Devastating wildfires, severe droughts, intense hurricanes, and melting ice caps are all signs that Mother Earth is hurting. As an individual, you may already be practicing sustainability on an everyday basis. You may be a proponent of composting, taking shorter showers, and unplugging unused appliances. However, as a leader in your company, it’s time for you to think about how your workplace can contribute positively, too.
These days, giving back to the environment at work means more than putting a recycling bin in the office kitchen. Many brands today are making significant changes, incorporating green practices as part of their core business. Patagonia, Everlane, and Toms Shoes are known for using renewable materials in their apparel and shoes. Juice Beauty and RMS beauty use plant-driven ingredients in their skincare and makeup products. And Misfits Market and Imperfect Produce lessen food waste by selling tasty — if not grocery store perfect — produce.
These diverse examples show that helping the environment doesn’t look the same for every brand. How you help can be a unique offering or something a bit more commonplace. The most important step is to start. Ahead are four ways your company can help a hurting planet.
1. Go Remote
Since the pandemic, more companies have gone completely remote or offered hybrid work arrangements. While employees see this as a benefit in terms of flexibility and responsibility, it’s also an environmental benefit. Since remote and hybrid work either eliminate or greatly reduce commuting, they’re significant greenhouse gas reducers.
Fully remote work also allows you to hire international employees, diversifying your talent pool and expanding your opportunities for growth. By hiring individuals from various cultures, you can learn firsthand about the environmental challenges impacting their part of the world. Those in Asia may talk about pollution and air quality, while workers in Canada may speak about the massive wildfires. Having this knowledge better equips your company to help combat environmental issues that may affect some of your employees’ well-being.
Furthermore, working remotely requires your company to be more digitized, storing and sharing documents in the cloud rather than printing them out. The resulting paperless work environment offers another way to reduce your company’s carbon footprint.
2. Support Green-Friendly Vendors
No matter what kind of industry you’re in, you’re likely working with multiple vendors and contractors to keep your business running. Researching and hiring green-friendly vendors will add to the positive impact your company has on the planet. For instance, the beverage and snack vendor you’ve selected should stock your office with snacks whose packaging is both minimal and recyclable. Providing whole fruit like apples and bananas and having a water refill station are further sustainable options.
The majority of cleaning products contain hazardous ingredients that negatively impact air and water quality. If you hire a cleaning crew, make sure they are using non-toxic products. They should also choose recycled toilet paper to restock the bathrooms. Any feminine hygiene products made available should likewise be eco-friendly, such as tampons made of organic cotton or cellulose pads.
3. Use Minimal and Sustainable Packaging
Packaging is a major contributor to landfill waste. Currently 91% of packaging waste ends up in landfills. This staggering statistic proves the need for businesses to hop onto the recyclable and renewable bandwagon. If you’re an e-commerce business, prioritize what your product is going to be packaged and mailed in.
Cardboard and recycled paper are preferred materials over traditional bubble wrap and plastic mailers. However, there are dozens of other options available. Brands are opting for mailers made out of everything from bamboo to hemp, sugarcane, and even mushrooms! Also, consider right-size packaging, which just means that each order uses only the appropriate amount of packaging materials. Mailing something in an oversized box is a waste of money and resources.
4. Give Back
Lastly, donating some of your profits to environmentally focused groups can make a big difference to the health of the planet. You may decide that a portion of all your sales will go toward a specific green nonprofit. Or if that feels unsustainable for your business right now, consider a short-term campaign. Create awareness around a specific buying window or product launch in which your company will donate a portion of its profits.
If you offer corporate matching when an employee makes a charitable donation, add an incentive for those who give to environmental groups. This could be a larger match, such as 75% or 100% instead of 50%. Make sure your employees know about this benefit, and encourage them to make donations through your corporate matching program.
Being Green Feels Good
No matter how small or large your efforts are, know that with every one, you’re making a positive impact. Each eco-conscious choice you make today is helping the environment. And you’ll be more aware of making other green choices in the future as well.
As you strive to do environmental good, let your customers know about your sustainability practices on your website or via social media. Informing them about all you’re doing to be a green-focused brand may also help your sales. A McKinsey study found that 75% of millennials consider sustainability before buying something. So not only does being green help the planet, but it may also help your brand’s profits, too.