12 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Sustainable & Eco-Friendly

Written April 7, 2024 by:

Julie Navitka

Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been burning fossil fuels for energy to provide heat, lighting, and electricity to power all kinds of machinery. Enter mass production and, a few centuries later, mass consumerism. Now that a climate crisis is fully upon us, individuals are taking action by altering their lifestyles to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. But what if you own a business? How can you ensure that your small business is safe place to work and part of the solution and not the problem? Environmentally responsible companies aim to mitigate their impact by prioritizing sustainable practices. Keep reading to discover a dozen ways to make your small business more sustainable and eco-friendly!

1) Understand sustainability and why it is important

We can’t strive for a goal encompassing a concept that we don’t understand, so the first step is to learn about sustainability and why it is important for your small business. All three pillars must be addressed to achieve overall business sustainability.

As previously mentioned, environmentally sustainable companies monitor and limit their impact on the earth. Economically friendly businesses give back to the community and provide quality and lasting products for retail or services to customers. Businesses that nurture social sustainability provide fair pay and a safe and healthy work environment for employees.

Aside from the benefits of being an earth-conscious and responsible business owner, there are many advantages to small business sustainability. Cost savings, loyal and engaged employees, and satisfied customers are just a few. Read our article “Why is Sustainability Important in the Workplace?” to discover all the reasons you should practice eco-conscious entrepreneurship.

2) Identify areas where change is needed

The next order of (sustainable) business is to determine where changes are required. Give your small business a once-over with a fine-tooth comb to find the areas that need to be addressed. Enlist the help of employees or co-owners to identify places where you can implement green business practices. Inquire about having an energy audit done for free – most states have local utility-sponsored programs for this.

If expenses or other restricting factors exist, start with small, manageable changes to achieve business sustainability over time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so no one expects you to create an environmentally sustainable company that quickly, either.

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3) Include sustainability into your Company’s Mission statement and engage employees

Whether you are just starting out and need to create a mission for your business, or you already have an established company, including sustainability in your mission statement is key. Your mission should state your sustainability targets, company sustainability initiatives, and why sustainable business operations are important to you.

Engage your employees and other decision-makers by having them help you create your goals, as this will promote teamwork amongst all members in achieving them. Make sure you have a business sustainability plan that includes revisiting these goals and measuring your success in attaining them. You could enlist the services of the Green Business Benchmark (formerly Green Business Bureau), to provide you with a sustainability technology platform of software solutions that helps businesses efficiently integrate and accelerate sustainability.

4) Reduce energy and water use and increase efficiency

Integrating energy-efficient office practices is easier than you might think – and it will save you money! Start small by swapping lighting for more energy-efficient sensored LED bulbs and install energy-efficient devices and appliances when needed. Use a smart thermostat to regulate the temperature to save energy when heating or cooling is not needed.

Go low-flow with faucets, toilets, and showerheads – check out Step 6 to see why installing a shower at your headquarters might be a good idea! If it’s applicable to your location, collect rainwater to use for your outdoor space or the plants around the office (see Step 7 for more about these!) To start, think about purchasing some small business carbon offsets to achieve net zero emissions. Once the budget allows, consider improving the insulation, replacing the windows, or looking into renewable energy options like wind or solar.

Another lesser-known way for carbon footprint reduction for small businesses is reducing your digital impact. The server where your company hosts its website and stores data requires a ton of energy to run and even more to keep cool. According to the Webneutralproject, the entire Internet accounts for about 10% of global electricity consumption. Become a more environmentally aware company and help mitigate your greenhouse gas emissions by switching to digital green web hosting. You can find a list of nineteen options in this article that will help you on your way to being an eco-friendly organization.

When our hosting plan here at Successfully Sustainable expires, we plan to investigate doing this ourselves!

5) Waste reduction and recycling

Ensuring that your reduce, reuse, and recycling practices are on point can lead your small company to environmental sustainability. Of course, there are other “Rs of of sustainability” that can be taken into account when exploring how to manage waste in sustainable business operations. Do your best to choose the method that works with your small business sustainability plan and support a more circular economy.

They may not seem like big changes, but strategies like going paperless, refusing single-use plastics at the office, and integrating a compost for organic matter add up over time. Speaking of plastic reduction and food waste, encourage employees to bring a packed lunch rather than buying plastic-packaged takeout by providing a space to store leftovers and heat meals during breaks. Provide reusable ceramic mugs rather than disposable cups for coffee breaks. The best sustainable companies to work for engage employees and provide means to be more eco-friendly at work.

6) Remote work and commuting for eco-friendliness

One of the easiest sustainable business practices to incorporate is allowing employees to work remotely or work flexible hours. Working from home eliminates their commute, reducing vehicular carbon dioxide emissions. Allowing flexible hours may mean that employees can then arrange carpools, choose sustainable transportation or to work outside of peak road traffic times, cutting emissions once again.

Speaking of eco-friendly transport, you might consider offering incentives through human resources to employees to choose sustainable transportation options. You could subsidize bus or train passes and install a low-flow shower at the office for those who choose to bike, walk, or run to work. The more employees you have reducing travel-related emissions during commutes, the more eco-friendly your company will be.

