Making your business more environmentally friendly is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and make a more positive impact on the earth, but it can also benefit your bottom line, too. It’s no secret that consumers have become increasingly more concerned about the environment in recent years. Multiple polls and surveys have come to the same conclusion: shoppers are generally willing to spend more money on products and services from businesses that are sustainably run.
It’s never a bad time to implement changes that make your business more environmentally friendly. There are a number of ways to implement more sustainable practices to help “green” your business. If you’re ready to take your business in an eco-friendly direction, check out some of the ideas below.
1. Go Paperless
One of the easiest ways to lessen your environmental impact is to reduce the amount of paper your business uses. It may be difficult to go completely paperless, but businesses can easily reduce their paper usage dramatically. Many documents can be sent and signed electronically, eliminating the need for printing and re-scanning. Employee paperwork, handbook information, benefits information and more can be accessed through online portals, which is not only eco-friendly but also makes employee management much easier.
2. Use More Post-Consumer Waste Products
When going paperless isn’t an option, aim for paper products created with post-consumer waste (PCW). PCW paper is made entirely from recycled paper, no trees, it uses 45% less energy and it creates half the waste that the traditional paper-making process created. And when you’re done with your PCW paper, don’t forget to put it back in the recycling bin!
3. Go Reusable
Businesses spend a lot of money – and create a lot of waste – by supplying the workplace with disposable napkins, plates, cups, flatware and more. Gift each employee a coffee mug and/or reusable water bottle to help start things off. Investing in reusable replacements is a great way to show employees that you’re serious about being more green, and not having to reorder disposable items can also save the business some money in the long run, too.
4. Use Energy Efficient Lighting
Using LED lighting can significantly reduce the amount of energy an average workplace consumes. While LED light bulbs do have a higher initial cost compared to standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, they last significantly longer and use a small fraction of the amount of energy. LED bulbs can replace almost any kind of light bulb in any kind of fixture, including fluorescent tubes, and an added bonus: they’re better for the eyes as well.
5. Mitigate Pollution Liability
Businesses across almost every industry sector are at risk of a pollution-related incident. Pollution liability insurance can protect a business from losses related to pollution-related damage, injuries or illness. Certain NJ business insurance providers, such as Provident Protection Plus, offer pollution liability insurance that also helps identify and mitigate pollution risks and cover costs to properly clean up a pollution accident and lessen the damage it causes.
About Provident Protection Plus
At Provident Protection Plus, we have served the businesses and residents of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for more than 65 years. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Bank, the region’s premier banking institution, and we are prepared to offer you personal, business, employee benefit, and risk management solutions. To learn more about our coverage options, contact our specialists today at (888) 990-0526.