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According to Conservation International, ‘Eleven percent of the world’s population (800 million people) are currently vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, heatwaves, and sea-level rise.’ In 2018, the C02 in our atmosphere reached ‘408 parts per million’, the highest level since 3 million years ago. To protect the planet, businesses of all sizes have a responsibility to prioritize sustainable and earth-friendly practices. In a recent survey, Forbes discovered that 88% of consumers want brands to produce products and services that help them to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. As we can see, eco-friendly practices are good for business as well as the earth.
1. Lean Principles
Lean manufacturing involves improving the performance and efficiency of production processes to reduce waste. However, lean principles are not just useful for manufacturing; waste-management is important across all types of services and industries. Waste can occur due to many factors, including over-ordering, overproduction, inadequate storage, mistakes or defects, or improper use of time and resources. An excess of waste is bad for the environment, and it’s also bad for business. To build a sustainable company, it’s advisable to improve your waste management. Lean principles involve continuously reviewing your waste management practices to facilitate progress ongoing.
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Environmental Remediation
Environmental remediation is the procedure of monitoring radiation levels and seeking to reduce exposure, for example, from contaminated soil or groundwater. The goal is to eliminate sources of radiation, to protect people and the surrounding environment. ER can be carried out in several ways. One method involves immobilizing the source of radiation and removing it. Another technique requires assessing radiation exposure risks and creating distance between people and the radiation source. For instance, you might need to change the way that you use a particular type of land or stage a temporary evacuation.
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Solar Power
Solar energy is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy. Each year more businesses are making the switch to improve sustainability. Solar panels are designed with semiconductors called photovoltaic cells. As the sun hits these cells, atoms and electrons break apart, creating electricity. Businesses pay to have solar panels installed on the roof, and after this initial investment, energy bills are reduced. Hydro-energy or wind-energy are other alternatives to consider when planning a sustainable energy switch.
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Sustainable Construction
When it comes to commercial business properties, there’s a growing trend for sustainable construction. The good news is that the government rewards sustainability initiatives. This is to encourage more businesses and individuals to use sustainable construction practices. There are several different methods of sustainable construction; one, for example, is green roofing. This involves growing grass and plants on top of the roofing material. A green roof absorbs stormwater, reduces heating and cooling expenses, and improves air quality too. Another sustainable building method is the use of a grid hybrid system. The system stores any excess energy and then uses a renewable source to power the building during the night. Electrochromic glass functions by changing from opaque to clear depending on UV rays or electrical current. Using this type of glass, you no longer need to rely on window treatments or window shades.
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Environmental Monitoring
Environmental monitoring is the process used to determine and track the quality of an environment. EM procedures were created to lessen the damage that people cause to the environment around them. Businesses can invest in an EM assessment, which involves checking for asbestos, air quality, dust monitoring, or noise control. An assessment can help your business to locate problem areas, reduce your impact on the earth, and ensure your employees’ good health.
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Cloud Technology
Cloud technology helps businesses eliminate the use of paper, relying on the cloud for all comms, customer info storage, project management, and meetings resources. By utilizing the power of the cloud, businesses can permit telecommuting, which can improve productivity and reduce utility bills on-premise. Ensure that you use a robust cloud security solution to keep your data safe. Another thing that you can do is to use green web-hosting services, these pay into carbon off-setting schemes for the energy that they use. A few examples of such providers are Green Geeks, DreamHost or HostPapa.
To build an eco-friendly company, the key is to consistently review your sustainability and keep up with eco-business trends as they emerge. Thankfully, new solutions are being dreamt up all the time which allow businesses to keep on growing without so negatively impacting on the planet.
