.

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1. Do Some Remodeling

To start making your business more sustainable, why not look at the building itself? Where could improvements be made to make where you work each day greener and cleaner? Installing updates and doing some eco-friendly remodeling could make a big difference. Some examples include:

  • Installing energy-efficient appliances
  • Switching lighting to LED bulbs
  • Applying a white roof coating or a “cool roof”
  • Installing low-flow toilets in the bathrooms
  • Making sure your walls are properly insulated

There are plenty of creative ways to create a more sustainable space for your business. It might be a bit of an investment up front, but one of the great things about “going green” is that many of these practices can save you money by lowering your utility bills.

2. Have a Procurement Process in Place

Where do you get your goods and supplies? In some cases, it can be hard to order the things your business needs locally. Other times, though, finding the supplies you need just around the corner might be easier than you think. That’s especially true when it comes to food. If you provide lunches or snacks for your team, think about where you’re procuring them from.

It might be time to change your procurement practices to be more sustainable. You should do your best to purchase supplies from businesses that:

  • Are committed to sustainability
  • Use environmentally-friendly packaging
  • Take advantage of renewable materials
  • Make products that can be recycled

By helping out businesses that are already working to be more sustainable, you can make your own greener in the process.

3. Recycle Your Electronics

Chances are, your business is full of computers, laptops, mobile devices, phone systems, etc. Eventually, electronics wear out. Or, you might just try to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest in technological innovations, so you’re switching out your computers frequently.

You should never just throw electronics into the garbage.

Electronic waste is becoming a huge problem across the globe, with over 48 million tons of it produced in 2018. Instead of throwing away your business’ electronics, work with companies like HP, Best Buy, or Staples. They all have electronic recycling programs that can help you to dispose of your computers in a safe and environmentally-friendly way. Some places even have trade-in programs that will give you cash for your old or used electronics.

As you can see, it doesn’t have to be difficult to bring your business into a more sustainable future. With a few simple changes and adjustments to your policies, you can promote a greener initiative that can boost your business, in the long run.

Smart Ways To Build A Sustainable Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A lot of businesses start out but don’t make it to the finish line. Often there is something inherent in how they were built, that causes them to falter. Proactively building in ways to make your business sustainable is critical to its survival. The following contributed post is entitled, Smart Ways To Build A Sustainable Business.

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As a business, it’s crucial that you keep up with the times. This is why, every once in a while, you might follow a new practice or trend. Some of these fizzle out and fade away, but others make more of an impact and become quite popular. Sustainability is an example of one of those trends that stuck around. As well as the benefits to the planet, sustainable practices can also cut costs and boost your image. With that in mind, here are six ways to build a sustainable business.

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1. Upgrade Old Office Equipment
These days, businesses rely on technology to stay up and running. This tech varies from company to company, but almost all require computers, printers, and phones as a minimum. Sticking with older equipment can save you money in the short term, but the inefficiency of these devices will cost you and the planet. For this reason, you should upgrade to newer models.

2. Allow Working From Home
Even when you use energy as efficiently as you can, powering a whole office is still going to have a big impact, as will heating the space. The commutes your employees need to take each morning will also contribute to global warming. Allowing your employees to work from home will significantly reduce your business’ carbon footprint and offer additional benefits for everyone.

3. Choose The Right Suppliers
Improving the sustainability of your own business will mean very little if you work with companies who don’t share the same values. Because of this, you should switch to suppliers who have sustainable practices of their own. Fuel supplier, Gas Oil Drums, for example, take old oil drums away when you re-order. You should also conduct a supply chain audit and review any issues.

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4. Reduce Your Paper Use
Among the many resources businesses tend to waste, paper is probably the largest. After all, this resource is used for marketing, shipping, accounting, and so much more. That being said, it is possible to reduce your paper use. There are many ways to go about this, including sending emails instead of letters and focusing your marketing efforts on social media rather than flyers.

5. Sort Out The Trash
When you do use paper, it’s vital that you dispose of it in the right way. Instead of throwing it in a bin with food waste and other trash, you should put it in a separate one to be recycled. You can also do the same for bottles, containers, and other plastics. Many other items in your office space can be recycled too, including computers. You just need to take it to the right place.

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6. Use Green Cleaning Supplies
A clean office is necessary for a happy and healthy team of employees. Unfortunately, the products that you use for this task may cause more harm than good, both to your staff and to the planet. Many standard cleaners contain chemicals which damage the environment and can cause sickness. Using natural alternatives, like vinegar, therefore, is the better option.

Building a sustainable business does require work, but, hopefully, the tips above make the task much easier.