Running your own business is highly rewarding, but it’s not always an easy feat. On top of juggling the day-to-day demands of your business, you might also be thinking about the environmental impact of your business. Our most current period of activity on Earth has had a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems, and we often find ourselves overwhelmed with the thought of how our actions may impact the environment.
Although there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to such a wicked problem, this article aims to help you better understand the steps you can take to reduce your business’s environmental impact—and the benefits that go along with it!
Where do I begin?
Your first step is likely the easiest—asking yourself what kind of business(es) you run:
- Does it only exist online, as a website, or digitized, cloud-based service?
- Do you run an online shop with physical products that you pack and ship to customers?
- Do you operate within a physical location or multiple?
- How about all of the above (an omnichannel business)?
There are, in fact, pros and cons to any kind of business you operate. It is far too complicated to assume that one business type is better than the other. We don’t intend for you to make incredibly drastic changes (unless it works for you!). Still, we hope that this information will help you build a better foundation for an environmentally-friendly business.
Online Presence/Cloud-Based Services
Maintaining an online-only presence and offering digitized services can be a virtually paperless way of running your business. Your website, social media presence, business offerings, and modes of communication are limited to an online space. This is an easy way for you and your customers to stay organized.
However, running websites and cloud-based services are not free from environmental impact. In fact, according to Web Hosting Canada, experts predict that data centres powering websites worldwide will generate more emissions than the entire airline industry by 2030! Depending on how your website is built and the hosting service you choose, your website may actually be using a lot more of the Earth’s resources than you might have imagined.
If you are in charge of your website, it’s important to ensure that you use functions that maintain fast loading speeds and reduce the amount of clutter within your website. Optimizing your website’s performance decreases the energy it takes to keep your website on the internet. See if you can reduce any file sizes for images and videos. Are all of the animations on your website absolutely necessary?
In addition, it’s important to choose a web host that shares the same values as your business. Certain web hosting companies power their data centres with renewable energy such as hydroelectricity, solar, or wind. Some web hosting companies market environmentally-friendly web hosting services in Canada:
You may also refer to this article to learn more about some of these web hosts and the positive impact that going ‘green’ has on Canadian consumers.
Cloud computing lands on a scale that slowly tips in the balance between sustainable and unsustainable. Although more efficient than local computing, it takes a massive amount of resources and cooling to keep data storage centres running. There is little that can be done about this on an individual level besides being an advocate. Demanding the improvement of standards for these data centres may push larger tech industries in the right direction. If you are looking for a provider with ‘greener’ cloud computing, it seems that Google takes first place—they claim that they have been carbon neutral since 2007.
Online Shops with Order Fulfillment
Running a business online means that—more often than not—you are able to do most of your work in your own home. If you are already aware of some sustainable strategies in your home life, you have a head start!
However, fulfilling and shipping out products to customers can quickly impact the environment. Packaging and transportation are massive contributing factors to an increased carbon footprint.
Most mailers and packages are composed of plastic, tape, bubble wrap, and other materials that take far too long to degrade. However, there are alternatives that are friendlier to the environment—if you know where to look.
Instead of packing peanuts made of plastic, you can source some that are made of corn starch—which is entirely biodegradable. They dissolve in water, or you can add them to your compost. Certain companies are also working towards recycled and compostable mailers and business labels. Examples include Hero Packaging, ULINE Canada, and noissue. This is a great way to start offsetting the emissions produced when shipping your products around the country—or the world.
Consider getting in contact with stockists in Canada. Partnering with wholesalers is a way to send bulk orders to local stores to meet demands more sustainably than with individual online orders.
If you’re lucky enough to have someone local place an order from your shop, consider working the delivery into your own transportation routine. I recently placed an order for sustainable products just outside my town, and the owner was able to drop off the items with me in a paper bag while driving her husband to work. She was able to reduce a lot of packaging and energy being transferred between courier depots. It also reaffirmed her business’ values—by making a personal connection while reducing her impact beyond just the items she was selling me.
Omni-Channel Businesses
Omni-channels, or businesses with both an online and physical presence, have many contributing factors regarding environmental impact. You can take all of the steps listed above and more.
It is beneficial to utilize an energy management system in order to gain an understanding of where most of your energy is going towards in your business. These systems measure energy data that you can monitor and analyze in order to make improvements on your usage.
Waste management can be an easy yet effective way to improve environmental efforts within your store. Instead of throwing paper into the garbage, designate recycling bins for their proper disposal. Think twice about whether something needs to be printed in the first place—can it be sent in an email instead? Ask your customers and staff what they are most comfortable with—quite often, an email will suffice.
Get familiar with the recycling regulations within your business’ jurisdiction. Reflect your values through your business itself. Remember ULINE Canada? They provide much more than just eco-friendly shipping supplies! They also sell green retail bags, janitorial products, facility maintenance products, and poly bags, to name a few. Encourage your staff to make sustainable choices as well. Make it fun!
Sources
https://canadiansinternet.com/environmentally-friendly-website-hosts/
