Businesses are gradually starting to go green, which is paying off for a good reason. 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study released a report about the consumer response regarding businesses supporting social or environmental issues. Here are the essential pointers:
- 81% of customers would have a more favorable opinion of a company that supports social or environmental causes.
- 87% would purchase a product with a social and ecological benefit.
- 92% of consumers will be more inclined to trust a firm that supports social or environmental causes.
- 88% of respondents said they would be more loyal to a firm that backs social or ecological concerns.
- 69% of millennials purchased a product with a social or environmental impact.
Businesses are now joining the sustainability movement in droves, which is expected to rise as years go on. The most important reason for companies to go green is to save money. By making eco-friendly choices, businesses can reduce operating costs and increase profits.
Here are some ways businesses can save money by going green:
Use energy-efficient lighting
Lighting accounts for a large portion of a business’s electricity bill. Energy-efficient bulbs, such as LED and CFL bulbs, use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer. This means that you’ll not only save money on your electricity bill, but you’ll also save money on bulb replacements.
If you want more significant savings for your power bills investing in solar panels is a great way to generate your own electricity and reduce your reliance on the grid. Solar panel installation is a significant upfront investment.
Still, saving money on your electricity bills will pay off in the long run. You may even be eligible for government incentives, such as the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC), which can offset the cost of solar panel installation.
Use recycled materials
Using recycled materials is a great way to save money and resources. Recycled paper costs less than virgin paper and takes less energy and water to produce. You can also save money by recycling plastic, metal, and glass.
Several companies take the initiative to do recycling:
- Rothy’s
- Hamilton Perkins Collection
- Blue Planet Eyewear
- ReFleece
- Nike
In addition to saving money, using recycled materials reduces your business’s carbon footprint. Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 2,500 gallons of water, and enough energy to power the average home for six months.
Set up recycling bins
This is a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning. Recycling bins are an easy and effective way to reduce waste and save money. By recycling, you can save money on disposal costs and even make money by selling recycled materials. Recycling bins should be placed on every corner of your business or at your employees’ workstations, and you should make sure they are aware of what can and cannot be recycled.
You are also starting a culture of sustainability in your workplace that will encourage employees to be more conscious of their impact on the environment. This culture will not end in the office but will surely reflect in their homes.
Grow your own food
If you have the space, consider growing your own food by creating your own food garden. Chemical pollution and carbon emissions from fossil fuels used to package manufactured goods are among the most serious issues facing our environment today. As you grow your food garden, you can save money by getting all your supplies here for your company’s cafeteria.
This is a fantastic method to cut costs on goods you get from different suppliers in the food sector. By doing this, you may have more inventory, better-tasting ingredients, and less expensive items. All you need is some land, plant, water, and gardening skills.
To begin, you’ll need the expertise of specialists to avoid food waste. Start visiting your local plant nursery to get the finest resources for your company’s food garden. They can help you select what to grow and how to start planting it yourself since they have the most expertise and passion for gardening.
Take advantage of the cloud
The cloud is a great way to save money on hardware and software costs. With the cloud, you can store data off-site and access it from anywhere with an internet connection. You can also use cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs and Dropbox, which are often cheaper than traditional office suite software.
This will also reduce paper waste in your office as you can simply store all your files online instead of printing them out.
Encourage employees to telecommute
Telecommuting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Employees who telecommute can save on gas, car maintenance, and child care costs. And, since they’re not commuting, they’ll have more time to get work done.
You can encourage employees to telecommute by offering incentives, such as flex time and working from home days. You can also pay for their internet and phone service.
The bottom line
Making eco-friendly choices doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By making a few simple changes to how your company does things, you can start enjoying all the benefits of being environmentally friendly. Not only will you be doing something good for the planet, but you’ll also be saving money and increasing profits.
Meta Title: 6 Ways To Save the Earth and Save Money for Your Business
Meta Description: Making eco-friendly choices is not only the right thing to do for the environment, but it can also save your business money. Read more to know what you can do.
