Climate change was one of the biggest talking points in 2021. The COP26 summit in Glasgow saw multiple nations get their heads together to talk about what can be done to save the planet. We’ve seen protests against organisations and governments who are acting in their own interests rather than the interests of future generations.
We are inching increasingly closer towards environmental collapse. Global warming has been in progress for decades but the turning point has arrived. Major world players must act now to preserve the earth for our children and grandchildren. Although each of us can do our bit to help the planet – we can recycle, drive less, and boycott single-use plastic – it is the authorities and businesses of the world whose actions will have the biggest impact.
As a business owner, you have a duty to ensure your business is sustainable and ethical. It doesn’t matter whether you are a multinational corporation or a tiny startup – the power is in your hands to make a difference. Making a move to be more eco-friendly will not only benefit the planet, but it will also set an example to other businesses and individuals who will then follow suit.
If you’re unsure where to begin, here are three ways to be a more sustainable business in 2022.
Embrace remote working
Remote working saw a huge boom in the early days of the pandemic, but the figures have been decreasing as life returns back to normality. This is a shame, as telecommuting has so many benefits for everyone involved. Not only does it afford employees a better work-life balance and make them more productive, it is a much more eco-friendly way of working too. Allowing your staff to work from home will cut unnecessary travel time and fuel emissions across your organisation. Your business premises will use less energy and your carbon footprint will be dramatically decreased.
Pick your suppliers
Your business no doubt works with a huge range of suppliers, partners, clients and other third-parties. One of the biggest changes you can make in 2022 is to take a stand and only work with organisations you know to follow sustainable practices. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the company who supplies your industrial oil tanks, your web hosting platform, or the catering outfit that brings your lunchtime coffee: if they aren’t eco-friendly then start looking for another organisation that is. This may cause a little disruption in the beginning but it will set an excellent example, and will start encouraging all of these companies to do a little better in the future.
Be more energy-efficient
Providing heat, gas and water to an office is a huge financial outlay for any business, but the cost to the planet is far greater. Be kind to both your finances and Mother Nature by being more energy-efficient. Invest in smart thermostats, energy-saving light bulbs, and laptops over desktop computers. The difference in your energy bills will prove that saving the planet doesn’t have to be expensive.
