According to scientists, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans by weight than fish. Global warming is progressing, and the ozone hole is already bigger than Antarctica.
Smaller and larger companies, including startups, are contributing to this situation. According to The Carbon Major Database, the top 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global carbon emissions. So how do you not participate in this carnage and minimize your company’s impact on the environment? Keep reading to find out.
The first steps to reduce your negative impact on the planet are to calculate what carbon footprint your startup is leaving and set yourself a goal. Identify where most of your pollution comes from. Is it from production process? Shipping? Packaging? Or maybe maintaining servers and high power consumption?
It’s important to understand what’s significant for your business and choose the area that fits the purpose of your startup. Focus on your goal from the early stages of your business and stay motivated, even if the pressure rises.
Expand both yours and your employees’ knowledge. Increase your subordinates’ awareness of green solutions. You can pass on knowledge to them with the help of professional educators, or in an interesting unconventional way, such as educational games. Also reach for knowledge yourself – listen to scientists and inform yourself about the latest news in the field of ecology. The science on this topic is constantly changing, and a practice that was considered the best ecological solution this year, may no longer be so in a year’s time.
Consider what you are willing to sacrifice to increase the sustainability of your business – finances, aesthetics or perhaps speed of service. You can turn plastic, colorful packaging into paper, and fast shipping into one that is slower but leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Despite the apparent reduction in service quality, an environmental friendliness might be a big plus for modern type of the consumer.
Recycling is the cheapest, yet most effective form of minimizing the pollution generated. Dispose of all waste in properly marked trash cans, and if possible, turn plastic or paper into biodegradable solutions or reusable solutions, such as ceramic cups or paper straws.
Don’t forget recycling in your office space. It may seem as a tiny step, but it is equally important at the large scale.
Company-generated content is hosted by data centers. These include a number of cheeses that must operate in controlled, reported environments, leading to the consumption of a lot of energy and a significant carbon footprint. Green hosting refers to web hosts that strive to be environmentally friendly by, among other things, using renewable energies or carbon compensates.
Don’t be afraid to invest in greening your business. For many people around the world, going green has become a priority; people care about buying from sustainable sources. The results of a GreenPrint survey, indicate that 68% of people are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly solutions.
Additionally, companies following ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles have higher financial growth and optimization, as well as higher employee productivity. In 2019, investors invested 120 million in sustainable investment instruments. Going green is worth it.
