How Your Small Business Can Reduce Its Carbon Emissions

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The long-term threat of climate change has been looming over us for many years now, and we are still learning the full extent of how much damage is being caused. What we do know is that the UK produces more than 466 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year, which is enough to weigh 37 million London buses and 37 thousand Shards. Businesses of all sizes have a huge responsibility in reducing the amount of energy they consume on a daily basis, although it may be slightly easier for smaller sized companies to achieve this, as they are more malleable than large corporations. Here are some effective strategies that you can use to lower the carbon footprint of your small business:

Be Energy Efficient

Energy consumption is one of the most manageable overheads in the workplace, and you could end up using 70% less energy if you take the right steps. When computers or other appliances aren’t in use, you should ensure that your employees turn them off, because even when they’re in standby, they can use up to 50% of their electricity. Insulating the ceilings in your office building can also help to increase energy efficiency, as up to 40% of the heat escapes out of the roof. Changing your traditional light bulbs to LED bulbs will also save you lots in both energy and bills.

Go Digital

Where possible, you can try to lower the amount of paper that you use in the office, as paper is one of the primary sources of waste in the workplace. Thankfully, we can now use a whole host of cloud services and apps to access important files from any device. You should also really consider issuing digital invoices instead of using paper, as this will cut back on costs and keep your business more streamlined. For when it’s really necessary, you can use eco-friendly paper.

Recycle

One of the first steps you can take when implementing your recycling policy is to remove all deskside bins so that your employees will have no choice but to head to the recycling area. Making these recycling points easy to reach and accessible, with clear instructions at hand, will also help workers to dispose of different materials with ease. Old electronic parts are often discarded without a second thought, and they usually end up in landfills, causing harm to the environment. Instead, contact some e-waste companies who can buy the parts for recycling and refurbishments.

Sustainable Sourcing

Once you have got your house in order, then you need to think about who you source your services and goods from, as there are many suppliers who are very wasteful in terms of their energy consumption. You should only collaborate with environmentally-friendly companies because funding businesses that harm the environment makes your business culpable in the long run. Look for suppliers that pride themselves in going green, and who use natural materials, renewable energy and are economical with their electricity and water consumption.

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