Every business has a duty to do their part for the environment, so here’s how you can make a difference

Customers and employees alike are demanding more from their employers when it comes to environmental consciousness, as the climate crisis grows increasingly urgent. Business owners have a duty to prioritise sustainability in their organisation, but thankfully there are simple steps you can take to get the ball rolling and make both your brand and your workplace greener overall.

To help you achieve your green goals, we’ve put together this list of five sustainable swaps you can do to make a big difference in your organisation. Let’s take a look.

Find the right energy contract

One of the simplest and most effective ways to offset your carbon emissions is to switch your energy provider, and find an energy contract that better suits your environmental ambitions. Through effective business energy procurement, you can relocate your utilities to a provider that makes use of renewable energy sources, seeking out a company that aligns with your priorities and targets.

Choosing a renewable energy contract cements your status as an organisation that cares about being more environmentally conscious, which is appealing to employees and customers alike. This comes on top of lowering your carbon footprint and saving you money.

Prioritise fuel free deliveries

Many businesses rely on deliveries at some point in the supply chain, whether it’s getting materials from manufacturers or sending products out to customers. If your organisation is one such business, you can explore fuel free options to reduce the emissions produced by your company. Royal Mail, for example, now has the largest electric fleet within the UK Electric Fleets Coalition, boasting the lowest reported CO₂ emissions per parcel among British delivery companies. What’s more, DPD has added a further 100 electric vehicles to its fleet.

For local deliveries, there are even more options, including making use of eBike companies in order to cut out fuel emissions altogether.

Use a green search engine

Google is by far the most widely used search engine on the web, so much so that many people assume it is the default option. But while it may be popular, it’s not necessarily the best choice in terms of sustainability. Google may have been carbon neutral since 2007, but there are even better options out there.

Every Google search emits 0.2g of CO₂ which, although not a lot, can result in a significant amount of carbon when multiplied by every employee and every search. Meanwhile, options like Ecosia, Green Maven or Ecosearch make the effort to offset or even reduce emissions. Ecosia removes 1kg of CO₂ from the air with each search by planting trees.

Go paperless

Physical copies of documentation are becoming less and less necessary for modern businesses, with innovations like the cloud making sharing, saving, storing and editing easier than ever before – without the need to print or even email documents.

That being said, many businesses still use paper documents in some capacity, whether through necessity or through habit. Look at where you’re still using paper in your business and question whether it’s strictly necessary. Cutting down on paper use can significantly reduce your carbon footprint over time.

Have ethical tea breaks

Being a green business means practising sustainability even during your downtime, including tea breaks. Stock your staff kitchen area with ethical and sustainable supplies in order to make your workspace as green as possible. Look for brands which are biodegradable and Fair Trade, and reduce plastic waste with recyclable packaging and clearly labelled recycling points. You can even choose green delivery slots from supermarkets like Sainsbury’s when stocking up on kitchen supplies.

Jane