Whether you’re a business owner or you work for someone else, there is a range of ways that you can create a sustainable business and workplace environment.
A good place to start is conducting an audit of your workplace, look at all your processes and procedures from top to bottom, and brainstorm ways that you can make each more sustainable and eco-friendly.
We’ve created a shortlist to help you kick-start your sustainable business objectives.
Where possible, avoid printing unnecessary materials
A digital world can leave less paper waste. Be mindful of what you’re printing and whether you really need a hard copy of it, or whether it’s something that you can refer to on your computer.
When you’re note-taking, or making to-do lists, utilise digital versions instead of written lists. Trello is a great digital to-do list if you need something to get you started.
If you do need to print, do the right thing
If you can’t avoid printing, make sure you have a designated recycling bin that all recyclable material is collected in. Label the bin and send a note to your team outlining what can and can’t be recycled so there are no mistakes.
Ensuring that printer cartridges are re-filled and not replaced is another great way of being environmentally conscious.
Ditch single-use business cards
Did you know there is a reported 27 million business cards printed daily, 88% of which are tossed within a week of being passed on? Those numbers are staggering.
Tapt by Hatch is a new Australian tech startup that is bringing a sustainable, sleek, and contact-free alternative to Australian consumers with its digitised physical business cards.
So instead of ordering hundreds of business cards that will ultimately end up in the bin, you can just order one Tapt card that you can have your whole life. The innovative tech allows users to import their contact details onto the card and update them as needed – meaning there’s no more need for new cards when moving roles or changing positions.
Sharing contact with the card is easy, simply tap or scan your Tapt card onto a phone to share your contact details seamlessly. Tapt’s sustainable ergonomic design is crafted from reusable materials, creating an environmentally-friendly and durable card that will stand the test of time.
Go virtual
COVID-19 has seen a huge shift in how businesses are working, we’ve realised that we can host virtual meetings and travelling into the office isn’t also a necessity. If you can, look to implement more virtual meetings into your calendar moving forward. Not only does it save you time, but it helps to save excess and unnecessary travel.
Switch off
This seems like a simple tip, but you would be surprised how easy it is for yourself, or your staff and team members to forget to do the little things like turning off the lights or heating and cooling at the end of the day.
Implementing a checklist of what needs to be switched off and where to locate the switches can help simplify this process, save you money, and save the environment.
Buy green where possible
Like at home, look to make smart and conscious choices when buying stationery and office supplies. If you can, recycle and upcycle so you don’t have to buy new. And instead of tossing out something that is broken, take the time to repair and fix it so it lasts longer.
Encourage staff to use Keep Cups and ditch single-use plastics in the office by offering them sustainable alternatives.
At the end of the day, the smallest of actions can add up to have a big impact on the environment.
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