If your small business deals with out-of-state or international partners, create a sustainable business travel policy. Opt for online meetings when possible, and when necessary, ensure that sustainability is at the forefront of any business travel that does need to take place. Some examples of sustainability in business travel include choosing the train over flying, booking sustainable accommodations, and supporting the local economy and communities in the destination.

Read our article “Sustainable Travel: Ultimate Guide” for more sustainable business travel tips.

7) Your earth-friendly small business headquarters

If your small business is a brick-and-mortar store, has an office, or occupies any physical space, there are many sustainable business practices you can implement to green the space. Earth-friendly companies use green supplies, such as refillable pens, recycled paper, and eco-friendly devices.

Another great, low-impact business practice is to furnish your business with second-hand items such as desks, chairs, or even a couch for the break room. If your business has a theme or specific colour palette, you could refinish or recover it to match. Add some upcycled decor to the space to give it some personality and make it feel less like a stark working environment.

Another aspect of environmental sustainability in business is avoiding the use of chemicals. Any cleaning products used should be non-toxic and chemical-free to avoid contaminating our waterways. Invest in reusable paper towels and clothes rather than disposable ones. Stock the office bathroom with eco-friendly hand soap and toilet paper, or up your eco-friendliness and consider installing a bidet.

Embrace an eco-friendly office design by allowing sunlight into the space and adding plants to the mix. Plants help purify the air and have even been proven to increase productivity.

8) Give back and get involved

Achieving small business sustainability includes being economically friendly, too. To have a positive impact on the community in which you serve, it’s important to get involved. Here are just a few ways small sustainable businesses can invest in the community:

• Donate to local environment initiatives or even create an event or fundraiser yourself to raise public awareness.

• Organize a local cleanup or tree planting for your employees and their friends and family, and invite other community members to join.

• Partner with other local environmentally friendly companies to offer promotions or collaborate on a project, sustainable service, or product.

•  Learn about the community’s people and demographics and why cultural sensitivity is necessary for a sustainable business.

9) offer Sustainable products & services

All businesses make products in one way or another. Suppose your small business creates physical products for customers to purchase. In that case, whether it’s clothing, consumables, personal care products, or otherwise, to be eco-friendly, your products also need to be sustainable. Earth-friendly companies will prioritize using eco-friendly raw materials over plastics and synthetic fibres.

Some examples include organic cotton for clothing, FSC-certified wood, or USDA organic-certified ingredients, that are sustainably and responsibly sourced. What types of materials you require will depend on your product, and obtaining certification will be another choice you may decide to make. Implementing sustainable purchasing policies that include buying from local and organic sources should also be considered.

10) Manufacturing sustainably and ethically

Socially and environmentally friendly companies will also ensure sustainable product development. Sustainable supply chain management is essential for an eco-friendly small business. The sustainability of a product starts at the source, not the shelf. Manufacturing can be accomplished using renewable resources and focusing on water conservation.

Another aspect to acknowledge is social responsibility in small businesses. Ethical small business strategies include responsible sourcing and conscientious production. Employees all along the line, from source to shelf, should be treated fairly, paid well, and provided with a safe and respectful place of employment. Addressing human rights issues is just as much a part of being a sustainable small business as acknowledging environmental issues or an ecological crisis.

11) Storage and shipping

Once your products are made, they need to be stored somewhere before they are shipped, whether that is directly to the buyer, distributors, or vendors. The facility or warehouse in which your items are stored deserves some attention as well. Is the building energy-efficient? Are the people working there provided with appropriate wages and benefits?

How will your products ship? Investigate which mode of freight transport will create the least greenhouse gas emissions for your load and route.

Environmentally aware companies will also utilize eco-friendly packaging for shipping, such as post-consumer recycled and recyclable cardboard, FSC-certified paper, compostable mailers, or biodegradable packing peanuts. Eco-friendly packaging for small businesses is one of the most significant aspects of a sustainable brand as this is the first thing the customer sees when their product arrives on the doorstep.

12) sustainability Certifications

Once you’re ready to become a fully green shop, depending on your company’s nature, you could apply for some business sustainability certifications. Building certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Energy Star show customers that your headquarters are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

All-around certifications for sustainable companies, such as Cradle to Cradle, Green Business Bureau, or becoming a B Corporation, display to the world that you prioritize people and the planet, considering your impact on workers, suppliers, customers, and the community.

If you create a product for customer consumption, there are many sustainability certifications you could pursue. This will depend on what your eco-friendly organization makes and what sector of the market you serve, but you can learn about some of them here.

Final thoughts about greening your business

In light of all the environmental issues today, greening your business is an excellent idea. Think of achieving small business sustainability as a marathon, not a sprint. Socially responsible and environmentally friendly companies weren’t formed overnight, so don’t be too hard on yourself in this journey. Start by implementing some small, low-impact business practices and work your way towards becoming a sustainable company.

Every journey must begin with just one step!