How to Shrink Your Company’s Environmental Footprint

Taking care of the planet has become an effort that has united people across the globe. More and more, companies are affecting change in how they operate their business to shrink the damage inflicted on Earth. Going green takes planning, so here are four ways to reduce your company’s environmental footprint.

Know That Needs are Not Excuses

Every company must use some natural resources, so when going green, it is crucial to distinguish your business’s requirements from other areas of usage and to start your plan from there. Consider how Kent J. Thiry, Former CEO and Executive Chairman of DaVita made his company green. He knew that DaVita’s dialysis operations required plenty of natural resources, but Thiry still drove the company forward to minimize the number of resources used, to recover and replace what could be, and to discover new areas of environmental improvement. Eventually, DaVita was honored as a Top Green Company by Newsweek. No matter what business you are in, you need to know you can still affect real change.

Remember the 3 R’s

One of the first things people think about when going green is, “reduce, reuse, recycle.” With a little creativity, you can find the three R’s are just as easy to set in motion as they are to remember. Reduce your company’s dependency on single-use items by having employees bring in cups or thermoses from home instead of relying on disposable cups. Reuse paper by printing on both sides, and when recycling, explore new ways to handle your company’s waste. Old equipment can usually be recycled or have its parts donated, for instance.

Find New Ways to Power Up

While embracing the three R’s, people often forget that electricity is a resource, too. Reducing your business’s power usage is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. Use motion-sensing lights so power is not used up in an empty room. Another easy step is to replace light bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives. If you do these things already, consider adopting clean energy by switching to wind or solar energy. These can also be cost-effective as there is no fuel cost for these sources, allowing affordable rates to lock in for twenty to thirty years without fluctuation.

Bring Employees into the Equation 

Changes to the daily grind can create tension with people who simply want to keep doing things the way they have always been done. One way to address this issue before it gets off the ground is to start your green initiative with the help of your employees. Have meetings where you open the floor to your team and ask what ideas they have to help reduce the business’s carbon dioxide footprint. When people are allowed to have their ideas implemented, they are more likely to cooperate since they feel they have some ownership over the changes. This way your company can begin to help the planet with a united front.

Minimizing your environmental footprint is a valiant cause, but one that often seems daunting. Though it requires great effort and time, with a little planning, reflection on your company’s needs, and incorporating your employees, going green can be a smooth transition.