Tips on how to adopt sustainable practices and give your business a green mindset.
Before you ever start your first business, you have to decide, among other things, how you will prioritize environmental friendliness. Maintaining a green business model is good for business because it is, in many ways, more affordable. It also makes you more appealing to people wishing to spend their money in a way that bolsters environmental sustainability. Today, we present a few tips on how to position your future business so that you can keep Mother Nature in mind.
Get Ready for Green
Launching a green business begins by writing out your sustainability goals. You will also need to look at your business as a vehicle by which you will achieve them.
Start by evaluating the resources your businesses will use. Computers, for example, most businesses utilize computers, servers, copying machines, and other large electronics. Although you must have these to run your business, Living Green Technology can help you reduce waste by picking up your outdated IT (and wiping your drives completely to ensure digital security).
There are plenty of other ways to use your business for environmental stewardship as well. Just a few ideas here include providing paid days off for employees for community cleanup days, having recycling bins in the break room, and, if possible, allowing remote work either full or part-time to reduce carbon emissions. If you choose to allow remote work, you will save money on utilities and some overhead, but you will need to invest in project management software to keep everyone on the same page. One of the most popular, Asana, is around $25 per month.
Green Marketing
Getting any new business up and running requires extensive marketing. Fortunately, there are lots of ways that you can do this without taxing the environment. Social media is one example. To get started, use this Facebook ads maker so that you can promote your business online without depleting natural resources, such as trees, or adding to the landfills with ink cartridges or wasteful packaging. Use a template that you can plug your own information and branding into to quickly get started with your online marketing endeavors.
As part of your marketing strategy, you will also need to live up to your word by producing Earth-friendly products, being responsible during production, and utilizing sustainable packaging. SendPulse further asserts that you should justify significant pricing gaps between your eco-products and standard products so that customers know they are still getting a good value for their consumer dollars. You can also utilize a marketing strategy template here to help you keep track of everything you have to do and keep everyone abreast of information regarding each product launch.
Find Inspiration
One crucial step that many small business owners overlook is finding inspiration in other businesses. Although you are already an expert in your particular field, adding a green slant to your business may complicate things. Although you may never be as large as Panasonic, IBM, or Nike, you can employ many of these companies’ environmental sustainability practices. These include operating from a certified sustainable building, employing water management tactics, and using recycled materials.
When you are ready to become an entrepreneur, make sure that your business aligns with your personal values and morals. If this means environmental sustainability, then let that shine through in your marketing. Although you may incur some initial startup costs, you may save in the long run by reducing waste, overhead, and even carbon emissions. The above tips can get you started, but don’t be afraid to look at businesses you admire for more inspiration on how you can be planet prudent without sacrificing profit.
For more information on our streamlined recycling process, visit our website or contact Living Green Technology at 253.204.4438
