5 Ways To Become A Sustainable Business Owner

Over the years, a lot of big and small businesses implemented better and sustainable ways to be better traders in their respective industries. Their better business approaches did not only influenced other businesses to do the same but also their consumers. The way a consumer purchases has been affected. It motivated them to lessen their plastic consumption.  

 

There are so many ways to become a sustainable business. Huge corporations and brands started with commercial solar energy usage. Other industries started with electric cars. Some started with ways that are feasible, ideal, and fitting to their current business plan and budget.  

 

It’s not easy for the majority to shift to more sustainable ways even if they want to. The traditional ways and processes that businesses have been used to, make it hard for them to move forward. Not only businesses are affected by this, but also their loyal consumers.   

 

If you’re a business owner who’s been looking for ways to up your sustainable business moves, here are some ways that you can implement and start now.  

 

 

1. Consider clean energy consumption

It is undeniable that solar panel installation and investment is an expensive move. But it is also undeniable how cost-efficient and cost-saving solar energy usage is. If you’re a part of a huge and reputable brand, maybe this is your sign to shift now.  

 

Research and studies in Australia and the U.S. say that with the use of solar panels, a huge chunk of a property’s overall electricity costs for an indefinite time is eliminated and saved. The tax rebate that comes with the purchase of solar panels for residential or commercial use, makes it a great investment that guarantees the efficiency of your invested money.  

 

It is one thing to take note of that clean energy is a big investment to make. Solar panel or commercial panel installation can be expensive. For you to utilise it, you will need an inverter such as Enphase solar for you to power all types of equipment.   

 

Reports say that solar and commercial panel’s price has decreased in the last year. However, its current price range may still not be ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. Clean energy consumption at the moment may not be accessible for most businesses. But for those who can, this is the best time to start and shift now.  

 

 

2. Provide an electronic receipt option to your consumers

Nowadays, online shopping has taken over the way on how consumers shop. With the occurrence of the pandemic, a lot of businesses were triggered to open an online platform to promote their products and services. Not only does the shopping experience became online but as well as bills payments, consultations, and more.  

 

One great thing about e-commerce is that everything is done virtually. But, the usage of boxes and printed receipts attached to the packages keep on increasing along with the consumers’ demand. If your business operates on a physical store, maybe you can provide an option for your customers if they want a printed receipt or not.  

 

Since QR codes are used almost everywhere, maybe you can implement an option where if a customer opts for a digital receipt, all they have to do is scan the code. On the other hand, if they still prefer a printed receipt, you can still freely provide them so.   

 

You might think, what difference does it make to not give out the printed receipts? The answer is a lot. You lessen the trees that are cut. You lessen your business expenses. Lastly, you lessen the waste that people make.   

 

After all, those receipts are not meant to be kept anyway. They just serve as proof of a consumer’s purchase. Maybe if there’s something that can be done online, it’s best to look and provide options for those things. 

 

3. Allocate a fund for donations to environmental organisations

If you feel like investing in clean energy is a bit lavish for your current business stand, there are simple ways that you can still do. Solar power use is costly either for residential or commercial solar. Not to mention the inverters that would be needed such as Enphase solar. These kinds of expenses might really not be ideal for most businesses yet, especially small to medium-sized ones.  

 

You can set a campaign for your product where half of its proceeds will be donated to a certain environmental organisation of your choice. You can have this campaign annually if you choose to focus on a different organisation every year. Or if you can, choose a product that you’d want half of its profits to be donated for an indefinite time.  

 

This is an ideal move for small to medium-sized businesses. Maybe you can also look for an environmental organisation to partner with. Maybe you can pitch that for every profit of your single product, they get to build a single tree.   

 

Any environmental organisation of your choice will surely appreciate your help more than you can ever think of.  

 

 

4. Set an environmental team building activity 

Aside from profit donations, you and your employees can physically do something for the environment. Aside from the typical fun team building activities that you usually implement, maybe this year you can do something for the environment, for a change.  

 

This is a great way for you and your employees to be a part of the move in doing something sustainable and beneficial for the planet. You can set programs of team building where you clean a polluted area, clean trash found in rivers and the ocean, or even plant a tree.   

 

These types of activities are not only fun and challenging. They can also serve as an eye-opener for you and your people to understand the impact of what we do on the planet. This will help you to recognise that small yet important changes make the environment a little better than it was. Anything beneficial that you want to implement in the way that you can make a huge difference for the planet.   

 

5. Include sustainability in your business’s mission and values

There’s a saying that a company’s brand illuminates what its values, goals and mission are. And if you are truly dedicated to becoming a sustainable business, including it in your business’s core values is the first step.   

 

Ever notice how other brands or businesses seem to emanate a certain feel? Let’s say for example a famous coffee shop. Regardless of the location that you go to, their service, ambience, and vibe stay the same. It is because whatever it is that they are known for, they operate their business from, with, and around their core value.   

 

If you plan your business to be known as sustainable, this is the first step that you have to do. You can’t just go and tell your employees that ‘we have to be sustainable.’ You have to engrave in your business’s mission and core that it is what your business is and what you are after.  

 

From there, you’ll see how all other implementations, plans, and strategies that you come up with will then characterise the value of sustainability. Start with your core. You’ll be surprised how your business will operate with that value effortlessly.   

 

A small step makes a huge difference 

Starting your move to a better and sustainable business approach is not easy. Especially if you are starting small. It’s okay if you are not yet able to go ‘all-in.’ You don’t have to shift to solar energy or commercial panels right away. 

 

Keep in mind that there will always be something that you can do and contribute with the resources that you have, in the way that you can. What are some sustainable and helpful business moves that you do for the environment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

About the author: 

Bianca Banda is a writer for Penrith Solar Centre, an Australian solar company that advocates better energy resources to improve the quality of life on Earth. She is a massive lover of Japanese cuisine and enjoys binge-watching comedies or variety shows.