Sustainable Practices for Small Businesses

Having sustainable practices is huge for businesses, and consumers are noticing too. I’ve noticed myself when I walk into a grocery store, I’m buying sustainable or green products over ones that aren’t, breaking my loyalty to brands I’ve used my whole life.

Non-toxic and ecofriendly products are not only helping save the planet, but their protecting people too. 1 in 3 consumers prefer ecofriendly options.

Why is it important for your small business to adopt sustainable practices? Being sustainable keeps you in competition and tells your customers or audience that you’re environmentally aware. This enhances your brand reputation, increases the value of your business to others, and even saves you money.

5 Ways Your Small Business Can Be More Sustainable:

1. Pay attention to where you’re sourcing your materials.

Does your supplier have ethical social and environmental practices? How are they managing their waste? Are they using recyclable, renewable, or biodegradable products? Are the socially responsible by paying their employees fair and livable wages? Make sure you’re considering these questions and picking a supplier with strong social and environmental practices.

2. Source locally when possible.

Try to purchase resources locally to support other local businesses, the local economy, and to cut down on transportation costs. This reduces gas emissions which benefits our environment.

3. Use ecofriendly packaging.

When packing and shipping your products, use containers or shipping materials that are ecofriendly. This means using packaging that is made from recycled materials, ones that can be reused, and ones that can be recycled. Encourage buyers to reuse or recycle the packaging too.

4. Reduce your paper usage.

If your business can reduce paperwork and paper billing, you’ll be able to cut down on paper waste, and even give yourself more physical storage space. If you need to use paper, try to use recycled paper, and when you’re done, recycle that paper again.

5. Make sure your promotional items serve a bigger purpose.

When looking into purchasing promotional products for advertising purposes, make sure these items are ones that stick around for a while. Avoid products that quickly go in landfills, like pens or bracelets. Something like a reusable metal water bottle will have a longer lifespan. Not only does this benefit the planet, but it benefits your company too! Your brand will be shown off for longer with products that have purpose.

Let’s take Patagonia for example. They take social responsibility by ensuring their products are produced in safe, positive, and humane working conditions. They also source their materials responsibly by growing them organically or using recycled fabrics.

No business is too small to adopt sustainable practices. Together we can make a difference in the world. Are you interested in making your company more sustainable? We’re here to help! Whether it’s guiding you to the next step, or being your helping hand along the way, BluLux Marketing will be there. We offer a wide variety of services to meet your individual needs. Schedule a consultation with us today!