Reducing waste is one of the cornerstone aspects of fighting off the climate crisis, but it’s often easier said than done. While many countries have pledged themselves to the Zero Waste initiative, it’s important to remember that many things need to change fundamentally for this goal to be achieved. Among them, the most important are the ways in which goods are produced and bought. It’s more challenging to change these things altogether because the general public, including both the business owners and the buyers, has become used to certain purchasing habits.
Nonetheless, change is necessary in order to protect the environment. Here are some of the main ways in which businesses can ensure they do their part.
Waste management
One of the most critical aspects of reducing your carbon footprint is being mindful of how you dispose of your waste. Recycling is the most crucial aspect in this case. It is no longer an option but a necessity to sort waste so that it can be collected accordingly and then recycled. Miltek offers a wide range of balers and compactors that are well-suited to handle all materials. You can also choose one depending on the size you need, so if your business is smaller, you don’t have to bring a massive appliance on the premises.
Learning how to manage waste better is critical to reducing costs within your company. When you free up funding, you help your business grow and develop faster. You can also focus on the development of other sustainable initiatives. Moreover, what’s good for the environment is also suitable for you, as you enhance your business reputation. When customers see that you’re committed to doing your part for the environment, they’re more likely to believe that your eco-friendly corporate image is actually real and not the product of cynical greenwashing.
Measurements
You won’t know how much you need to reduce your waste if you don’t measure how much you’re producing first. Weighing the rubbish can help you come up with an accurate estimate of how much waste comes out of your business each day. Share the results with your team so that waste reduction becomes a group effort instead of a one-man project. Reducing waste within your enterprise will only work well if everyone is committed to seeing results.
Afterward, it’s time to conduct a waste audit. This systematic procedure will survey the facility’s regular waste stream and analyse the resulting data. Having precise figures to go by, you can then begin the process of changing your business altogether. Depending on the size of your business, the audit can be small-scale or more elaborate. The latter applies to companies with large offices and working areas and those who carry out their procedures from different buildings.
Eliminate
There are several materials you can eliminate in order to support more sustainable business practices/ One of the most obvious is plastic. Although there are many advantages that come with using plastics, including their durability and the fact that it is so versatile that they can be used for virtually anything, from food packing to infrastructure, there are also several disadvantages.
The main one is that it can take centuries for plastic objects to decompose, depending on environmental conditions. Even when they do break down, they end up turning into microplastics, tiny bits of plastic that are often ingested by people. While scientists are still studying the effects of this phenomenon, it is commonly understood that its impact on human health is detrimental and includes inflammation and cellular damage.
Most of the plastics used by the general public aren’t recycled, and some can’t be repurposed in any way. Eliminating at least a portion of the plastics used within your company has a beneficial effect, reducing your overall waste output. Straws and single-use water bottles and caps are some of the most prominent examples, as many companies tend to use many of them. For cases in which plastics are necessary, ensure they are recycled after use.
Paper is another material you could use less of. While digitalisation has come a long way and reduced a considerable amount of the paper used within businesses, there’s still room for improvement. If going paperless is feasible within your business, you should seek to achieve this goal. Use paper only when absolutely necessary, and you’ll immediately notice its effect on your business. It can make processes more efficient. Moreover, you reduce the environmental impact associated with creating paper and ink.
Composting
Compost is a mixture of different ingredients with biological and chemical properties used as fertiliser. It improves soil quality, and since it is typically made from green waste, including food and other organic materials, it has a noticeable effect on environmental well-being. Not only does it mean less biological waste that ends up in landfills and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but it also means that garbage pick-up trucks have to make fewer trips, resulting in lower emissions overall. Composting waste is a great sustainable solutions for businesses
Composting can help reduce your business waste levels by 50% or more. It’s a relatively simple initiative that you can participate in daily. If your team is uncertain about the rules they must follow, you can organise presentations and workshops so that nobody’s in the dark about what they must do.
The advantages
There are many advantages that come from moving towards an eco-friendly business environment. Apart from helping the planet and ensuring continuous customer engagement, you provide better employee retention and can also improve your relationship with your stakeholders.
Reducing, reusing, and recycling are relatively simple once you get the hang of it, and it won’t take long for your team to become familiar with the new policy. You also ensure that you meet the legal obligations and requirements you must comply with as a business owner.
Therefore, reducing waste and adopting green measures is one of the best things you can do for your business, your community, and the world. There’s nothing more to ask for.
Also Read: 4 Internal Control Practices To Reduce Financial Risks In Your Business
