These days, a large cross-section of the world is turning its attention to the environment. More people are deciding that they want to make changes in their lives to be more eco-friendly. One of the significant changes that many people choose is to shop only with companies that prioritize our planet’s health.
For that reason, it is a bright idea to build a green business. We love to help small businesses succeed. So we have some tips for how you can design a green enterprise and make it a success.
Benefits of a green business.
While we know that going green is an excellent way to help the environment, there are other great perks to starting an eco-friendly business. After all, in some studies, over 60% of respondents said that they would go out of their way to shop with a green business over a company that does not make any effort to help the planet. So that means if you have a good product and intelligent marketing strategies, then there is a lot of money to be made just by doing the right thing.
In addition to the chance to increase your bottom line, you can also save a ton of money by going paperless and eliminating unnecessary waste, so it is a win-win situation.
Success stories for inspiration.
If these facts alone do not convince you to create a sustainable business strategy, you need to look at the companies that have had success with this approach in the past.
For instance, McDonald’s decided to change by turning to energy-efficient appliances and creating green parking lots, and their popularity has never been higher. Also, United Airlines decided to turn a new leaf by making their planes lighter, so they require less fuel to get from point A to point B. Since they started the initiative, the airline has saved more than two billion dollars in fuel costs.
Great ideas to make your business more eco-friendly.
Many people get inspired to build a green business. However, they are often stumped when thinking about what type of company they should start. The good news is that there are many sustainable business models that you can consider. These include selling products that help other people be eco-friendly, like reusable grocery bags or solar panels.
You could also design and sell green cleaning products to help homeowners spruce up their kitchens. Either that or you could start an eco-friendly housekeeping services company where you clean homes and office buildings using clean chemicals.
Another idea is to become a publisher who writes and distributes environmental publications that inform readers of ways that they can live more sustainable lives. The point is that the sky’s the limit to the types of companies you can start, and as time goes by and people start living even more sustainably, new avenues will continue to open up.
Cut down on waste; every little bit helps.
While you are getting your business up and running, think about ways that you can cut down on unnecessary waste. The easiest way to start is to create a paperless policy around the office. Restrict employees from printing unless it is absolutely necessary. Instead of using physical paper, you can email all critical documentation and reports. You can also display the meeting notes on the screen during Zoom calls instead of printing them out.
Follow that logic for the rest of the office and eliminate any disposable objects that can be replaced. For instance, instead of having recyclable coffee cups, buy every employee a reusable mug that they can clean out and use daily. You should also get rid of all disposable plasticware and avoid using paper towels.
You can also reduce waste by carefully choosing the packing materials you use. Make it a point to avoid using styrofoam fillers because styrofoam is not recyclable; in fact, it can take 500 years to decompose, and in the process, it can leak into the water supply. The good news is that it is now easier than ever to find recyclable cardboard for boxes and even plant-based packaging. This can cut your carbon footprint in half. You can also try other strategies, like shipping your products in smaller packages, resulting in less waste overall.
Sustainable marketing by employing digital methods.
Once you have your business up and running, you can continue to push your green agenda by practicing sustainable marketing. That means reducing your use of direct mailers and physical coupons. Instead, offer the same materials but in a digital format.
A great idea is to spread the word about your products on social media sites like YouTube and Facebook. This can eliminate or minimize the use of paper. When selecting the ideal Facebook ad template, you can either use straight text or make a professional post with an online tool like the ad-maker offered by Adobe. With it, you can either start your design from scratch or use one of their many templates. You can then modify it with your company logo and colors.
As you can see, it will take some strategy and legwork to create a green and sustainable business. However, you can create a sustainable business that can turn a profit while also helping our planet thrive.
If you would like to learn more about how Arbor Green Design can help you create a website and market your business, contact us at 682-233-3330.