7 Sustainable Business Operations Tips for Business Owners

Running a successful business in 2023 and beyond is complex. Of all the problems facing companies around the globe today, the potential impact of climate change is certainly one of the biggest, especially going forward.

As the effects become more visible, new and long-term business owners need to develop new approaches and adopt a green mentality. 

While many businesses already lead sustainable operations, some still need to follow suit. Whether you’ve just launched a company or are fully established and ready to make changes, here are some tips on fostering a more sustainable operation and keeping your business on top.

1. Get Educated

First and foremost, it’s essential for new and long-term business owners to smarten up their knowledge of sustainability. If you have no clue about this field, you will struggle to make the right changes within your operation.

There are specialist courses you can embark on that will teach you the ins and outs of sustainability and how to lead a greener business. You can sign up for a business sustainability management online course that enables you to learn while you oversee your operation. Knowledge is power, so don’t shy away from education, and learning more about the matter can only benefit you going forward.

2. Set Clear Goals

Once you’ve brushed up on your sustainability knowledge, it’s time to lay out clear green goals for your company. Before setting targets, you need to establish what you’d like to achieve. Give this some thought. To start, it’s wise to follow the most up-to-date scientific research on sustainability and climate change.

Being environmentally-friendly can enhance your business reputation, keep clients on board and help your business grow. You can put various goals in place today, such as switching to renewable energy or investing in eco-efficient lighting. 

3. Reduce Energy Consumption

As a business owner, you need to be aware of how much energy you consume daily. That way, you can look for areas to improve and lower your consumption. Many businesses use smart metres, which y most UK energy suppliers provide. This enables you to closely monitor your energy usage and make changes where necessary.

Meanwhile, consider conducting an energy audit for your business to identify areas where energy-saving measures can be applied. Then, you can also explore different power company that services your area to see if they have other plans that best match your business needs and could help you lower your energy costs. 

You should also have a valid EPC (energy performance certificate). This provides a detailed assessment of your company’s energy efficiency.

Other tactics to reduce energy consumption could include putting your lighting and heating on a timer, or reducing water consumption, especially hot water. 

4. Lower Waste

All companies will produce different amounts of waste, regardless of their size or what sector they are in. What does matter is how you go about reducing what you produce. This may be plastic, cardboard, or electrical goods.

One solution may be recycling any paper that’s otherwise cluttering your office space. You could go one step further and buy recycled paper. This is a brilliant option for companies wishing to lower their carbon footprint. 

5. Use Sustainable Materials

Another tactic new and long-term businesses can implement is to use sustainable packaging. In recent years, the UK government asked innovators to develop eco-friendly packaging. Excessive packaging is not only a nuisance to deal with, but not good for the environment either.

Some ways to get started with this approach include:

• Using organic fabrics
• Biodegradable packing peanuts
• Recycling paper and cardboard
• Avoiding plastic packaging whenever possible
• Reducing excess packaging

Whatever tactic you use, make sure to use the smallest amount of packaging you can.

6. Measure and Lower Your Carbon Footprint

By 2050, the UK hopes to achieve net zero carbon emissions. With that said, your business should have the same goal. Firstly, begin measuring your carbon footprint. This will let you know how far you are from achieving net zero. Consider ways to lower carbon emissions, such as investing in local suppliers, reducing travel, or swapping to renewable energy. 

7. Use Local, Sustainable Suppliers

There are an abundance of advantages to sourcing local goods, especially here in the westcountry. This includes boosting your company’s environmental impact as couriers do not need to travel as far. Also, it’s an excellent way to get to know people in your local area.

You may even end up making business connections and turning interactions into clients. Partnering with brands in your area can do wonders for your company’s brand, not to mention foster a community spirit. Go out today and see what’s around you. When you start forming relationships, you will create a brighter future. 

We all have a part to play in  tackling the climate crisis, businesses included. In fact, the crisis has reached a level where companies no longer have a choice about whether to go green or not. Instead, it’s a case of when, not if. If you’re trying to keep up with these new developments but you feel as though you’re in over your head, it’s a good idea to find a consultant like Adam Troy Adams who’s knowledgeable in your industry and the latest developments related to it.

Thankfully, there are plenty of changes you can make within your operation today to run a greener, more sustainable operation that will keep your company ahead of competitors.